Women in Saudi Arabia need not wear headcover or the black abaya - the loose-fitting, full-length robes - as long as their attire is "decent and respectful", Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz said.
With the ascent to power of Prince Mohammad, the kingdom has seen an expansion in women's rights including a decision to allow women to attend mixed public sporting events and the right to drive cars from this summer.
The changes have been hailed as proof of a new progressive trend towards modernisation in the kingdom.
"The laws are very clear and stipulated in the laws of sharia (Islamic law): that women wear decent, respectful clothing, like men," Prince Mohammed said in an interview with CBS television aired late on Sunday.
WATCH: #SaudiCrownPrince gives CBS a tour of his office@NorahODonnell: “This is where you spend all night?”
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) March 20, 2018
Saudi Crown Prince: It’s also where all the workaholic ministers spend their time. https://t.co/594z8KRcWd pic.twitter.com/m491sW9yFb
"This, however, does not particularly specify a black abaya or a black head cover. The decision is entirely left for women to decide what type of decent and respectful attire she chooses to wear."
WATCH: #SaudiCrownPrince gives CBS a tour of his office@NorahODonnell: “This is where you spend all night?”
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) March 20, 2018
Saudi Crown Prince: It’s also where all the workaholic ministers spend their time. https://t.co/594z8KRcWd pic.twitter.com/m491sW9yFb
A senior cleric said last month that women should dress modestly, but this did not necessitate wearing the abaya.
Saudi women have started wearing more colourful abayas in recent years, the light blues and pinks in stark contrast with the traditional black. Open abayas over long skirts or jeans are also becoming more common in some parts of the country.
On March 8, a group of women in the Saudi city of Jeddah marked International Women's Day by exercising one of their newly acquired freedoms: the right to go for a jog.