Islam is one religion that is known to be conservative and very proud of its values. These beliefs have influenced their clothing too. From the ancient times, Muslims have always worn traditional and modest garments that cover the entire body. With the time changing, the conservative approach has relaxed slightly. Islamic wear is now extremely stylish and elegant and it maintains the modesty at the same time.

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One of the most commonly used garments by Muslim women is a hijab. It is basically a head dress that covers the entire head, face, and neck. Some have argued that covering the head is a sign of oppression. But the majority believes that wearing a hijab is the best way to show their respect for Allah. Nowadays, women are equally comfortable in wearing hijabs at their workplace or in public. Even college girls are wearing hijabs to their classes with comfort and grace.

Originally, hijabs were black in color and there was not much scope as far as fashion was concerned. But this scenario has undergone a drastic change in recent times. Trendy and chic hijabs are being designed in various colors, patterns, and styles. Hijabs for students and young working professionals are vibrant and bright colors whereas older or middle-aged women prefer dark and sober colors.

There are various methods of draping a hijab. The most common way is to fold a square-shaped hijab into a triangle and place it on the head. It is fastened with a pin under the chin and the ends hand loosely over the back. Long hijabs are also very much in vogue these days. They are rectangular in shape and worn in a scarf-like fashion. Working professionals prefer a "one-piece" hijab. It is a tube-shaped piece of cloth in which one end is fitted over the head and the other end is then wrapped over that end around the neck and face. This "one-piece" hijab is very convenient because it is "fuss-free" and it stays intact for a long period of time.

Hijab primarily refers to head covering, veil or modest religious dressing used by Muslim women. Hijab is an Arabic word which means a cover or a curtain. In present times the term refers to an article of clothing used by women. The Quran has used this word to refer to a dividing curtain that provides privacy. The Holy Book instructed Muslims to address the wives of the Holy Prophet (SAW) from behind a hijab, hence giving the term the status of a curtain or a divider. The concept of hijab as an article of clothing developed later through fiqh and hadith.

The Quran has used other words synonymous to hijab such askhimar andjilbab. Muslim women must not reveal their beauty in Tesettür Elbise public and must dress up modestly. According to the Quran they must "draw their khimar over their bosoms" and keep themselves covered. The concept of wearing hijab however, has evolved with time, and its importance, style and use varies according to the cultural variations in different parts of the world. In some parts of the world hijab retains its religious importance while in others people have restricted the practice of wearing hijab to a few selected situations. For instance, Hijab is strictly required for women in public in Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, in Turkey and France it is banned in educational institutions.

Muslim women must wear loose dresses that cover their body completely so that they do not draw sexual attention. They must cover their heads with a scarf, khimar or shaylah. Many scholars differ on how much of the clothing is required to fulfill the needs of hijab. Some agree at covering all parts of the body including face, hands and feet, others allow women to expose their face and hands while keeping the rest of the body covered. The laws for hijab are flexible for young girls as in many regions they must practice wearing it from puberty onwards.

There are different styles of hijab. Differences mainly are due to the differences of region and culture. Muslim women in the subcontinent, India and Pakistan, wear Burqa which is a two piece veil consisting of a head covering and a gown. Burqa is primarily black in colour but women use other colours to suit their taste and style. Women in that region also wear Niqaab - a veil covering head and face and falls down to bosom. Another kind of hijab is Abaya - an outer garment that covers women from head to toe and is usually made from black caftan. Abaya worn in the Persian Gulf region and the Middle East is often embroidered and bedazzled. Another two piece veil for women is Bushiyya - a well-fitting cap prepared from cotton with a tube-like scarf. Bukhnuk is another veil which is shaped like a raincoat but falls down to the bosom only. Its edges are often embroidered to look beautiful. Afghan Burqa covers women from head to toe and has a grille over the face to help women look through. Iranian traditional hijab is Chador - a large semicircle of full-length fabric to cover women from head to toe.

Like women, men are also advised to dress up modestly and keep their heads covered. Muslim men cover their heads with scarves or turbans. Kuffiyya or Ghutra is one such checkered head scarf. Taqiyah a crochet cap is also worn by many Arab men.

Modern trends have changed the approach of many men and women towards Hijab. Men dress up modestly and a majority of them refrain from covering their heads except for prayer times. Many women have taken up more trendy ways of observing hijab. Some do not wear traditional robes but cover just their head and face with nicely printed Shayla or scarf, others enjoy wearing embroidered and beautifully designed Abaya to the traditional black robe.