Print Trenches and Jackets

It began with the polka dot trenches last year... And now this year, we should expect to see print trenches and jackets featured (particularly animal print) everywhere for the 2012 autumn-winter season.

I am especially loving the Karen Millen trench, but Armine has a couple hot numbers too!

So tell me, will you be seen dead or alive in a print trench/jacket? What do you think about the trend?

Oh and this reminds me: This autumn-winter, it seems leopard print is going to be as trendy as it was the last, so don't throw out any of your previous animal print wardrobe items, they are going to be handy very soon! :)

I am mad about this Armine jacket. I think it's hot hot hottttt! Smoking hot!

The Armine jacket on the right... Tis cute. I think Armine is more 70's this 2011-2012 Autumn/Winter season, and I am liking it.

I am loving these looks... also from Armine. There are very few styles that I like from the current season, and the ones I have selected for this post seem to be my fave looks. Very sophisticated and cool.

Reoooowwwww! Need I say more? LOL

This is the Karen Millen trench. I love that it is blue. So striking!

And how cute is this?!

I think I will definitely be supporting a print trench this autumn... I hope... :)))

Posted on 4:02 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Aussies share Islamic fashion online

Yayyy, the SBS channel had a feature on Muslim women and fashion. The reporter Jeanette Francis interviewed bloggers Delina of Muslim Street Fashion and Mya of Myaz Fashion Spot. My blog Hijabi and the City and Samira's Trendy Melbourne were also very shortly featured. I was wondering where my 5-6 new followers popped up from. :)

Anywhooo.. Enjoy. :)

Posted on 4:21 PM / 0 comments / Read More

International Hijab Day - Gala Dinner with Sarah Joseph

Last Monday night I had the opportunity to attend a Gala Dinner to celebrate International Hijab Day. Thanks to the ladies youth group in Melbourne, Sareera... They put in great effort and put together a lovely organisation.

I got together a table of 11 for the night, mashaallah. The more the merrier at such an event, isn't it? Anyhow, tables were not reserved and on a first in best dressed basis, so someone had to get there to grab a table for the rest of us.

Hmmm... No children, no regular job, and no hubby at home... So guess who had to go? :) Moi of course. :) I didn't mind as I had no other obligations to attend to that day, alhamdulillah.

I did get there quite early, but still, the front row tables were full... hmmm wasn't too surprised but I still managed to pick a good table. :)

Approx. 5 minutes later one of my friends walked in. We waited and waited for the others, but it seemed that they were going to be a little delayed... and we were hungry... with a whole lotta colourful mezzes before our eyes... So we thought, let's start. :)))

There were two platters of each mezze on the table, but some were too far to reach, and no body to pass it on to us, so we thought let's get one of each and put it right in front of us. My my, did that work out well or what! :))) Yummmm, the thought of all that yummy mezzes still makes my tummy grumble. :)

OMG the sujuck that came made us all go wide eyed... we immediately got a piece each (this after all the girls had arrived) while they were warm, wrapped it in Lebanese bread and scoffed it down... mmmmmmm yummmmmmmm :)

Then there were inspirational female speakers. The highlight was speaker Sarah Joseph, the CEO of Emel Magazine. However, I was a little disappointed, because we couldn't hear much. The speakers were not very good... Some may argue that we chattered away, but that is only because we couldn't hear/understand. Seriously! So that was my disappointment for the event. I didn't get to hear what I actually went for. :(

Then there was a very powerful speech from the founder of Sareera. We were able to hear her most of the time because she spoke with a very powerful voice, and the main thing that was left with me from her speech was this:

"We have mosques on this land... We are blessed with having these mosques in a country like Australia... and our mosques are empty!!! Instead of seizing this opportunity, we don't attend mosques, we do not take advantage of the classes offered, the events organised. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had said, "May Allah's curse be on those who live next to the mosque, but do not attend prayers at the mosque." There are muslims who live in those houses beside the mosques, but they do not attend the mossque!"

How true! Unfortunately... this is true... and I never remember thinking about it until she pointed it out. Alhamdulillah, we really are given many opportunities on this land, we must show our gratitude by making use of all the facilities and opportunities available to us.

