Authors update: I wanted to share some context regarding this post; this post was written back in 2011 when the French style of Jilbab (Jelbab) was just becoming known here in the USA and in other countries outside of France. Within France this style of garment had been gaining popularity for at least a decade amongst the French Muslim community. This style of garment developed out of a garment that came into being surrounding the Algerian Civil War of the early 1990’s. I had stumbled upon this style of garment through a friend of mine in the UK; Sophie as the style had started to migrate out of France and into surrounding EU countries.
Given that Jilbab can mean so many different things such as “Jilbab” as in a general womans overgarment in Islam or Jilbab as in the Syrian/Jordanian coat style overgarment to the Jilbab or the French style Jilbab as blogged about here I got into the habit of calling this overgarment the French Jilbab (Jelbab) to differentiate it…and because semantics are my thing.
Asalaamu alaikum and hey Dear Readers! If your a long-time reader of my blog you know that I have a mild obsession for the French/Algerian overhead Jelbab or Jilbab. i.e. its like an overhead but “different”. If you are a newbie to my blog and are confused…read on (and read my archives, jazakhAllahkhair)
So, its still fairly difficult to find pictures of how the French Jilbab (Jelbab) is actually worn by Muslim women in France (and Western Europe) and since they are basically unheard of on this end of the Atlantic, I wanted to cull together some pictures to show styles of how they are apparently being worn by the younger Jilbab wearing generation in France. So, I wear the three French Jilbab (Jelbab) sets I have at least several times a week which I then then swap out with my everyday Jilbabs (the Jordanian/Syrian style) or an Abayah and a nice scarf. But, the more I wear the French Jilbabs around the more I find myself enjoying them more…
So…7 Reasons why I think the French Jilbab (Jelbab) is awesome!
1- They cover your awrah and curves VERY well & are “one size fits most”, you buy by your height. mashAllah.
2- They are actually cozy & comfortable and I don’t find them as prone to pulling on my head, neck or causing me a headache.
3- They are versatile! They can be worn alone or easily with a cardi, hoodie, or a jacket…and yes, they still cover really well! All you do is push up the sleeves…et voilà.
4- They come in a plethora of colors and about a bazillion different fabrics! Such as an assortment of different crepe materials and weights from saloona, internet to light crepe, thick crepe, koshibo, microfiber and yes…peachskin!
5- There is absolutely no need for an extra scarf…pop on, tie and go. Mashallah. They cover the chin and the sides of the face & the lighter weight fabrics work great pulled up as an impromptu Niqab.
6- You have options; they come as either one piece; worn from head to toe OR two pieces, head to knees and then a matching skirt or sarouel. The 2-piece ones are very nursing friendly!
7- Wearing options & ease of wear; the French Jilbabs (Jelbabs) come with an attached bandana or a separate bandana. You tie the ties under the Jilbab (Jelbab) behind your head or outside, around the outside of the head. Which ever is most comfortable for you.
Ok, onto the second part of this post. Pictures of what seems to be the current popular ways to style your Jilbab (Jelbab) among the younger French women who wear Jilbab (Jelbab). MashAllah.
Now, I did a post several months ago showing the layering of these French Jilbabs (Jelbabs) with a cardi or hoodie to add some style and panache, which also serves to rein in the puffiness of the two-piece Jilbabs (Jelbabs) while keeping everything well covered in flowing fabric!
Heres a couple more pictures…note, I blanked out faces for privacy.
You can get all “dolled up” in them too…lol
I’ve noticed a couple other Jilbab (Jelbab) trends which seem. to be popular right now…
Namely…headbands worn over the Jilbab (Jelbab) which tends to give an Alien-ish look. Not sure about that one… Allahu A’alam.
Another trend appears to be wearing the Jilbab (Jelbab) up not just covering the chin but all the way to the bottom of the lower lip. Allowing the face to peep out. I personally am not a huge fan of this style, simply because its feels a bit kind of uncomfortable to me. I just cover up to my chin with the Jilbab (Jelbab). I’m curious how this “look” became popular.
Another style appears to be layeing headbands with the Jilbab (jelbab). I think it adds a nice splash of color. This is a look I’ve tried to achieve on more than one occasion.
Now, onto some trends I’m not quite so sure about. Allahu A’alam.
The first one would be trying to achieve as large of a head as possible when wearing the Jilbab (Jelbab). it seems like quite a few sisters wrap large turbans under their Jilbabs (Jelbabs) so they can achieve a big headed look or have a ton of hair put up under the Jilbab (Jelbab). Now, on one hand, I think if you have very thin fine hair and it lays flat against the head, you can get a turtle head look when wearing a Jilbab (Jelbab) which can look a bit strange, so personally I’m not adverse to wearing one or two scrunchies under mine which helps to balance out the look, but by scrunchie, I do mean scrunchie. Its funny how Khaleeji Abaya trends have trickled down to Jilbab (Jelbab) trends…
Then, another look which I am not a fan of is some French sisters are are taking the top piece from a two-piece Jilbab (Jelbab) set and wearing it as a combo scarf and tunic over skinny jeans or leggings. The top half looks great, mashAllah, bottom half not so much. Maybe stick to a skirt, sarouel or wide-legged pants of some sort.
