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The long denim skirt was a modest fashion staple before it was a trend, and now that the rest of the world has caught up, there are more of them in the shops than there have been in twenty years. Here are ten long jean skirt outfits that work with a hijab, sorted by season, with notes on which tops, which layers, and which hijab colours make denim look intentional.
First, the skirt
Three cuts matter. A-line maxi in rigid denim, which holds its shape and is the most flattering on most people. Tiered in soft Tencel denim, which moves like a dress. Straight column with a back slit, which is the one to check for slit height before buying. For everyday, the CHARTOU high-waist A-line maxi is the one that keeps coming up. For something lighter, the Tronjori tiered Tencel denim is soft enough for summer.
Mid to dark wash reads as more polished. Light wash reads as casual. Black denim reads as not denim at all, which is useful for work.
Fall
1. Chunky knit and ankle boots. A cream or oatmeal oversized sweater, tucked at the front or left long, with a dark wash A-line skirt and flat ankle boots. Hijab in rust, mustard, or forest green. This is the outfit every hijabi has been wearing since September and there is a reason.
2. Long cardigan over a fitted base. A high-neck long-sleeve top in black or white, a long open-front knit cardigan in camel or grey, and the skirt. The cardigan does the covering, so the base can be fitted. Hijab in the same family as the cardigan.
3. Button-down and loafers. A white or striped oversized button-down, buttoned to the top, with the sleeves rolled once and the skirt. Loafers. Hijab in navy or black. This is the office version.
Winter
4. Long coat, everything underneath. A knee-length or longer coat in camel or black over a turtleneck and the skirt. The coat is the outfit. Hijab in a wool or thick jersey to match the coat or the turtleneck. For a practical winter layer that covers the length of the skirt, a long hooded softshell coat in black does the job in Canadian cold.
5. Sweater dress trick. A short sweater dress worn as a tunic over the skirt. The dress ends mid-thigh, the skirt covers the rest, and the proportions are right. Boots. Hijab in a contrasting neutral.
Spring
6. Trench and white sneakers. A classic beige trench open over a white top and the skirt, with white sneakers. Hijab in blush, sage, or sky blue. The trench and the denim are the same tone of “classic,” which is why this works.
7. Printed blouse, tucked. A floral or striped blouse with a high neck, tucked into a high-waist skirt, with a belt if the skirt has loops. Flats. Hijab picks up one colour from the print.
Summer
8. Linen shirt, untucked. A loose linen shirt in white or sand, buttoned, over the tiered Tencel skirt, with sandals. Hijab in white, cream, or chiffon in a light colour. A wide-brim hat over the hijab for sun, which is a look in its own right.
9. Kimono over a tank base. A fitted long-sleeve base in black, a long chiffon kimono in a print, and the skirt. The kimono moves, the skirt moves, and it stays cool. Hijab in black or in the kimono’s lightest colour.
Eid and occasions
10. Satin blouse and heels. A satin or silky blouse in jewel tone, high neck, tucked into a dark wash or black denim maxi, with pointed flats or a low heel and gold jewellery. Hijab in the same jewel tone or in gold-toned chiffon. Denim at Eid works when everything else is dressed up.
Which hijab colours work with denim
Denim is a neutral. Almost everything goes with it, but three families work best. Warm earth tones (rust, mustard, olive, camel) make blue denim look richer. Cream and white make it look clean. The same blue in a different shade, a navy hijab with a mid-wash skirt, is the one people forget and it looks the most put together.
Avoid matching the exact wash. A light-blue hijab with a light-wash skirt is a lot of the same blue.
On fit and modesty
Check three things. The slit, if there is one, should sit below the knee. The waist should sit where you want the top to end, since a high waist lets a shorter top stay modest. And rigid denim does not cling, so if you prefer a skirt that falls straight from the hip, pick rigid over stretch.
For the layers that make all of this work, we have a separate post on what to wear over a maxi dress, and most of it applies to a long skirt too.
