In continuation of our Muslim Women’s Day celebration with Muslim Girl, we spoke to three style enthusiasts we love, Lucy Looxi, Jullz Bek and Zeyaanah El Guthmy, about their take on fashion — from modest to expressive. Read on to learn more about the creators, their fashion icons and what inspires their unique personal style.
While you are here, hijabi women around the world discuss what beauty means to them.
Lucy Looxi
Do you recall a particular moment or person that inspired your current approach in fashion?
My interest in fashion started in 2015 when I first discovered the Korean band Big Bang. When I saw G-Dragon and his style, it inspired me to step outside of my comfort zone and get creative with my outfits. That’s when I created my Instagram account and started following fashion accounts while posting pictures of my outfits. G-Dragon has shown me how refreshing it is to wear whatever you think looks good, and not minding what others think. As a Muslim girl wearing the hijab, I love wearing different pieces and styling them modestly, and that constantly makes my style evolve.
Besides Big Bang, I have recently finished working on a museum exhibit about modest fashion in Sweden together with an amazing group. The positive feedback we got from friends and people was overwhelming. Blogging has always been a hobby of mine, but through the exhibition, I’ve realized more and more that what I do is important and that we, as Muslim women, need to take a place in the fashion scene and show what we can do.
How would you describe your style in a sentence?
A various mix of modest streetwear.
Other than G-Drgaon, are there any present day fashion icons you look to for inspiration?
I really admire Bella Hadid‘s sense of style. Seeing her outfits and the way she styles different pieces together is so satisfying to me. There’s a difference between wearing your clothes and making the clothes wear you. She’s one of those people that doesn’t make the clothes wear her. I also love seeing women wearing modest fashion. I follow Rawdah, Nawal, Leena Al Ghouti and many more. I love seeing how they layer their outfits and how they have such different styles that they keep modest at the same time.
What is your favorite season to express yourself through fashion?
I would say spring is my favorite, because the sun is out and it’s also not hot outside. It’s when the heavy jackets are off and I can wear most pieces from my wardrobe, and either layer or wear pieces simply, depending on how I feel. The cold weather doesn’t stop me from wearing a thin leather jacket, vest or a trench coat. It’s also the season where I wear more color and have more freedom expressing myself.
Jullz Bek
How would you describe your style in a sentence?
Colorful, loud and ever-changing.
Are there any present day fashion icons you look to for inspiration?
Jazzelle, Yoon Ahn and Zendaya. I’m obsessed with everything they do.
What is your favorite season to express yourself through fashion?
Spring and summer. I feel like I have a lot more freedom to play around with different silhouettes during warmer weather.
What is a dream collaboration you’d love to see in fashion?
An AREA x Iris Van Herpen collaboration would be insane!
Zeyaanah El Guthmy
When did you get into fashion?
I’ve been into fashion ever since I can remember. In school, I would find ways to make my uniform fit my personal style. With that, being a Kenyan-Yemeni living in Dubai has had me in an identity crisis for as long as I can remember, and fashion is my way of making sense of my identity. Fashion has always been my way of self-expression.
Are there any present day fashion icons you look to for inspiration?
For the past couple of years, it’s been Luka Sabbat. I love his personal twist to modern alternative streetwear, as well as ’90s R&B and hip-hop influences which bring culture that feels familiar.
What is your favorite season to express yourself through fashion?
Winter. Because of the cold weather, it’s easier to layer without getting overheated. I love layering hoodies, sweaters, snow pants and different kinds of textures.
Which two brands would you like to see collaborate?
Pleasures and Chrome Hearts. I love the uniqueness of Pleasures’ designs which are very dominant in skating culture, and the familiarity of Chrome Hearts would work well together. Especially considering how Pleasures is very unexpected, it leaves me with a sense of curiosity on what they might come up with together.