Styles of Women’s Shawls
A variety of shawls can be found across a number of different cultures, which has given rise to the various styles of shawls. Here are some of the most popular styles from around the world:

• Pashmina shawl: Made using the finest cashmere wool, Pashmina has been of great value for centuries throughout the world. The wool is combed from the Himalayan Mountain Goat’s neck and chest. To produce a single shawl, this fine wool is combed from at least three goats. The wool is of the finest quality in the world and is about six times finer than human hair.
• The Victorian Paisley Shawl: The Victorian paisley shawl or the piano shawl sports intricate patterns made through fine workmanship. They usually come from India, France, Scotland, Italy, Holland, Ireland and England. They were considered as a status symbol during the Victorian period. It usually took two weavers about three years to produce a shawl of the finest quality. Owing to their popularity, European weavers too started producing these Indian shawls at lower prices. Paisley was one of the European towns where these shawls were produced.
• The Crochet Shawl: These shawls are quite popular today. The yarns used to make these crochet shawls determine the quality of the garment. Although it is a bit difficult to correctly point out the origin of crochet shawls, this style is likely to have evolved from Tibet, Arabia, China and Spain.
• The Prayer Shawl: The Jewish prayer shawl, also known as the tallit, is worn during prayer ceremonies. These prayer shawls are adorned with braided fringes at the corners of the shawl and symbolize the commandments of the Jewish religion.

Women’s Shawls and Body Type
Wearing your shawl according to your body type will not only enhance your appearance but also complement your attire. Here are a few tips on how to wear your shawl:

1. Tall Women: You should avoid wearing shawls vertically as this will only accentuate your height. Try wearing them diagonally or horizontally and spread much of the shawl across your shoulders.
2. Short Women: Try out long evening shawls, and leave them vertically draped over your body. Wear shawls made of thin materials such as satin or silk.
3. Heavier Women: Heavier women should go for thinner fabrics along with dark colors as this will have a slimming effect. They should avoid woolen shawls, which tend to create a bulkier look.
4. Lighter Women: Choose thicker shawls made of fleece or wool, and go for lighter colors, such as ivory, beige or gold. Such shawls tend to create more volume along with elegance.

If you are looking for elegant and contemporary women’s shawls to enhance your wardrobe, the best place to find them is www.eastessence.com. Here you will find a wide variety of designs and styles of shawls, apart from other high quality traditional eastern clothing.

To be able to look our best when we are going out, it is important that we choose clothes that complement the shape of our bodies. The biggest benefit of plus size Islamic clothing is that they are made in loose, flowing lines that add a sense of elegance. Such attire covers the entire body from head to toe, which gives a dignified silhouette and is conceals the extra body weight. This is especially true of the abaya and jilbab.

Women with broader shoulders should consider wearing the Hijab. This is a scarf that covers the hair, neck and shoulders and is a great way to camouflage broad shoulders. Also, they protect you from the harsh sun.

With the move towards modernizing Islamic attire, while retaining their modesty and elegance, women today can choose from a large range of fabrics. This means that you can have Islamic clothing that keeps you warm in winter and those that protect you from the sun in the summers. You can even choose from materials as unusual as denim, embellished with tasteful embroidery.

Searching for the perfect clothes has become easy with the popularization of online shopping. If you are looking for affordable plus size Islamic clothing of the best quality, visit www.eastessence.com. The company offers a wide range of plus size clothing to choose from for all occasions.

Muslim Women’s Clothing: Some Types
Muslim women’s clothing varies depending on the culture and area. Here are a few of the different styles of Muslim clothes for women:

1. The Chador: The chador refers to an enveloping cloak, usually worn by women in Iran. It is essentially a large semi circular piece of fabric that is worn over the head and drapes down over the body up to the feet. It is usually worn without wearing a face veil. It may or may not have closures and usually has to be held together by wrapping it around the body or holding it closed with the hands. It is usually black in color.
2. The Khimar: The khimar refers to a specific style of head scarf. It is generally a lengthy cape like veil, which leaves the face uncovered, and drapes over the top half of the woman’s body often falling to the waist. Muslim women will wear the khimer usually during prayers or when they are on the Hajj pilgrimage.
3. The Burqa: The burqa is a robe which covers the woman’s body from head to toe. The veil covering the face usually has a mesh screen so that the woman can see through it. The burqa is typically worn in the Middle Eastern countries.
4. The Niqab: The niqab is a veil worn over the face and is sometimes paired with head scarves. It might cover the entire face with a see through material covering the eyes or it might just cover the lower part of the face.

