Request From A Petite Hijabi

Hijabi Iman has recently bought this new dress but she needs some advise hijabifying it. She says that she isn't very tall and wants to know how to wear it without looking drowned. Here are some outfits I've put together with some general style tips for the petite Muslimahs out there:

This look is a casual day time outfit:

Tip #1: You should leave the cardigan open to elongate and slim your figure as well as keeping your curves covered and make sure it is a longer style cardigan.

Tip #2: When dressing a petite frame either the bottoms and the top or the bottoms and the hijab should the same colour. This will make you appear taller.

Tip #3: Every shape and size should follow this rule: the smaller you are, the smaller the pattern on a garment should be. If you are tall or plus size, go for bigger prints. Petites should avoid fussy prints and keep the outfit vertical and simple.

This outfit is a more semi-formal night look:

Tip #4: The blazer jacket is a must have for the smaller figure, but make sure you go for one that doesn't cinch in your waist (not hijab..). The over sized blazer will solve this problem, if it doesn't leave the jacket open which looks better anyway.

Tip #5: Wedges do what they say on the tin, my only advise would be buy ones that don't clop clop when you walk.

Tip #6: Unfortunately, wide leg jeans aren't great for petites as they drown you but this doesn't mean wear jeggings lol. Go for boyfriend or loose straight leg cuts, I always buy straight legs one size bigger so the jeans don't cling anywhere on my legs. With these jeans, dresses should fall to at least knee length, which your dress does.

This last outfit idea I made is with an abaya. I'm not sure if you wear abayas anywhere but I know that some hijabis where them if they are going to girl friends houses and want to wear dresses, skinny jeans etc when they get there so where an abaya over these outfits and take it off when indoors. Some also where abayas to the mosque and certain other occasions:

Tip #7: Every hijabi should have either a lovely abaya or jilbab in their wardrobe especially petite girls. They are so flattering and modest and work wonders on your height; for best results wear a coloured hijab with a plain black abaya that falls over a pair of wedges, you'll be amazed :D

Tip #8: Small girl=small bag! Don't be a slave to fashion and be tempted to go over sized on bags or jewelry

Tip #9: Never tuck boots into jeans, stick to heels and flats. If you're going to wear boots, wear them with a skirt.

Tip #10: Never be afraid to experiment with outfits, when you buy something new think of what it will go with in your wardrobe - this will save you buying a whole new outfit and will put an end to early morning style panics lol. I was thinking that this particular dress could be worn tucked in (yes, tucked in) to long black, straight skirt and paired with a denim jacket or cardigan but I didn't make this outfit because I don't know if the material of the dress would be light enough to allow it so you could experiment with that yourself.

Hope this has helped Iman! If anyone has any hijab style problems, just email me :D

Hijab Fashion - Modest Dresses From Alexis Mabille

I spotted a designer who has created some wonderful modest gowns for the French fashion shop La Redoute. Here is my favorite, coming at £269:

I've put together some possible accessories to complete the look, I think it should look very prim and polished almost to the edge of being OTT which is why I chose YSL heels, a silk scarf and a clutch that would make pay day seem like years away..:

Check out his clothes at La Redoute here by searching for "Alexis Mabille" in the search box at the top.

A Guide To Going Pins-Free

I'm guessing that the average hijabi will use 2 pins to keep her hijab from flying away in the wind: one straight pin (I haaaate these pins, they never stay put..) and one of the clippy ones that goes by the neck, under the chin. Well, if you get sick of these metal nightmares making tiny holes in your beautiful scarves or just want a comfy alternative that stays put, here are some of your options:

The (infamous) Al-Amira:

OK, so most of you hate the clingy feeling of the Al-Amira hijab and admittedly it doesn't suit all face shapes, but it has it's advantages. Firstly, it's 100% pins free and will not budge for love nor money making it fantastic for travelling (you won't set of the metal detectors at the airport either!) Secondly, I don't think there's a colour under the sun you can't get these in and you can mix and match the under caps too :D and lastly, they won't break the bank.

