Some more "I made it myself"s :)

I had mentioned visiting the fam in Melbourne a few weeks back, yeah? I can't really remember, but I think I did... I think I also mentioned that I would be styling my friend and her family's hijabs on her brother's wedding day. Yes?

Sadly most of the photos came out blurred. The photos are generally rush jobs on the day, so some of them tend to come out crapola. :( It's always great to know the photographer on the day so you can ask for a copy of some relevant ones that also make one's collection look more professional.

Fortunately though, I have a couple that are okay enough to share. :)

This beauty is the youngest of the groom's three gorgeous sisters. She was in the bridal party. Yes, the bridal party wore black gowns with white sashes. I must say I was suprised at first, but they looked beautiful. The bride, I was told, loves the colour black. The reception colour theme was also black and white.

This gorgeous young lady is the mother of the groom. She is one of those women who have been blessed with both inner and outer beuaty all in one. Mashaallah. Wearing her lilac dress matched with her very light grey and lilac hijab, she looked her part.

Posted on 11:42 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Another Bride, Another Wedding

Don't we all just love brides, weddings, bridal photos, etc etc? Well, most of us do... Me thinks so. :)

Last month I had another bridal appointment. The thing I love about these appointments is I get to see me amazingly talented highschool friend and make-up artist Yeliz at most of these appointments. :) She was once again appointed the make-up artist for the same bride.

Anyways, to the point! My bride wanted a very very plain hijab style, similar to her cousins... which was also styled by me last year. So it was a basic up-do with the veil up high. To be honest, plain is the way I like it most. For me, it's gotta be plain or drapey. :) Then again, everyone has their own taste, so what can you say?

Anyhow, her photos are now available, so I chose a few to share with you all...

May Allah grant them happiness in both worlds... May they be for each other, what they want/expect from each other. Ameen!

Posted on 3:00 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Hijab Fashion Week - Day #2: Formal Attire

So today's category is formal attire. We were asked, "What would you wear to formal event?  This can be traditional/cultural events, black tie event, weddings, etc etc."

I have not had the chance to attend a formal event in yonks... literally! So I do not have much suitable for such an event. Therefore, I chose to attend my own henna party. :) Why? Well, that is like the only over the top dress I have. I also thought it would be an opportunity to do up my hijab to give an idea to those who may need it.

Now, I had to cinch the dress with pins all over at the back as I weighed a lot more on my own henna night (five years ago). So that's why it really doesn't sit as it should.

I should also note that, although very simple, the dress is my own design. I drew it up, and my tailor did the sewing. :) My original hijab style was different, and it was done by someone other than myself as I didn't do hijab styling back then. I have to say I wasn't too happy with it, because even though the style was a nice one, it was very wrong for my face shape. I didn't really have a say in it as it was the first time I saw what hijab styling actually is. I had not seen any designs prior to my own henna party. So the stylist just did it up as she desired.

So, important tip for those who may be getting their hijab styled anytime in the near/far future: make sure you google various styles well in advance or even ask your stylist if she can show you any of her work. Check out the face shapes and what styles look best on certain face shapes. Because no matter how gorgeous the style is, if it aint gonna suit you, you aint gonna be happy with your photos. Trust me!

The style I used for this occasion is an Ottomanesque one... it was inspired by the head-pieces that were worn by the Sultans (the women in the Royal Families)... As I mentioned many a time before, I find them to be more elegant compared to the bunched/scrunched up ones.

Oh, I shall be doing a post on tips for hijabis planning to have their hijab styled for certain occasions soon. So make sure you follow my blog! :)))

Okay, this has been too long of a post for HFW, so I shall stop at this, and share the photos for today's category: Formal Attire. As I mentioned above, my outfit is more suitable for my own henna party, or an engagement/wedding of a very close friend or family.

Check out the leopard print platforms (from this post) peeping out from under ;) I wanted it to be slightly different to the standard strappy evening shoes. :)

  

  

Hijab & Hijab Style: edb Collection, Accessory: Lovisa, Gown: design by edb Collection, Shoes: Forever New

The make-up and head-piece. You can click on each individual photo to see in larger, detailed format.

Don't forget to click back for Day #3's outfit tomorrow! Also, click on the loveHFW button below for more details on the event, giveaways, many other blogger looks, updates, and more more moooooreeeee :)))

Posted on 6:30 PM / 0 comments / Read More

Bridal hijab styling, make-up, photography, and Photoshop

I had previously mentioned my project regarding bridal hijab styles... It's still there... here... well, you know what I mean :) it's still in plan...

Just around midnight tonight an idea popped... and believe you me, when that idea pops, I can't stop the poppin' until morn cos it wont let me sleep! So I thought, c'mon, you gotta get working...

Started off with make-up... I would have liked to go for lighter, soft pink, neutral tones, but I seem to have ran out of those. Note to self: update eyeshadows! Instead I went for a metallic cream and browns. Neutral and earth tones are always the best for bridal make-up... especially if you are a hijabi!

Then I did up my hijab. I used a pearl choker as my hijab accessory. I actually needed a pearl embellished veil, but had to make do with my diamante one... and then it was time for photographs...

I actually wish I had someone I could work with. I would rather do the make-up and hijab style on them so I can get my photography skills do some talking too. :) Anyhow, I ended up with OK photos.... they were the best I could get considering I too my own photos with a remote. Not too many options!