Muslim Women’s Clothing: Shop for Them Online
If you are looking for chic, stylish and traditional Muslim women’s clothing, you just need to log on to the internet and look for the appropriate online shop, which stocks Islamic clothing. These online stores for Islamic clothing cater to a global market and offer international delivery and shipping facilities.

EastEssence.com is one such online shopping store, specializing in traditional Islamic clothing. They have on offer a huge range of traditional Muslim clothing right from abayas and jilbabs to shawls, jackets and scarves. They also specialize in traditional marriage and bridal wear and other accessories. Just visit www.eastessence.com and find yourself some of the best traditional Muslim clothing.

Your wardrobe is definitely incomplete without a kurti. Long kurtis offer the perfect combination of style and comfort. Usually these kurtis are either knee length or slightly longer. They can be worn with or without a dupatta. They are preferred by women of all age groups. This attire is ideal for all occasions, from festivals to office and from family functions to formal dinners.

Long Kurtis: For An Elegant and Contemporary Look
Full sleeved long kurtis are an ideal choice for more conservative women. They are stylish and trendy, yet not too revealing. They enable you to follow the latest fashion without sacrificing modesty.

These kurtis have originated from the traditional eastern attire, the salwar kameez. These long tunics resemble a kameez. The traditional kameez has been redesigned, styled and modified to make kurtis.

The side seams of long kurtis are left open for a length of 6 to 12 inches, which enables ease of movement to the wearer. The neckline of a traditional kurti is usually round and without a collar. Further, the sleeves of a traditional Indian kurti fall straight to the wrist. However, the modern versions are available with different patterns of neck designs and some even have stand up collars. They come with full sleeves, three fourth sleeves, short sleeves or without sleeves.

The light cotton and silk kurtis are ideal for the summer. For winter, you may opt for long kurtis made of wool or coarse fabrics. Further, to create a fusion of the traditional and contemporary looks, kurtis can be matched with jhola bags, handbags, bangles, ethnic jewelry, flip-flops and sandals. Also, you can pair loose fitting kutis with skinny jeans, leggings or tights. However, it is preferable to avoid pairing flared long kurtis with boot cut denims. Further, avoid wearing patterned pants with patterned kurtis. Embroidered kurtis look great with plain pants and are perfect for office wear.

To select from an exclusive range of long kurtis, visit www.eastessence.com. East Essence offers a wide range of Islamic clothing for men, women and kids.

Recent Trends in Eastern Clothing
As everywhere, the trends in eastern clothing are also changing but the basic requirement of tradition and modesty still remain, which is what makes eastern apparel stand out. With women deciding what to wear, eastern apparel now aims at offering traditional clothing with a modern flair.  Designers have come up with new variations in eastern apparel such as the long shalwar kameez, the designer abayas and jilbabs. Another recent trend often seen in eastern fashion wear is the pairing of the traditional long kurti or the shalwar kameez with a pair of trousers or a pair of denims. And these trends work out quite well without losing out on the modesty and traditional charm of the apparel.

More importantly, the huge variations of styles and designs available in eastern clothing allows you to wear them both at formal occasions such as dinners, as well as informal settings, without making you feel out of place. It is also perfect for office wear, as it combines elegance and dignity without sacrificing comfort.

The Global Market of Eastern Clothing
These days an increasing number of celebrities are appearing in eastern clothing at various red carpet events. Various prominent designers, including Yves Saint-Laurent, Givenchy, Carolina Herrera, Dior, Saks Fifth Avenue and John Galliano, have come up with their own lines of eastern and traditional apparel. Also, the emergence of a globally connected world and the ease of access to online information on eastern culture and fashion have fueled the interest in eastern apparel. It has also enabled people to order these clothes right from the privacy and convenience of their homes.

More importantly the simultaneous rise in the number of online stores offering these traditional eastern apparels catering to non resident communities has led to the opportunity to buy these clothes with just a click of the mouse. Online stores such as EastEssence.com also offer a number of advantages for their consumers. They offer a wide variety of designs and styles under the same roof for all types of occasions. Also, they spend less on overhead costs by shipping their products directly from their warehouses. This allows them to offer their merchandise at discounts and even wholesale rates.

If you are looking for traditional eastern wear, visit www.eastessence.com. EastEssence.com is a leading online store specializing in traditional eastern apparel for men, women and children.