The next speaker was from ICV (Islamic Council of Victoria). You know, she was amazing, I remember just listening to her with my mouth open, but if you ask me what she spoke about, unfortunately I just cannot remember! :(

All in all, I remember being quite disappointed that night, because I guess I expected more, knowing how successful Sareera is. Now that I look back, I think it was because the sound system was a little poor, and I have a very poor concentration. I cannot listen to one person for more than 20 minutes. That is the maximum for me. Anything more, the speaker must be amazing and the sound must be clear. There have been occasions and teachers whom I have been able to sit and listen for longer periods of time, but yeah.. I just think the speeches could have been kept shorter or the sound system could have been tested beforehand. However, that would be my only 'criticism'.

The day before, Sareera had organised a huge event for International Hijab Day at Federation Square in the city. I really wanted to attend, but couldn't due to loads of work... I totally regret not going, because I have heard amazing things about it. I had friends who attended both the event in the city and the dinner, and they had mentioned that the event in the city was so much more inspirational and bigger... but that is acceptable I guess...

Anyhow, the setting was great, you could tell a lot of effort and hardwork was put in. I congratulate and thank Sareera for such an event, and look forward to many other events in the near future.

These paintings were part of the set-up. I liked them :)

These are all silk hijabs prepared by the girls for display. I think they look great.

Some more hijab displays :)

One of my friends... posing her style for you. :) The painting is also lovely... work of one of the girls if I am not mistaken.

I was unable to get a photo taken at the reception so did one at home. It was a formal/evening attire event, but I couldn't do it. Didn't really have the time or energy for it, so I went ahead with my peplum dress on trouser looking jeans :)

Before I end... The main message of the International Hijab Day events was: be proud of who you are and your hijab!

Posted on 12:25 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Product Review: Capsters

"When I started my research, I did not know I eventually would end up designing sportshijabs. I just wanted to do something with the heavy loaded subject of veiling in the West. As a designer I was curious if I could change something that was actually a cultural, political and social problem.

During my research I discovered that the image of headscarves or hijabs in the west is not representative for a lot of Muslim women. The image of a veiled woman in the Netherlands is mostly that of a not very well-educated, oppressed and timid woman. During my research I spoke to a lot of young Muslim women who are actually the opposite: very bright, independent and outspoken!

I realised that the image of the hijab hadn't evolved since the arrival of the Muslim community in the late 60's and early 70's. The migrants wear the headscarf often as a sign of culture and tradition. Their daughters are born and raised in the Netherlands. Growing up in two different cultures makes them curious about their roots. Some start reading the Quaran, something their often illiterate mothers have never done. They interpreted the hijab as a symbol of their descent and wear it with pride.

I realised that the appearance of the traditional shawl worn by Muslim girls didn't quite cover this message. Besides this aesthetic problem, I discovered a practical problem related to sports in school. In a court case it was decided that for safety reasons a teacher could expel a girl wearing a hijab from his gym class. The solution offered by the Comity of Equal Treatment was to wear a turtleneck and swimming cap instead. This did not solve the problem: the girls skipped gym class because they didn't want to feel humiliated.

It was at this time when I realised the whole issue was not about covering but about the way the girls cover themselves. And that problem could be solved by a designer! So I started to talk with girls and (Islamic) women’s organisations to research the requirements for a new sportshijab. After I made the sketches and the styling I went back to the girls to ask feedback. This really was an interesting part of the design process: I didn't have the 'wearer knowledge' they do. In order to meet their wishes, I needed feedback. Together we adjusted some designs: replaced a zipper by Velcro or changed the material into a more flexible one, to prevent disturbing noises. I also had my designs approved by an Imam, since he is the person the girls go to, to ask for advise on certain matters.

Besides all the functional requirements I wanted to add a solution for the social problem as well. I realised that if the hijabs did not look traditional but 'hip & trendy' they possibly could change prejudice into some sort of admiration. One of the confirmations that I got on that idea was from a 70 year old man, visiting the graduation show: 'I don't like hijabs at all, but I do like your designs'. This made me realise even more that the social problem with the acceptance of hijabs was not about the girls being covered, but the way they are covered.

