Yorkshire-born, Qatar-based modest fashion blogger Fadila Patel (@dilacovered on Instagram) has a penchant for bold photography and statement-making styling. Here, she discusses the impractical fashion trend that she’ll never try, how the pandemic has made her re-think her relationship with fashion and consumption, and her vision for a fashion industry that’s more inclusive:
1. What attracts you to the idea of dressing modestly? Any personal turning point in your life that inspired you to embark on a more modest lifestyle?
My journey of dressing modestly started around my early teens, maybe for the wrong reasons though, I always dressed in black, covered up and was just trying my hardest to blend in rather than stand out.
Around the age of 16, I was leaving high school and the daunting idea of trying to fit in somewhere is where I began to find my identity. I loved fashion and would scour the high street for modest clothing that allowed me to express myself, researching seasonal fashion trends and sewing my own modest versions, just so I could be on-trend. The inaccessibility of modest clothing was one of my sources of inspiration to go into studying fashion.
Upon graduating with a major in fashion I landed myself my first job interview in the fashion industry. It was a nerve-wracking experience, not because of my lack of experience but because of my hijab and modest lifestyle. Covered up and representing a fashion brand maybe did not go hand in hand, and I remember contemplating taking my hijab off, just that once.
The empowering feeling of representing your identity without compromising my faith was and has been my biggest drive for my decade-long career in fashion and there have been many times in my journey when I knew I would have better or bigger opportunities in life if I dressed less modestly, but this wasn’t a whim or an attraction for me, it was a way of life.
My modesty and hijab are a symbol of growth. And now at 35, my modest journey is brighter, bolder and more confident than ever. I was never meant to blend in!
2. What are your specific modesty guidelines when it comes to clothing?
When it comes to my modesty guidelines for clothing, they have definitely changed over the years but the basics would be:
- Oversized – Go a size bigger to ensure the clothing isn’t figure hugging.
- Mid/Long Sleeves – Keep my arms covered till below my elbows.
- Long Length – Skirts, dressed or trousers should be ankle length.
- Opaque – Make sure the clothing isn’t transparent.
3. How has the pandemic changed your approach to fashion?
Fashion and style should be timeless: Trends and fashion shows had become merely a showcase of promoting consumption and I was guilty of it. During the pandemic I reworked my wardrobe and found new ways of styling existing pieces I own so I could wear them post pandemic. Believe it or not I have not consumed a single piece of clothing in 2020!
4. Advice you would give to your 15-year-old self:
The insecurities, weaknesses and lack of confidence you are manifesting now will be the drive and determination to becoming your true self. Use every experience as a learning curve and don’t let anyone or anything dim your light, you are meant to shine.
5. A friend you’ve made on Instagram who you’d love to meet in real life…
A fellow Brit who I’ve had an amazing Instagram connection with is @zedgram – we have struggled to arrange a meet up and with me now living in Qatar it is much more difficult. I remember I started following her after seeing her wedding photos on Instagram a few years ago, it was such a quirky affair and so unique and I instantly loved her vibe. Beyond the quirkiness and amazing energy she has deep rooted values which I admire and inspires me to be more responsible and aware.
6. If you had to eat one meal for dinner every day for the next week, it would be…
It would have to be Fish and chips; I could definitely eat it every day for a week. Having born and brought up in Yorkshire, a small county in the north of England, they have hands down the best fish and chips in the country, Whenever I go back to the UK the first meal I request is fish and chips and it’s usually also the last before I fly back to Qatar.
7. What’s the one trend you’ll never try and why?
The tiny handbag trend, Jacquemus launched the original bag in 2019 and it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. I feel like it’s more of a gimmick with a price tag driven purely through influencers and celebrities. Fashion should be fun, but it needs to be practical too, I mean what could I possibly fit inside it ?
8. Name one thing you’d like to change about the fashion industry.
Inclusivity – We will celebrate seeing hijabi models or black models on the runways or on the cover of magazines but fail to see this should be a standard. The fashion industry is definitely changing but I often think the inclusivity they are embracing is only confined to the marketing of the brand, merely responding to the voices.
Having worked in the fashion industry for over a decade and seeing the lack of representation, I would change the narrative of inclusivity from just a marketing strategy to modest females or POC at the head of brands, leading the way for the fashion industry.
9. What’s one trend you’ll be living in this season and why?
The pyjama trend requires minimal effort to style, really comfortable, yet looks trendy. During COVID-19 I was working from home and was living in PJs and joggers every day and now post lockdown I am struggling to wear ‘proper’ clothes, so the pyjama trend is what I will be living in until further notice.
10. What is your social media pet peeve?
Selling or representing the ideology of a perfect life on social media is definitely a pet peeve. I mean no one can have a perfect relationship, perfect wardrobe, perfect cooking skills, perfect skin or a perfect home. There is beauty in imperfections, originality and the unfiltered versions of life, a life people can relate to.
Creating an ideology which is unattainable is more damaging then we realize and the responsibilities should be upon us to change it!
Featured image courtesy of @DilaCovered
Get to know more of our diverse modest fashion muses from across the globe here.
