By: Jessica Burns

There are three main kinds of clothing that women are known to wear in the Middle East that tend to cover their whole body. One of the oldest types of clothing that they wear is called a burqa. Burqa is an item of clothing that covers a women from head to toe. The only opening in the burqa is the mesh netting that covers their face to allow them a limited amount of vision. It is most common in black or light blue. Women used to be required to wear a burqa whenever in public. Today it is more common to see them in a little more reveling clothing such as a hijab.

The second most common thing to see a women in the Middle East wearing is an item of clothing that is called a hajib. This is similar to a burqa but it doesn't cover your face with a Vail like a burqa. A hajib covers your body from head to toe other than your face. Instead of the burqa covering your head and face as well, you would be allowed to wear a head scarf, to cover your hair and not your face. It is common to see a head scarf in all different colors with different kinds of designs on them. They are the most common to see women wearing now days.

A third type clothing that is common to see on women in theMiddle East is a niqab. A nigab is extremely similar to a burqa except that a burqa has a net mesh veil over their face and a niqab covers your body from head to toe apart from your eyes, and it only comes in black. This just like the burqa is less common to see women wearing in the Middle East today but its still around.

Next would be women swimming suits that you would see Women in the Middle East wearing because they are very unique compared to western swimming suits. A swimming suit in the Middle East would be a full body suit and a hood that is pulled over a tight fit bonnet to allow their body full coverage except their face similar to a hijab. They come in any color or design.

Last thing I will cover is the fashion shows that are held in the Middle East. Believe it or not fashion is getting bigger and bigger in the Middle East because women in the Middle East are starting to express themselves through their clothing by using more colors and design on their veils, and dresses. In the Middle East they even have a fashion week similar to what we have in the United States. The United States come to the Middle East for the fashion week, but only women are allowed to come watch the fashion shows they have unless a man may goes with his wife. Below is a link to a video of fashion week that was held in Dubai along with a picture of what is commonly seen in a fashion show in the Middle East.

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