Last but not least, to make the integration more visible I asked myself not only 'what does a hijab mean for Muslims' but also 'what can the hijab be for non-Muslims'. The answer to that is simple: it could be just a functional or aesthetic head-accessory. The only thing I had to do was to design something that met both worlds, and thát is exactly what I consider integration. These days Capsters are not only worn by Muslim women and girls, but also by non-Muslims, even males practicing winter sports..."

is what Cindy van den Bremen, founder of Capsters says in her introduction to Capsters. I wanted to share this, because I believe it will help better appreciate the concept.

I chose to review the Capsters Basic model in black. I wanted the basic because I felt it would be more versatile enabling me to wear it for occasions other than sports... including sports...

When I received my package, I was very impressed.

Excellent quality envelope with company logo containing the product neatly packed in a protective zip-lock pocket again with company logo. All this meant that a high quality product was awaiting me in the packaging.

At first sight, the product is made of excellent quality jersey fabric. The stitching is precise. I even pulled at the stitches, and no breaking whatsoever. It is very rare for stitches not to break on jersey fabric when they are pulled and tugged. :)

So, I tied up my hair, popped on the Capster like a hood, and fastened it with the velcro tape on the front. I can comfortably say that this is one high-quality product that will last for quite a long time. However, I found that this particular style has a very wide opening for the face. Having a large round face myself, it made my face look even larger and rounder. It was also a little loose around the neckline. Again, I must note that I believe this is true for this particular style (Basic) as I have noted in most other styles on their website the face opening is not as wide and is tighter. So what I did was, I got a stick pin and made the opening tighter just under my chin. :) I am happy with this result...

I wanted to give a few examples of how the Capsters may be utilised. I know there are many hijabis who despise this look, but I beg to differ. For a hijabi who likes outdoor sports, such as hiking, horseriding, baseball, etc. this look is perfect. You will not have any hijab parts strangling you in the wind, getting in your way, etc. etc. It is practical.

Then we have the bandana look. Pop on a Capster and wrap a hijab around your head and tie at the nape of the neck like a bandana. This way you have a different look and perfect coverage. No neck, ear or anything else showing!

I may not use any of the above looks, but this one is one I really like and find very elegant, Persian princess-like. :) I was never able to wear my hijab loose this way, because I would have my neck or sideburns etc showing. You know what I mean! With the Capster I am able to achieve the look I want without compromising my hijab/coverage.

All in all, I am very delighted to have been given the opportunity to try out this product. I understand that some of you may not be happy with the prices. In all honesty, the price is not so over the top when you consider the quality, long-life, and versatility of the product... I'm not even gonna mention the amount of money we splurge on things that are no good for us... So compared to all that, the amount you are asked to pay is really not much at all.

You are welcome and encouraged to follow/like Capsters on Facebook, and alternatively check out their range of products via the Capsters Website. Oh and guess what? They ship worldwide! Woohoo! :))

Lastly, I would like to thank Cindy for the opportunity and her efforts to make our life easier and more comfortable. :)

So, which look do you like best? Can you suggest any other way I can utilise my Capster? :)

Posted on 9:01 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Princess takes the spotlight

I haven't updated you on my kitty cats for a while now. They were born in November 2010. And I didn't know what to name them. Take a look back here to remember. :)

Well, I found out later on that the black one was NOT a male, infact, she is a FEmale. LOL My sis wanted her, so she had named her Aslan (pronounced aass-laan, meaning Lion, Leo) while we thought she was a he. If you remember, she is missing a foot and an eye. Mashaallah she is doing so great that you can't even tell that she is disabled. She's amazing! :))) My sis had named her Aslan in hope that she has a lion's heart and courage to make up for her 'missing parts'. My dear baby... As soon as I found out that she is actually a she, we had to change her name. While my sis was thinking up something new, I started to call her Ass... short for Aslan. I thought that doesn't sound good in English, so I added another letter and called her Asi (meaning Rebel, LOL). It was a familiar sound to her, I just didn't want to confuse her with a totally different name, and till now Asi (pronounced aa-see) she is!

