People all over the country tune into the Oscars every year to see which movies will be praised and awarded honors. While some people tuned in to watch Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón become the first Latin American director to win the Oscar for best director most fashionistas, like myself, are looking to the Oscars for style inspiration. As Pink is singing her heart out on stage, all I can think about is how amazing that ruby red gown would look without the deep plunging neckline. Amy Adams’s sapphire gown paired up with a fitted jacket would make an excellent party dress and Jenna Dewan Tatum’s dress modified and added sleeves would be the perfect banquet dress.

But what’s more exciting than imagining the gowns in all their colors made modest is actually seeing actresses choose the modest look and owning it. Julie Deply wore a startling shimmery dress by Jenny Packham, which was beautiful and modest while the always stunning Angelina Jolie made a similar silver statement in an Elie Saab gown. By far my favorite gown of the night…*in my Joan Rivers voice* would be Camila Alves, Mathew McConaughey’s wife. Her Gabriela Cadena gown was hands down the most elegant and most modest dress walking the red carpet that night. She was a vision in soft pink with the best accessory of all, her Oscar winning husband.Not only were there many gowns and women dressed modestly this year, but at one point my Television screen also flashed an emerald green Hijabista much to my surprise. Zainab Abdul-Nabi, a student at Screen Arts and Cultures University of Michigan, was among six college students selected nationwide to join Team Oscar and she did so in beautiful style.

Amidst the once marginalized market of modest fashion we are finding bold new designers, stylist and photographers giving positive publicity to a growing group. And with that more and more girls are feeling embolden to be their unique amazing selves and not fit into the mold. It’s not new that girls have rocked the Abya and Leather jacket or trended up their jean skirts, now they can do it with an extra pep to their step. Muslimas are finding more and more visible inspirations for modest fashion and a whole line of amazing brands to shop from. From the free spirited clothes of Avow Apparel to the formal gowns of companies like Shop Ryaan and the designer hijabs of Vela Scarves, people are taking notice and satisfying the needs of the people. Young designers and bloggers are stepping their game up. While Lupita Nyong’o’ is inspiring fashion designers and bloggers with her bold color choices she is even more importantly inspiring girls around the country to follow their dreams and to dream in color.

Therefore, I took away a huge lesson, even if slightly off topic, from watching and modest retro-fitting the Oscars. That is we should always own our modesty and own our color. Given the fact that the movie and entertainment industry has historically attempted to bleach both, figuratively and somewhat literally, from our mixing bowl, we should keep it held high. Make no mistake, when I speak of color I don’t mean race, although that has a troubled past as well. In fashion our color is our depth, our meaning, and our shades of uniqueness. Owning your color and modestly is a homage to who you are as a person when the cameras stop
rolling and the flash bulbs cease to glow.

-Madenh

Image Copywright by LUCY NICHOLSON/REUTERS