For anyone who doesn't actually know what an Al-Amira hijab is, it basically comprises 2 pieces: a small elastic under cap and a long, tube-like piece that slips over your head and rests behind the under cap. These are available in most, in not all, online hijab shops with some lovely ones available from the Hijab Store Online.

Overall rating: 7/10

The Mona and Kuwaiti Hijabs:

This option is my favorite as they're so pretty :D unfortunately, unless you don't move your head very much, you will probably need to use a straight pin to secure it in place. The Mona and Kuwaiti hijabs are very similar, in fact you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference if you hadn't worn them. They differ by the place the scarf is attached to the under cap and Kuwaiti hijabs tend to be more readily available online. You can also get them both at the hijab store online which also explains the difference between the two in more detail.

Overall rating: 8/10

The Turban:

The obvious disadvantage with this style is that it does not provide neck coverage but you could get round this problem, in the winter, with a neck scarf. There is a wide selection of these available cheaply at 2hijab. Another disadvantage would be that it's quite difficult to fit all of your hair in without any peeping out, so in conclusion I would say using this as an under cap would be a wiser choice.

Overall rating: 3/10

The Velcro Hijab..coming soon:

Hallelujah! Finally somebodies decided to make a Velcro hijab :D I have wanted someone to design one for aaaages and was so excited to see that the Hijab Store Online will be stocking some soon, Insha'Allah. It's seems like the long awaited answer to every hijabis pin woes :P however it looks like it will still need a straight pin to keep it in place. I'll keep checking the site and tell you when they put them up but in the mean time, click here then scroll down to the bottom of the page to "Velcro Hijab" where they show you how to put it on.

Overall (guess) rating: 8/10

Hope this helps :D

Nabila's Pick Of The Week

Nabila's outfit is a cute but simple and easy to pull off:

Here's my version:

Purple Cardie by Zaenab

More coming soon, Insha'Allah!

Outfit Ideas

Cute ideas for a formal event:

Request: Chanel Scarf Outfit

Someone (I can't for love nor money remember their name..) asked me a while back to put an outfit together that she can wear with a vintage Chanel scarf she bought. I decided the only way to go is prim and polished with a long skirt and tweed jacket (very on trend right now on the Chanel runway).

My take on the look:

Chanel Inspired Outfit by Zaenab

Hope this helped!

If you have anymore requests either pop them in the comments or email me :D

Hijabi Beginner: Style Trial

If you are thinking about becoming a hijabi but don't know where to start, my advise would be start with your clothing by gradually making them looser and longer. Funnily enough, this post isn't about clothing, it's about the headscarf. Converting to more modest clothes is one thing but as soon as you wrap a scarf around your hair instead of you neck, you automatically define yourself as a Muslim and this can be a very daunting experience in the Western world.

The thing you have to remember is that Islam and the Quran were revealed to the Prophet (SAW) and his people in small chunks over time, if it had come down all at once, it would have been too much for any of them to digest. It's exactly the same with wearing hijab, you need to do it gradually and over time otherwise you will just bite off more than you can chew and then just turn off to the idea altogether.

If you haven't covered your hair before and want to give it a go, here is a style that I suggest, it is far more discrete than a shayla or amira style and is kind of a 'hijabi half way house':

Here are the steps:

And this is what it should look like:

If you are confortable with this, you could start wearing it with a polo neck top or wrap another scarf around your neck in the winter.

Outfit Ideas

I like these two outfits, the jeans could loosen up a bit and the belts could be lost and I'm not hot on heeled boots, but apart from that they're nice lol, especially the yellow one:

An Old Request: Modest Swimsuits For Non-Muslim Sisters

Quite a while ago, I got a request from one Anonymous reader (I'd love to know your name!) who wanted me to make a post about modest swimwear for non Muslim ladies. She personally doesn't fancy baring all in a bikini or swimming costume so here are some alternatives I found that cover a bit more:

The best site that I found for this sort of swimwear is www.modestkini.com. For £33 you can get this red, 2-piece swimming costume:

If you would prefer sleeves, you can grab one of these for the same price!