Ok ok, boring stuff for those who don't care, I know! :))) Now I have kept the white one for myself. I love her sooooo much that I could not even think about giving her away. She is soooo cheeky, soooo playful... My God! Anyone who sees her will fall in love. She whinges and cries a lot when she doesn't get what she wants. She hates being alone. So when her mummy Pamuk goes off wandering she screams to be let inside to feel my presence at least.

So Princess takes the spotlight today, and she carries her name well...

Say mashaallah to my baby! :)

Priceless shot. Look at that tongue! LOL

Mother and daughter... Pamuk to the left and Princess to the right. :)

And plane jane moi... I just went to the fruit and veggie place so I literally threw on anything that came at me... I don't think I will be wearing this combo again LOL

Posted on 11:27 PM / 0 comments / Read More

Earth Tones

Yes, I'm back to the earthy tones and neutrals... It's the weather I tell ya! The sunnier the weather, the brighter my outfits. :)

I wanted to wear my longer cardi, but it was not available, so I had to stick with the shorter one this time. And the hijab... well, it's a replica, and I was selling it, but I noticed a thread pull... so what better reason to keep it for myself?!

Oh, and my life conditions are changing, so I need to find a job. A job with regular pay, regular weekly wages. :) It doesn't matter if it's casual, part-time, or full-time. I prefer night shift (LOL) but wouldn't mind doing day shifts. Hmmm.... I seriously don't mind what type of job it is, I need the income more than I need my pride at the moment (another LOL), as long as the job and its earnings are halal... Oh and it must be in Melbourne of course. :) So if anyone knows of any position, please let me know. :)

I have teacher aide and religious studies teacher experience up my sleeve. I've worked as a freelance translator for 8 years, but I no longer want freelance work (regular pay I say!). I have a few years customer service / retail experience (in Turkey and Australia). I also worked as a media monitor(er) in Turkey for 4 years. I have temped as an office admin. I also worked as a checkout chick at Coles during my teens. Does that count? LOL

Sooooooooooooooooo plllllllleaaaaaaaaaaaase if you know anything, send me a message :)

Mwah!

Posted on 10:45 PM / 0 comments / Read More

The Girls at Vela

Have you not heard of these girls yet? Well you sure are missing out!

Vela was founded by two young muslimahs living in the US. If I am not mistaken, they have been in the business for almost two years now. I have been meaning to do a post on them for quite some time, but I guess it wasn't meant to be until now. :)

These girls have added jazz, hip, funk, and rock to the standard, plain, everyday hijab! By wearing a Vela hijab, one can jazz up any plain and borgin outfit. They are absolutely gorgeous!

Here are some examples from their collection:

I absolutely love this one... This hijab can be worn all year round. Don't you just love the lace detail?

This one is perfect for the summer of 2010 as the marine theme is going to be a popular one in Oz (it was very popular in Turkey and Europe in the last few months as they experience the summer before we do)

Words cannot describe just how much I adore this charming hijab... The colour, the design... oh and the model is quite something too mashaallah :)

Another beauty...

As you can see, Vela scarves are not only for hijabis :)

I wouldn't mind this beauty on my head! :)

If you are interested in seeing more styles from Vela, or even ordering some, you can check out their Facebook page as they are currently taking orders from Facebook while waiting for their official website to be completed. Get clickety clickin' ladies! :)

Posted on 7:18 PM / 0 comments / Read More

It's almost time...

to eat!

Day 1 of Ramadhan was not difficult at all... but for those who are not foreign to Ramadhan will know all about the anticipation to eat at sunset...

I'm am hungry, but do not feel hunger... if you know what I mean? But as the hour approaches (only 1 hour left!), I just think about what I should/can eat. It's not actually as bad as it sounds... it's actually a little entertaining. :)

I have a beautiful mother and sister who will be cooking for me this Ramadhan, and they know what I eat and don't, so I don't need to worry about what to prepare. I aint much of a cooker anyways. :)

I will be leaving work in approximately 15 minutes, and probably get home 10-15 minutes before iftar (breaking of fast) to a warm home cooked Turkish dinner. Yummo! :))

Until then, I will try not to entertain anymore food thoughts. :)

Finger lickin' good! :))

Oh... Ramadhan Kareem peeps! May this Ramadhan bring us all many blessings, peace, love, friendships, and things so wonderful that we couldn't even imagine....

