Hijab clothes are garments that a woman or girl can wear to meet Islamic modesty codes. As the topic of hijab and various understandings of modest dress vary considerably within the Muslim community as well as within individual cultures, a wide variety of garment styles may be considered hijab clothes by those who choose and wear them. Many Muslim women choose to dress in a way that conceals most of the skin on their body. These garments are typically loose so as to not cling to and show the shape of the body. Many women also choose to wear a headscarf that conceals most or all of their hair and may also choose to wear a full or half face veil that likewise conceals their facial features.
Many cultures have their own understanding and version of hijab clothes. Women in Saudi Arabia typically wear an enveloping black robe known as the abaya along with a headscarf and sometimes a face veil when out in public or in the presence of men to whom they are not closely related. In other countries, women may wear a garment known as a jilbab, a long, loose button-down dress or coat, as well as some type of head covering. In Iran, women typically wear a long raincoat and a headscarf when in public. It should be noted that women may often wear Western fashion, or at least clothing that does not meet Islamic modesty standards, underneath their hijab clothes.
Some women have special considerations when wearing hijab. Athletes, for example, may need specially designed garments that allow them freedom of movement while also preserving their modesty. Women who work in certain occupations may also need to wear hijab clothes that are less likely to obscure vision or to get caught in machinery.
In Europe, the United States, or other countries that are not predominately Muslim or in which hijab is not enforced by law, Muslim women typically have a great deal of freedom when choosing hijab clothes. Some may simply choose to wear contemporary fashion garments that offer significant coverage to the body. For example, a Muslim woman may choose to wear a maxi dress or maxi skirt so as to provide full coverage of the leg and then wear a loose high-necked, long-sleeved blouse or jacket on top. A woman may also wear loose trousers and a loose blouse along with a headscarf.
