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"What is one item in your closet that you love wearing the most?"
I said: "maxi skirt or maxi dresses"
I absolutely love maxi dresses and skirts. They are becoming my signature style in real life
Fashion bloggers have been talking about the long skirt and calling it a "conspicuous" sign of Islam. Even the French secular laws say so. First it was the headscarves, then the niqaab.
They even banned the use of the yamaka’s, crucifixes, turbans and kirpans.
A 15-year-old girl was stopped from going to class earlier this month for wearing a long skirt. The head teacher said the long skirt was indicative of her religious affiliation.
On Twitter, the hashtag #JePorteMaJupeCommeJeVeux, translated into English as "I wear my skirt as I please", has been trending all week.
They did not expel her, they just banned her for the skirt, and her parents were told she could return if they encouraged her to wear a more neutral outfit.
Seems as if the French have become obsessed with any sort of religious dress. Even the nuns aren’t safe in France. So now they are thinking about setting up a "clothing police".
So maybe we should enlist them here in SA or in other countries to help curb "real crimes" or maybe they could be on "fashion police".
With the world in turmoil, thousands died in the most devastating earthquake in Nepal, Chile expects a third volcanic eruption, Violence in Baltimore BUT the French (in a French accent) no no no we need to stop maxi skirts! This is when you sit back and shake your head. What else can one do?
Image: Thechive.com
I recall a talk show on mini-skirts. Certain cultures discouraged the wearing of mini-skirts as it is associated with prostitution and increases the chances of sexual violence against women.
Many felt it promoted indecency. It was an emotive discussion. It was then stated, it’s a woman’s constitutional right to wear what’s she liked and she should not be infringed upon.
Cultural norms and expectations exist everywhere. There is nothing overtly dangerous about a yamaka, a turban, a nun’s habit, or a headscarf.
Most people wear a religious garment because they choose to. From the pope to the local imam, wearing religious attire does not display any sign of superiority, or xenophobia nor does it express self-indignation in anyway. It definitely does not become a poster for danger either.
Everyone has a choice in life, dress provocatively or dress in a way which you deem to be decent. I know every religion affords the believer a choice. If someone is forcing you to do something, then it’s not the religion, it’s the people who have their own opinions and views which they want to impose on you.
Don’t non-Muslim parents have rules on what they children should or should not wear?
I have many non-Muslim friends who routinely tell their children not to be out late, are strict with their daughters on dating older boys, or not hang out in dangerous parts of town, or not go out wearing that sequined thong which is totally visible with the low rise skinny’s.
Many a parent (non-Muslim) have often complained about certain items of clothing which they deem is totally inappropriate for their daughters to be wearing or their sons, especially when their jeans look as if they are falling off their "backs".
None of that is legally enforceable, but as parents - irrespective of race and religion - we are required to ensure that our children are raised and motivated to conduct themselves in a decent manner, uphold morals and codes of conduct etc.
If governments are going to turn the law into watch bodies for dress code, simply because they think certain decency rules are retarded, then we have to ensure there are laws in place to protect women from becoming objectified in the media and elsewhere. We then need to start promoting decency across the board.
I think many parents will agree with me that they wouldn't mind a law preventing their 13 year old daughter attending an overnight party in just a bikini top and shorts, with older boys just hanging around.
Imagine laws in place telling parents they can't have a basis for what they tell their kids to wear simply because it’s going to be conspicuous or ostentatious.
Legality and motivation are pretty much the same for both situations.
Constitutional rights should be applicable for all forms of dress, from a mini to a maxi skirt, from a gothic look to an epitome of virtue. Guess the French have become too obsessed with clothing.
It would be a totally different story, if this 15 year old was drawing religious symbols on the school wall expressing her religious views.
What totally amuses me is the use of words "conspicuous" sign of Islam, "ostentatious" sign of religion.
Back to the maxi skirt?
So as a Muslim woman, I am officially claiming the right to exclusive use of the maxi skirt for all Muslim women.
No non-Muslim woman will be allowed to wear a maxi skirt. It's the symbol of our religion and it expresses our identity. Infringement of this could result in you being banned until you go for a neutral look.
PS. I think any maxi skirt paired with a black leather jacket and matching accessories would look amazing.