Loving you all for the sake of Allah, the Most Great, the Most Merciful...

xoxo

Posted on 12:02 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Style: The girl with a pearl necklace

Today I would like to share with you a style that I am very fond of. The young lady who I have photographed is one of my customers, and whenever I see her, she is always charming in her style. I would say her style is generally classy, romantic, lady-like (I don't know if "lady-like" is a style in terms of fashion, but anyways) and I personally think it really suits her.

When I saw her last week, I told her I loved her style and whether I can take a photo to share on my blog... Guess what? Well, obviously she consented. :)) I am very happy to be sharing her style with you, as I believe it may inspire other new and "old" hijabis out there who are sometimes stuck for ideas or afraid to try something new.

I only wish I had my good camera on the day as we had a little trouble getting a good angle and good lighting to take a great photo. Please take note that the photo does not do justice to her and her outfit. She still looks adorable, but to be honest, in reality, she looked so much more supercallerfragelisticexpielidocious!

Oh whatevs! Just make do with what I give you this time why don't ya! :)))

Okay, I just have to say that I love love love this soft pink and am ecstatic to find out that we will be seeing more of this colour at the stores next summer and even winter of 2011! Not that I really wear anything other than black, but hey, a girl can accessorize in other colours! But I endevour to wear colours other than black next summer - let's keep this winter out of it. :) Anyway, just check out how she styled her pearl necklace to drop over one shoulder. I absolutely love it! Especially since the pearls (and doing something different with them) reminds me of Coco Chanel! I'm glad she was brave enough to try something different - and you know what? It has worked out fabulously.

So what do you think? Do you like myself absolutely adore her style? Do you think her style is simple yet inspiring? Drop me a line and let me know what you think. :)

Posted on 10:56 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Dior & Hijab

I really dislike cold weather. I am a sunny person (I don't know if such a thing exists... but it does now cos I made it up? :)) I prefer sweating to freezing. I would rather sweat and shower 2-3 times a day instead of trying to get warm under layers and layers of clothing plus a blanket. :) Yes, I get really cold! :) Anyhow, while the weather is cooling down here in Oz, world famous brands are already launching their 2010-2011 Autumn/Winter creations. No wonder we are so behind in fashion down under! By the time the products that are currently in fashion around the world becomes fashion here 10-12 months after it is first launched. Oh well... at least we have the internet. :))

Back to the topic... Whist I was browsing through some of the items that are fashioned for the autumn/winter of 2010-2011, a few Dior combinations were immediately saved on my laptop! I didn't even think twice before saving them, because they are chic, and most importantly they are very easy to hijabify. You don't always come across fashion that can be hijabified very easily without coming across as a "try hard" or "suffocated under layers and layers of clothes".

So, when the weather starts to cool down, I may not like it as much because I become a real biatch with crazy mood swings due to deprivation of sunshine (yes I know, you may not care, but I told you anyway and you are free to do whatever you wish with this piece of top secret info) :), I have to admit that we hijabis find our best buys during these cold and gloomy seasons. Long skirts, long sleeves, coverage... Some features common to most of the clothing items that are available during the cold months.

Anyways, I would like to share the Dior photos I saved on my laptop. I absolutely love the flowing dresses with the jackets/coat on top. These outfits may not be suitable to wear on a day-to-day basis, but they are definitely inspirational to jazz up our own style don't you think? I also love that we will be seeing more of the pastel and nude tones in the next autumn/winter season too (since this fashion will be coming to Oz around mid-late 2011). Woohoo! :))

Even though I love all three, my favourite is the outfit in the first photo. What about you? Would you wear anything similar to these outfits?

Ok, I will leave you to it... in love and peace... :)

 

Yeppers, this is my fave! Colour, cut, and all!

I do like this, but the fur trimming is a bit too much for moi...