Personally im not adverse to wearing the top half of a two-piece Jilbab (Jelbab) set with a pair of wide legged pants as the to switch things up, but, nope…just the top half with skinny jeans or leggings…? Your awrah is half-exposed. ugh.
Ok, I shall end here! Thanks for reading and feel free to reach out, leave me a comment! I love reading my comments section. Alhamdullah.
-Bailey Umm Ibrahim
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Wow- you must have read my mind, Sis! Thanks for this post- I’ve had no luck finding images of sisters on the street wearing jilbab al atlas, only images from sites selling them. I’ve been longing to own one myself since I saw a young woman wearing one on a trip to Algeria a few years ago. I asked her where she bought it, only to find out that she made it herself! Unfortunately, my sewing skills are not up to the task. Maybe in future when I’m not so strapped for cash I’ll actually own one. Until then, I will content myself with pictures and *sigh*- I think they’re perfection!
Oh- and to be correct it’s “J’adore mon jilbab”! hehe
LOOOL…figures, my French is blah, I can read it OK but, conjugate or speak it…forget it. Hey, its no worse than saying “c’est le street”…LOL…shouldnt it be “c’est le rue”. Yanks and French…just dunt go together! I shall fix though…LOL
LOL
actually sister there r several jelbab brands…not just Al Atlas, there is El Bassira which by far seems to be the most popular in France. W Europe, then Al Manassik (sp?) and some smaller labels like Al Moultazimoun or Hejaby, i’m sure there r more and many sisters also make and sell for income as well. Actually they arent too expensive really, en’shallah once we get them, contact me, maybe we can work something out. OK. I know, I really, really, really do adore mine! They r sooo comfy and look really nice all while covering everything properly…no hassles…mashallah
Insha’Allah, your business will be up and running soon! That would be lovely!
well honestly its gonna be my husbands business venture, not mine…I’m a Nursing Student and thats enough stress, hassle and time sucking away so I wont really have much to do with the business, although I will en’shallah handle customer inquiries from sisters about the mohajabaat clothing and am going to be choosing the sisters attire, but everything else he’ll handle. LOL.
As I’ve mentioned before this type of jilbabs and two piece sets are popular with mainly Somali sisters here; but yes the Algerian and Moroccan sisters do wear them, as well as most European reverts here(as in originally from Mainland Europe, not the UK). It seems a lot of the ones worn by the Somali sisters come from the UAE, it seems the story is that Somali ex-pat sisters got sick of the traditional ‘no hands’ very long khimars and while there was a trend for wearing a shaylah over those, some sisters still found them cumbersome so some small businesses in the UAE started making the sleeved type khimars and completely closed overheads with tiebacks, the styles from both North Africa and the UAE over here have become virtually identical over time and so you’ll get the North African sisters buying the UAE versions and vica versa-though IMHO the North African versions look like they are of better quality-the UAE ones don’t seem to have as much give in them. The UAE ones have also evolved into like you posted about the other week; like a cuffed khimar but that is worn on the shoulders not on the head. I haven’t seen the tight jeans and ‘top piece’ look as depicted but I could believe it, I have seen though young sisters in Birmingham wearing the completely closed, up to the chin one-piece version of it with their bangs out and styled, alien big heads, tons of jewellery, and a jacket over etc. Maybe its the case that as before some parents would be ok as long as their daughter wore a khimar (as in scarf) outside; now some parents are insisting their daughters wear the half-jilbabs at least but neglecting what their daughters are wearing under it.
I really like this style, they look nice.
I’m so happy when I see sisters wearing these in Morocco…mash’Allah they’re so elegant (and alhamdolillah they all wear them properly…no horrid skinnies)! Some sisters here will even put the top half over a djellaba…it’s a very unique look. Perhaps I might try them out and get a couple tailored when I’m further along in my pregnancy…the only problem is that people here seem to have the idea in their heads that once you wear the khimar, you must ALWAYS wear a khimar…no switching back and forth between shoulder abayas/djellabas and large, chest covering shaylas (what I normally wear) and the khimar. Cultural attitudes can be so off-putting sometimes -_-‘
Assalaamu alaikum sis,
Seriously when your hubby gets the business up and running please let me know inshallah. I’ve been reading every post of yours regarding these jelbabs but can’t be bothered with the hassle of overseas shipping right now. I’ve been looking for something more covering (and different) and love the layered look when you put a sweater over it mashallah. I think I might actually get my daughter to wear it at least to the masjid, lol.
They’re gorgeous!! You definitely have a customer here ^_^ good luck with your last few weeks inshallah 🙂
Salam aleikom, I decided to buy sewing machine and make those wonderful 2 piece jilbabs myself . Very easy and cheap! Lhamdulila!
This is the best hijab I ever had and very beutiful.
salamu aleykum,
sister if you love those jilbabs so much , i know a nice french sewingforum where you can see many, many jilbabs and also tutorials on how to sew them, I’m a member there too and i really love it mashAllah, it is only for sisters:
http://www.lescousettes.com/
as there where some men wanting to get in the forum they do now check via skype, phone or msn if you are really the person who registered.
InchAllah “see” you there…!