If you want a more sporty look, £44 will get you this:

Don't fear Muslimahs, modestkini also offers a range of full cover swimsuits including a plus size range so get clicking!

Anon, I hope this helped :D

The Hijabi Beginner

If you live in a western country, even the prospect of covering your hair is scary for most. By wearing the headscarf, you are identifying yourself as a Muslim and we all know the general portrayal of Muslims in the media is usually negative, but that's another story..

Anyway, the difficulties that young Muslimahs face in the western world can sometimes leave them feeling isolated especially in certain aspects where they find it hard to explain to their parents just how they feel because their mother and father have a completely different social upbringing to them and have faced very different challenges as young adults so they can't quite relate to their all of their childrens worries. The main point is pressures from school, family and culture are enough without throwing hijab and religion into the equation so I have decided to dedicate a section for the new hijabi or the Muslimah thinking of becoming a hijabi, or on the road to becoming a hijabi. I hope that it might make dressing modestly easier for the Muslimah living in the western world.

The first post is about 2 teenage girls living in the west, one wears hijab and the other doesn't. Here's their stories, they are long but interesting reads. It was written by Robyn Doolittle for the star.com:

ASMAA ABOU ZEIDAN

Asmaa Abou Zeidan scans through her closet and – like most mornings – settles on a shirt her mother doesn't like.
It's a white linen button-up blouse, falling just above the knee.
"She thinks it's too tight," the 16-year-old sighs. "She thinks everything I own is too tight. `That's not the way a Muslim girl is supposed to dress. You're supposed to be modest,'" she says.
Asmaa doesn't consider herself super-religious. She reads the Qur'an – when her parents ask her to. She attends mosque, prays five times a day, and believes in Islam, but right now Asmaa's priorities are her family, friends and being 16.
On a typical day, Asmaa likes to hang around school for a bit after the final 3:15 p.m. bell. Sometimes, she and some friends will hop the 43 bus to the Scarborough Town Centre for some shopping.
"I don't have to be home until dark, although in the winter that's pretty early," she says. "My parents are pretty lenient with things like this. I can hang out with my friends as long as my mom knows where I am."That said, Asmaa lives a life of clear limits. She's never had a sleepover at a friend's house. She's not allowed to have a boyfriend and any secret crushes have to stay that way.
Well-liked at school, and as happy as a 16-year-old can be, Asmaa wears the hijab – by choice. It's a decision she made at 12, late by some standards.
"I liked the way people treated me when I wore it. I get more respect," says the Winston Churchill Collegiate student. "And I like the way it looks." Asmaa skims through her 25 or so scarves, selecting a chequered black and white one, with a pearl pin she bought at an Islamic clothing store down the street. In 30 seconds, she's wrapped it around her shoulder-length black hair.
"My hair's just black right now. But a few months ago I had it dyed red with highlights," she says, her soft eyes beaming. She laughs, anticipating the next question. But who's going to see it?
"What? I'm still a girl," she laughs. "My friends see it sometimes."
She means either at home, when no men are around, or in fitness class. "It's just girls, so when they close the gym doors, sometimes I take off my hijab," she says.
But sometimes, she just lets her hair down. Late at night, Asmaa will sneak down to her building's pool for a swim. Her bathing suit goes all the way to her ankles and wrists. She wears a cap on her head. Only when she's sure no one will walk in, Asmaa takes off the cap to feel the water run through her hair.