I am not too much of a fan of wearing long coats over long dresses as such, but I think this is done very well. I also can't get over how hot those boots look peeping out under the dress. I am also not a fan of short dress length + long boots to cover the legs that would otherwise show (I would rather just wear something that is full-length), but this does not seem that way to me. The boots don't seem to emphasize the legs, leg shape, etc. That is what makes it seem so hot to me. I dunno about you, but the more I look at this, the more I likes it. :)

Posted on 3:38 PM / 0 comments / Read More

Hijabi's Try Harder

NOTE: If you're not a hijabi, do not bite my head off before reading this post (don't judge from the post title).

I was at a henna/hens night just a few weeks ago. There were only 2-3 hijabis amongst the other 50-60 or so non-hijabi women...

I had never noticed the difference before, because most henna/hens nights and weddings I attend have almost equal numbers of hijabis and non-hijabis OR the majority are hijabis...

Anyhow, getting to the point... Almost all the ladies that were present at the said event looked so effortlessly glamorous. I looked at the reason and noticed that it was the way they dressed. They had just slipped on a mini or maxi dress and that was it! Some had accessorized with wide belts. I love belts, so to me, anything (well... almost anything) with a belt is hot!

On the other hand... Hijabis have similar dresses, but it looks so different because they have layers on the top and/or bottom. Most dresses are too short so we layer them with trousers, and most (especially during summer) are sleeveless, so we either wear tight and long sleeved tops under or cardigans on top. Most of the time we have great difficulty finding full sleeved cardis/jackets (I have no idea why most tops are 3/4 sleeved), so we try and find the most suitable fabric, then we try to find a good/economical/available tailor to sew a bolero type jacket for our dress... A dress which may never be worn again or worn rarely if it was purchased for a special event. Oh my.. I'm not even starting with the matching hijab, so don't go there!

Sometimes it's just so difficult! Okay, some of you may say, "just wear the abaya and you have no problems". Well, not everyone wants to wear the abaya, and even if you wear the abaya, you are most likely to take it off during a ladies only event, right? So what happens then?

Anyhow, I'm just ranting, but not about being a hijabi! I'm ranting about the fact that we do not have enough Islamic clothing designers that cater for women who want to dress in accordance with the requirements of their faith (including myself), but also want to keep it modern. I do like traditional clothing at times, but not all the time! Like many, I too live in the west and I believe that the way we dress is also a significant way of conveying The Message. We live in a day and age wear appearance is almost everything, and let's face it: WE ARE WOMEN! LIKE ALL OTHER WOMEN WE LOVE TO SHOP! WE LOVE TO DRESS!

So why is it that almost all Islamic clothing designers are designing clothing that are more traditional?

Personally, I absolutely adore most clothing that are designed to cater for the non-hijabi women. If only the sleeves were longer! If only the length was longer! If only the chest part was a little more covered! If only if it was a little more loose!

How many times have you said this?

Now how gorgeous is this dress worn by Angelina Jolie? I love it. All it needs is sleeves and it's perfect! Oh, and it needs a cheaper price tag of course. I'm not sure how many zeros this has attached to it.:)

Another hotsie dress, and again, all it requires is sleeves. This would look gorgeous with slightly bell sleeves. Why shouldn't we be able to slip something like this on and just wrap on our hijab to leave the house?!

 Yes, one of the many super expensive designer dresses that can be worn by a hijabi. Although I believe this one has a huge opening revealing the entire back. :)

So are there really no companies to cater for such hijabi needs?

I'm not sure about what's happening in the other countries, but during my 2 week business/pleasure trip to Turkey I have met many designers, visited many clothing companies catering the muslim hijabi... To sum it up, there was only one company that caters for the muslim woman that prefers to wear hijab, but also likes the western fashion: Armine!

Honestly, I do not say this to advertise just because I sell Armine clothing... They truly are the only company I have come across to have what most of my customers and I want. Their only flaw: most of their range goes up to size 14 only! They have some very beautiful full length dresses with full sleeves. Most are plain which means they can be accessorized, and some are just gorgeous and require nothing more!

....

Okay, I'm finishing up... I didn't intend this to go on so long (as always!!!), and I mentioned things which I thought I wouldn't.

BUT!!! Hijabi's really do have to try harder most of the time.

Posted on 7:46 AM / 0 comments / Read More