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Like models strutting down catwalks, students make their way down the hallways of universities across the UAE. Despite the diversity of style, the message is clear. It is no longer enough to sport just any average look on campus.
Although university administrations don't enforce a dress code, there is an underlying understanding among students on how to dress.
The fact that students are of many nationalities adds to the richness of the variety of styles seen on campus. While some choose to wear their national costumes, others choose a trendy, more sophisticated look.
Why do you dress the way you do?
Dressing up depends on a number of factors. Nationality, religion, conviction and special occasions are some of them.
Nirmal Ali, a student from Pakistan studying human resources at the Canadian University in Dubai (CUD), prefers to be natural in her appearance. A pair of jeans, top and an occasional scarf define her everyday look. "I dress according to what's new and what suits me at the same time. Where I'm comfortable, I'm fashionable," she said.
Shuhaib Hassan, CUD marketing student from Bangladesh, said that fashion indicates personality and preferences. "I am a marketing student; marketing is all about 'bling bling'. It's attractive, trendy and necessitates that we use accessories." Hassan wears everything from bracelets to chains and necklaces.
"Dressing up is about nationality and value for money," said Amin Garlby, a business student.
Alaa Wehbe, an engineering student, said: "How I dress depends on how I was raised. I was raised here [UAE] so I'm not going to dress like a gangster."
In general students tend to be very careful and conscious about what they wear as freshmen, but this caution disappears with time as they become seniors on campus.
"As a fresh student, you have to buy new clothes because you feel it's a new phase in your life and everyone's looking at you but now it's over," she said.
Alaa Antar, a management and marketing junior at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), said when dressing for university she is influenced by the people, the community and the culture.
Farah Karaki, also an AUS student, said how practical the clothes are, the weather and norms of decency inform her choice.
Dress code
While most schools in the UAE have uniforms, universities do not. Students are free to wear whatever they want — within limits. Those limits are often defined by dress codes laid down by universities. Students are often informed about the dress code when they join university; it is found in their student handbook as well as on the university website.
'No torn jeans, no mini skirts and mini shorts, no string tops and tank tops,' are some of the guidelines enforced by most universities, and all of them – be it federal, local or international – must conform to the local culture.
"As long as there is no conflict between the dress code and the student style of fashion, we won't have a problem, but if the type of clothes the student wears contradicts our dress code then we will have to interfere to enforce our policy at CUD," said Rami Al Khatib, director of Student Affairs.
What students say
Some students said that dress codes are necessary where students cross the boundaries of decency. Others said they defeat the purpose of the freedom students should have on a university campus.
"In the past months, some students were wearing really revealing clothes as they were going through their 'freshmen' phase; so the university prohibited revealing clothes by issuing a new dress code," said Bahira Hijjawi, a marketing student at CUD.
Alaa Antar of AUS said: "It is nice to have rules because students have to actually know their boundaries sometimes. At the end of the day, we come here to study."
Ahmad Al Hanbali, a computer engineering major, disagreed with her. "I am against enforcing any kind of dress code. We are an American university so we have to go by American rules, which are more open than other rules," he said.
At AUS, security personnel warn students if they are violating the university's dress code, with female security personnel keeping an eye on the female students.
"Many students have been asked to go back home and wear a longer shirt or skirt," said Farah Karaki.
Students said they find it offensive at times but they understand the reason behind it.
Does your outfit define your major?
And then there are university stereotypes with students from a particular department tending to adopt a similar style of dress. For example, business and communication students are perceived to be trendier, while engineering students tend to be simple and design students sport a 'funky' look.
Bahira Hijjawi of CUD said: "People in business have more time to dress up because they have more free time. You feel that business students come with a smile to campus.
Engineering students are more serious and can't spare time; they don't really care about fashion."
Mass communication students at AUS have a reputation for always dressing up.
"It has to do with the major," said Yara Al Nissani, an AUS mass communication student. "We will be around people and have to be presentable," she said.
The abaya
Pareesa, a business student at CUD, wears an abaya to university. To most, the black garment might appear the same, but as Pareesa explains, the abaya has many styles.
"There are designs on the sleeves; there's an option of having it open or closed from the bottom and other variations. Just because it's black doesn't mean it's dull," she said.
Fatima Nassar and Jawaher Juma of Dubai Women's College aspire to open their own clothes store after graduation. They said the abaya underwent several changes in trend.
"When we graduated in 2000, there were a few brands that dominated the abaya industry. The designers were men who don't understand young women's tastes. After that, local women started to design abayas, which changed everything. We changed cuts, material, designs, colours, etc. There are abayas for work, for office, for different occasions….
At university students prefer abayas that are loose at the bottom. Abayas at night should be shiny and should have an element of jewellery or crystals," said Fatima.
Jawaher said: "There are two types of designs for ladies: one is the trendy ... and the other is the conservative."
They added that the local fashion is influenced by new trends in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
It's all about the brand
Wissam Kreidiyeh, a business student at CUD, said many students, female and male alike, wear brands to university as a "fashion statement".
"Students from wealthy backgrounds, and a majority who come from the Gulf region, are always in designer clothes — they really overestimate college," said Alaa Antar.
Not everybody shares her views. "I wear Armani, D&G because I feel comfortable in designer clothes," said Amin Garlby of CUD.
Hijjawi added: "I see nothing wrong with wearing fancy clothes. If you have something nice, why not show it off?"
Farah Karaki said: "Mass communication students are always dressed up and they always show up in designer clothes and handbags but I think there's nothing wrong with it if they spend more money to look nicer."
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