Eid al-Fitr can be a challenging occasion for some Arab women in New York City: how do you find the right clothing that reflect your values? Some females seek assistance from designer Engie Hassan.
Some Arab people are typical to attend numerous events, ranging from informal home get-togethers to premium parties, and to purchase a new outfit for each gathering during Eid celebrations, which may last at least three days.
Some people claim that the social calendar places pressure on them to dress in a way that best reflects their theological ideals and to just look good, whether it be for themselves or for social media.
There are also useful questions, for example: if your hijab complement your outfit? If you dress for the dome or any other occasion you might attend afterwards?
Some artists are more adept at figuring out how to balance these forces than Hassan, who is Muslim and has styled for nobility, the dark carpet, and people.
Hassan has over 200, 000 fans and works as a specific artist through her company, Engie Style. A wide range of New Yorkers have gotten to know her, including past Saudi Arabian lady Ameerah Al Taweel, actresses Taryn Manning, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Taryn Manning.
Hassan and her buyer evaluate an outfit.
When her clients don’t have time to find their best outfits, Hassan does it for them.
“I’ve done table mitzvahs, I’ve done first rites. I’ve done Ramadan activities”, she said. Everyone wants to feel comfortable in their appearance, according to the statement “everyone has the same perspective for themselves.”
But does Eid, which begins this week and marks the end of Ramadan.
“It really is the Met Gala for us”, said Alaa Hashim Balkhy, social editor at Harper’s Bazaar Saudi Arabia. “And with Instagram, you have to publish the Eid clothing. Therefore, everyone wants to surpass themselves with their Eid attire.”
Hassan grew up in New Jersey and said that when she was younger, she dressed more cautiously. In the 1990s, she frequently felt that there weren’t many fashionable options for young girls. She recalled wearing tops under clothes, so that they would be ideal.
“Because everything for younger girls was folding bearing, but brief and spaghetti- tied”, she said.
After a stay working at Vogue, she started her business, Engie Style, in 2010.
She claimed that with the development of online purchasing options across multiple platforms in the decade since, shopping for customers has only gotten harder.
“Citizens have a hard time making decisions nowadays because we’re so consumed with ads”, she said. I’m there to really ease their minds, edit, organize, and see what they need to obtain.
Hassan’s services, which include personal shopping and closet editing, start at around $550 and can go up to the “thousands of dollars”, depending on the complexity of what a client needs and how long they need her for.
On a recent Wednesday, she was shopping with a customer, school counselor Aziza Kadribeg, at a Macy’s shop in New Jersey’s Westfield Mall.
Kadribeg, who lives in Midland Park, N. J., had booked a two- afternoon session for Hassan to design her, her husband and two little babies for at least three Eid events they’re attending this year.
At the store, Hassan pulled a number of black and pink blazers, long flowy skirts, maxi dresses and a range of blouses for Kadribeg.
As Kadribeg tried on each outfit, Hassan took a picture, which they’d then discuss. Hassan returned to the floor of the store to grab an item if Kadrebeg didn’t like it or needed a different size.
For someone who usually sticks to a “bohemian chic” and “mom- next- door” vibe, Kadribeg said she was stepping out of her comfort zone trying on more “sophisticated” clothes, from brands such as Donna Karan.
Together, Engie Hassan and Aziza Kadribeg evaluate a band.
Finding flattering and conservative clothing is difficult, according to Kadribeg, as a woman who wears a hijab and completely covers her body.
“It can be challenging to locate a dress with long sleeves or a dress with a large slit in it,” Kadribeg said.
Hassan has a talent for coming up with inventive ways to cover her body so no parts are exposed, such as spotting the tops with a higher neckline or having her clothes altered, Kadribeg said.
“She understands the values”, Kadribeg said. “She understands what we’re looking for.”
As is typical with stylists, Hassan begins her process with basic questions about sizing, favorite colors and favorite brands.
And with her Muslim clients, she asks more in- depth questions like: do they plan to attend the mosque for prayer? Do they usually dress conservatively? What are their restrictions on the amount of skin they can display?
Sometimes, a client will have to dress for a casual or formal event after attending the mosque, which creates a challenge.
Hassan mentioned that she occasionally can show off what she would wear in that circumstance.
Hassan said, “I always advise them that nothing should be on display and that no cleavage-beating long sleeved dresses should be worn.” However, she noted that ultimately it is up to her clients to choose what works best for them.
A popular concern among her clients? how to incorporate the hijab into a person’s attire.
“Or, I have the hijab, but I don’t want to look frumpy and I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard or I don’t want to lose my identity in it”, she said.
“I want to respect the way they want to appear. And I also want to respect the religion”, she said. Hassan herself doesn’t wear the hijab daily, but makes sure to when attending any religious events.
Kadribeg claimed that while she was pleased to be introducing something new, her top priority was to make her two children enthralled by the holiday.
She said, “It’s important to show them and make them feel happy that they have something new to wear and look your best,” adding that it was also a great opportunity to take family photos.
Hassan claimed that the best aspect of providing her services is the fact that people in her area have faith in her to carry out her duties.
I’ve always had the question of “am I Muslim enough or will Muslims hire me because I don’t wear a hijab” growing up. she said. Therefore, it’s undoubtedly been very special to be able to work with Muslims during my holidays.