Styling the hijab
Tudung stylist to the stars Diyana Zainul Ehsan talks to Kasmiah Mustapha about her incredible journey
BEHIND a well-draped tudung is a brilliant hijab stylist and for many tudung-wearing local celebrities, the number to call is that of Diyana Zainul Ehsan, also known as @ didiyanaehsan on Instagram. She is Neelofa’s tudung stylist. She has styled the tudung for Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, Natasha Hudson and Mimpikita designer Nurul Zulkifli.
Upscale tudung brand dUCk invited her for a session before Hari Raya to show to dUCkies the various ways the square and rectangle shawls can be worn.
When actress Ummi Nazeera got married, it was Diyana who was responsible for her well-crafted headgear to match her lavish wedding outfits.
For the past six years, Diyana, 28, a selftaught stylist, is the go-to-person for hijabwearing celebrities who want simple and flawless style.
Highly sought-after, Diyana has worked with celebrities for magazine photoshoots. Her clients include her Instagram followers, who often fill up her hijab styling workshops and classes.
Diyana has travelled with Neelofa to various magazine and campaign photoshoots and red carpet events in Los Angeles, Istanbul, Paris and London, among others.
SHOWCASING STYLES
For the degree holder in Fashion Design from Universiti Teknologi Mara, the job offers her an opportunity to showcase the hijab style that she had created and perfected over the years.
“Since I became Neelofa’s hijab stylist, people have started following her style. Draping can’t go wrong, whether she is wearing clothes with embellishments or just a simple outfit.
“Although I wear the hijab, I don’t have a specific style although one of the subjects in my fashion design course is draping.”
Diyana’s journey to become a household name in hijab styling began when she was a fashion intern at The Old Blossom Box Store.
“I was just an intern at a boutique at that time and some customers asked if there was a hijab style that matched their clothes.”
Diyana then worked part-time at tudung brand Aidijuma and magazine during her final year. It was an opportunity to hone her skills as well as build her contacts.
Through word-of-mouth, Diyana built her reputation and her celebrity clientele grew to include Aidijuma founder Datin Norjuma Habib Mohamed, Natasha Hudson, Ziana Zain and Datuk Seri Siti
Conducting a hijab styling class
Nurhaliza.
“Initially, people were curious why I always hung around during photoshoots. I was the only hijab stylist back then.
“Well, if there are hairstylists, why shouldn’t there be a stylist for hijab wearers?”
SIMPLE STYLE
Diyana learnt her craft from YouTube videos and blogs besides reading up on it. Over the years, she has changed her style to a “simple and clean” look.
“If you look at my earlier work, there was too much going on. At that time, people preferred flair like designer Hana Diyana is a highly sought-after hijab stylist.