Once all that was done it was time to Photoshop and I love Photoshop! I only work with the skill I have left from my uni course... I definitely need to work on it to develop more because it is just an amazing tool! I think I might further it once I am in Turkey, because I plan to incorporate all these skills into my business while I am there inshaallah. We shall see how everything works out... :)

So yeah, here are the photos... some are just photographic, some are to display the hijab style...

Hope you like them!

xoxo

Don't mind the pins that you may notice in the photos. Everything is sewn on when it's the customer I work on. I actually wish I had someone I could work on. At least that way I could take better photographs of the style as well as improve my photography skills...

Posted on 11:01 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Hijab Styling - Playing Around with Styles

I had a very early morning yesterday (Sunday). I was booked in for a bridal party's hijab styling.

My God! I'm sure those of you who work on a Sunday will understand my pain. A Sunday! Early morning! Work! Even the thought of it makes me tired. :)))

Anyhow. All the girls were soooo beautiful mashaallah, they didn't really need any work done one them. LOL And the bride! Mashaallah! She has that perfect bride face; small... cute features... Her hijab turned out gorgeous. I loved her dress, and make-up... the whole package! Hmmm I didn't have my camera with me, so a friend who is the bride's relative promised to take photos for me. So we will see, if she managed to do so, you can see too! :)

Well, since I had my styling materials and tools out, I thought I would play around a little. As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm not erally a fan of the frills that give the bird nest look. :) If I use it for a bride, I only use it to give volume to the veil, and in a way that it will not show much --- of course the bride's wishes come first, if they insist, I will do it.

When I was playing around on my mannequin today, I wanted to play around with draping and more of the sultan look (inspiration: Ottoman era). Turks these days would call it an 'Arab' look. LOL People these days! :))))

I personally believe draping looks more elegant, but then again everyone has different taste, and the style of the dress is a very important factor when deciding on the headpiece (hijab style). Not all styles look good with every dress.

Hmm, I did too much chitter chatter again :)

I should add though that this is incomplete. If I had it ready, I would use lace pieces that are beaded (same as dress or similar) and sew them around the side and top of head, within the pleats. I could use both types of veils -- the one tier long veil or shorter multiple tier veil. This really depends on the dress. Also, if I were to use beaded lace around the head, I would opt for a plain and short multiple tier veil. If I left it as it is, a long one tier veil with beading/crystals around the border would complete this style.

Oh, this style actually looks really gorgeous and different without the draped piece around the face. I added that, because I wanted to show that it's possible to cover the chest and neck and make it look good at the same time. Just an alternative...

So, anybody likey? Your thoughts?

xoxo

Posted on 9:19 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Hijab Styling for Special Occasions

Oh my oh my... I am so so soooooo sick! Well, I was so much worse during the day that I spent the entire day and evening wrapped in my blanky and lying down. Oh how I hate lying down all day!

It's only been a little over an hour that I have been able to lift my head. Alhamdulillah. So since this was possible, I wanted to play around with my hijab styles. To be honest this one didn't turn out the way I wanted it to because I did not have enough fabric and I did not have the accesory I had in mind out in the open. And to top it all off, once I completed my design, the mannequin head fell and the hijab PLOPPED off her head. :( I struggled to get it back on, but it looks crooked and a little modified LOL so I packed everything up and put her away.

Then I saw her from afar and thought hmmm not too bad. So I took out my iphone to photograph it. I couldn't be bothered with the Nikon because the style didn't turn out how I intended it. So I'm sorry about the bad quality of the photo.

Here is my plopped and unintended design :)

Now, if my fabric was as long as I needed it to be, I would have had a flow of fabric drop down elegantly to wrap around the neck to cover both the neck and the chest. It would have looked sooooo elegant... well that's how I imagine it anyway! :)

I forgot to photograph the back, but I completed the back with more pleats in the opposite direction/angle to the latte coloured fabric. Then I used up the remaining fabric with a cute bun at the nape of the neck.

I personally do not like too much of the bunching up which ends up looking like aa bird nest. Instead, I prefer making sort of box pleats or soft ruffles. Then again, it all depends on the fabric you use. I definitely think the satin makes all styles look cheap. Except where satin is combined with a different texture such as lace or chiffon or crepe, etc etc. You get my drift! :)

Anyhow, I wanted to ask you ladies for your opinion. I have been working on a project where I am designer (in particular) bridal hijab styles... hand-beaded with crystals, hand-sewn... including a beaded veil along with the head-piece. The designs will all be my own. They will all be ready-to-wear supplied with a CD demonstrating how to wear the head-piece on your own or with help on your special day. :)) After your special day, you can either keep the head-piece as a memory along with your wedding dress, or you can even sell it to someone else or hire it. It can be worn over and over again. That is how I am making them....

So, having said all this, would you consider purchasing specially designed bridal or engagement head-pieces for your special day? If so, would you consider paying anything between $200-$400 AUD? I should mention that all fabrics, laces, crystals, beads, beading is provided by moi, and don't forget the how-to cd? :) The beaded veil is an extra and can also be sold individually. Yeah, I look forward to your comments. :) Thaaaank you!

Posted on 6:35 AM / 0 comments / Read More