Middle Eastern women have become the world's biggest buyers of high fashion.  Shocked? Just because they are wrapped in conservative hijab and abaya, doesn’t mean they’ve stifled their sartorial sensibility.  So it makes perfect sense that in July, Condé Nast International crowned Saudi Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz as editor-in-chief of Vogue Arabia, the latest territory in their stable of 21 region-specific fashion rag mags.

Familiarize yourself with the lavish lifestyles of wealthy Arab women, particularly in Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. With an annual social calendar full of private parties and dozens of lavish weddings (each lasting up to five days!), wealthy women from royal or industrial families demand haute couture, often provocative and revealing – most of which will never be worn in the presence of men.  But make no mistake, Saudis can be fashionistas too.

Last year the Saudi Council of Chambers banned companies and independent designers from organizing fashion shows to promote their products, according to Al-Watan. This year, 50 Saudi men were arrested for wearing "western" garb during Ramadan. But in light of changes happening now in KSA relating to women's rights, with ladies chomping at the bit to drive the crusade forward, could this be the start of the end for conservative Islamic women's dress?