ZAHRAA EL-ZAIBAK

Most days, Zahraa El-Zaibak and her friends congregate outside the main school entrance after the final 3:15 p.m. bell.
Kids from other cliques stop to chat. A grade 11 student in conversation with Zahraa's friend Asmaa stops mid-sentence, looking over at Zahraa. He makes a face.
"Are you Muslim?" he asks
"Yes," the 15-year-old replies, with a hint of annoyance.
"Then why don't you wear the scarf?"
Let's just say Zahraa's heard that before.
In typical teenage fashion, clothing is a pillar of Zahraa's teenage life. On this day, Zahraa's wearing a brown crushed velvet track jacket over some loose-fitting blue jeans. It's a modest ensemble compared to what the average, low-rise-jean-wearing high schooler might wear. But by traditional Muslim standards the jacket's too short.
And the jacket's zipper is only half done up, revealing a not-so-baggy tank top that scoops a few millimetres too low below the collarbone.
But it's the one thing she doesn't wear that always creates questions.
"It happens all the time and I'm sick of hearing it," she says, in a severe tone.
"People think that if you don't wear the hijab you're not religious. They look on the outside. If you're wearing the hijab then you're automatically religious, instead of getting to know a person and see what they're really like."
Zahraa is "the sweetest girl you'll ever meet," according to her two best friends. But discussing the hijab brings out an uncharacteristic passion.
A scarf is not the only indicator of your spirituality, she says. She's learning how to read and write Arabic, so she can study the Qur'an, prays, attends mosque, fasts during Ramadan and says she thinks about faith and religion and what they mean to her.
"It's not that I won't wear one," she says about the hijab. "I'm just not ready for it yet. I will wear it one day. I know that. Just not right now. For me, I want to be spiritually ready to do it and not regret it later. It really changes everything."
She knows she's treated differently than Asmaa, her best friend, who does wear the hijab.
"They think you're more – I can't think of the word – traditional."
For one, it would change how she dressed every day. Like many 15-year-olds, she wants to be able to wear what she likes.
As it is now, Zahraa gets up a bit earlier than the rest of her friends. She has to.
Her voluminous shoulder-length hair takes at least half an hour to tame. After a shower and quick blow dry, Zahraa reaches for a can of mousse and works it through the curls, crunching her hands into fists.
The last thing she does before she meets the morning is pull her dark brown bangs back with a pair of bobby pins.

More posts coming soon Insha'Allah, I hope you like the idea :D

:D

There's a new celebrity style steal post below the quick style tip, I started it a few days ago but only got round to finish it today which is why it's been published there and not at the top :S

A Quick Style Tip: Straight Leg Jeans

If you want a way to wear them, don't go skinny but stay loose and straight cut, go one size up if you must. You could pair them with a below the knee dress to keep the look modest or with an abaya, open only at the shins. I like this look:

Celebrity Style Steal: Hayrunisa Gul

Hayrunisa Gul is the wife of the president of Turkey and she's today's style steal. Her look is always suited and smart so she looks the part and her signature hijab style is, unsurprisingly, Turkish.

Here she wears a metallic headscarf, one I thought would be hard to pull off but she's done it wonderfully:

I like this tweed skirt suit, very Chanel:

I do like her outfit in this pic, but just prefer the other woman's lol:

A couple more skirt suits:

I like her style but it would be nice if she would chill out a bit and go a tiny bit casual even if she still wants to look prim :D like this:

Black Maxi by Zaenab

$30 Discount On Uggs For Stylish Muslimah Readers!

If you fancy a pair of real Whooga Ugg boots at a discounted price then run along to www.whoogaboots.co.uk and claim your $30 (or 19 pounds) discount now! Just type in the promotional code STYLISHMUS at the checkout to claim your discount. They ship anywhere in the world and they have great reviews so get clicking!

Butterfly Trend

I've seen butterflies popping up in magazines recently so I decided to hijabify the trend, love the maxi!

Butterfly Maxi by Zaenab

Indonisian Dresses

Some lovely dresses from the runway to feast your eyes on:

Come on people, open a shop !

A Lovely, Simple Abaya

Usually embellished, sequined and generally OTT, the abaya on the runway has been given a rather refreshing makeover and I love it :)