The fashion world has become entrenched with the buzz surrounding Paris Fashion Week and all of its haute couture designers. Ironically, the religious garments of the Muslim faith were featured on the runway in the same country that has taken political action against the infamous burqa. Riccardo Tisci, of Givenchy, presented a show that paid homage to the Middle East, complete with harem pants, jeweled embellishments, and hooded black garments that were an obvious nod to clothing seen as a sign of both restriction and religious freedom. President Sarkozy of France announced that the burqa “will not be welcome on French soil” and vilified it as a means to simply “cut off [women] from society, deprived of all identity.”

Leave it up to the fashion world to take something that is so politically controversial and turn it into something chic enough to inspire people of all faiths to wear it. This seems to be a trend in Paris fashion as designers such as John Galliano and Carolina Herrera have designed abayas, similar to burqas minus the face covering, and plan to sell them in Saudi Arabia.

In order to make the claim that the burqa demeans women or does the opposite, one must consider several factors including history, religion, individual opinion, and national mindset. Besides, are the western ideals about women’s body size in the fashion world any better--(Hence the prevalence of anorexia?). In, any case the beauty of Givenchy’s couture show is undeniable and its glamour remains a breathtaking tribute to the Middle East.