Those Long Sleeved Stretch Tops..

Have you ever seen a 'hijabi' who wears a short sleeved dress and pairs it with a long sleeved skin tight top underneath to cover her arms? How is the arm covered and hijabified when you can seen every single tiny lump, bump and curve through the material?! It is soo much more important to cover your entire body shape than your hair so here are some alternatives that are actually modest and I genuinely think they look better, fashion wise, than the horrible skin tight tops anyway!

Here are some formal gowns with models wearing headscarves:

Instead of the top underneath, I would say add a long sleeved bolero, jacket or cardigan over the top. I would personally go for the latter 2 as they will also cover your waist line better. Here are formal gowns modelled but women wearing hijab:

This next picture is soo modest, the dress is a good length and the jeans are loose and un-reaveling. The only problem is the arm covering:

This women is also wearing a dress, but has properly covered her arms (and neck..). And I think the outfit looks so much better:

Now I must say at this point that I don't completely and utterly hate them, in fact I have a few myself! But I use them on dresses with 3/4 length or slightly sheer sleeves and sometimes underneath a top with very loose sleeves so that your arms stay covered even if the outer sleeve rides up. Here are some examples:

I love the last outfit, though I don't like the hijab style very much :S Anyway, next time you get told that one of your hijabi wardrobe essentials is a selection of tight long sleeved tops remember Surat Al Nur and make sure you know exactly how they should be worn and you'll live hijabily ever after :D

University Outfit Idea

You might have gathered that I'm starting university soon (next Friday!) so I've been thinking of potential outfits (never too soon :D) for my first day. Here's one I like:

Hijab Outfit by Zaenab

It's not crazy, I know lol but I want to keep it simple but not typical uni scruffy if you know what I mean. I'm in love with those flats ^-^ Anywayy hope you like it!

I'm Still Alive...

I know I haven't been posting much lately but it's because I moved house over the weekend and there's still loads of stuff to sort out. Also starting uni in 10 days!! Quite scared :S Anywayy just to say, I should be posting again soon and if you have any requests just email me or put it in the comments. And last but certainly not least EID MUBAREK!!!!

Salam

Zaenab xxx

P.S. What a cute abaya?!

An Interesting Hijab Choice

Arghh I'm so bored and my internet is running soooooo slooowwww atm it's drving me mad :-O Anywayy, I finally managed to get the blog open just to post you this lol:

I like the look on the left, not sure about the material choice on the right though, what do you think?

107-year-old Malaysian Hijabi Seeks 23rd Hubby

Check this article out, I don't really know what to make to if apart from it made me chuckle a little.

Hijabi Beginner: Work Wear Request

Modest, non-hijabi/hijabi in training Nafessa has asked me to make a post on work and smart wear as she has a job interview next week. Although she doesn't wear hijab at the moment, she would like to wear it in the future, Insha'Allah, and is very conscious about dressing modestly first.

Now, Nafessa I have made this outfit especially for you but I am not going to make a whole post about smart dress because I have done so many smart hijab fashion articles before so check out the links at the end of this post of previous stuff in the blog!

In this outfit, the shirt is a tunic and the trousers are a wide-leg cut; left open, the cardigan will drape over and cover your figure without making you look swamped. I have added a scarf so that you have the option of completing your look with a smart Turkish style hijab.

Smart Wear by Zaenab

Here are some other posts I have done that you might find useful:

How To Do Smart

A Smart Choice

The Perfect Combination For A Formal Look

I hope that helps Nafeesa and best of luck with your interview, you'll walk it, Insha'Allah!

Happy 1st Birthday Stylish Muslimah

It has been exactly one year today since I started the Stylish Muslimah blog and it's gone sooo fast, it's unbelievable!! This actually also marks the end of my gap year which I have enjoyed working in but am ready to move on and go to university (2nd October!) so you will probably see a lot more outfit sets for uni popping up :) I have made some very slight changes to the blog and have added a search box so that you can look through a whole year of hijab style at the click of a button :D Insha'Allah the second year will bring even more!

Salam Alaykom my lovely stylish sisters!

Around The World Hijab Style: Algeria

By the request of Ellen Mann today's instalment of around the world hijab style is Algeria and I've found some really cute photos:

I'm sure you all recognise her, Al Jazeera news reporter Khadija Ben Genna is Algerian and I love all the different smart outfits she wears with her hijabs, here's one:

Algerian women in abayas, I love the wrap style of the red and white hijab:

I love the loose, casual way they have wrapped their scarves, pink hijab day sorted!

A traditional hijab fashion shop selling Galabiyas in Algeria:

I like the glam abaya on the left:

I think they are outside a school or college, a striking photo with clear contrasts:

Clothes shops:

A mother and daughter? They clearly share hijab styling tips:

There are lots of different styles of hijab in Algeria:

More coming soon, Insha'Allah! If you have a request, email me or put it in the comments :D

Outfit Ideas

I love this outfit!! I found it while clearing out my Stylish Muslimah photo folder as it was getting insanely full :S To make it more casual, you could wear some loose jeans or those loose linen trousers you get in the summer or you could replace the jacket with an oversized on-trend version :D

Long Sleeve Maxi Dresses

I was browsing my faaavorite site ASOS today for some day dresses (they have the best range ever :D check out this post I did a while back about them) and noticed a new and unlikely mini trend: long sleeve maxi dresses..

I do like this one but I'd buy a size up to make sure the fabric isn't too clingy, it only £30.00, I know!!:

Nicole Richie is pictured here wearing the same dress:

I love this, it's £32.00:

But this is my favorite by far, it's also £30.00 :D but unfortunately at the moment all the sizes above 8 (UK) are out or stock :( and I was so ready to order..

Check out ASOS's complete range of day dresses here!

Abaya Outfit Idea

I love this abaya outfit, so have made a set inspired by the look :D

Floral Scarf by Zaenab

Hijab Tutorial

I love this hijab style so I thought I'd share it with you all, the video's about 7 minutes long but I think it's worth the watch. It is by MisforMuslim:

Iftar Out

Hope Ramadan is going good! Here's and outfit idea if you want something to wear to an Iftar out:

Iftar Out by Zaenab

Ramadan Kareem

I hope Ramadan is going well for you all, we're into the second day and only 4.5 hours to go for me till Fatoor! I may be posting slightly less as I'm moving house at the moment and soon to be staring university. I also want to knuckle down and finish reading the Quran before Eid, Insha'Allah (I'm half way through so wish me luck lol) and focus on fasting as opposed to fashion for a while. I hope that you all get what you want from Ramadan and that your efforts are rewarded abundantly.

Hijabi Beginner: 5 Pros Of Hijab

As part of my 'Hijabi Beginner' posts, I decided to make a list of five of what I think are the main reasons a Muslimah should wear the hijab. When you are thinking about wearing it, so many things go around in your head so I hope the list makes it that bit easier to decide.

Before reading it, remember that the word 'hijab' in Arabic means 'barrier' not 'headscarf' or 'modest dress'. A barrier is something built not something that pops up automatically when you cover your hair with some material. So before you even think about covering your hair, make sure the foundations for a proper hijab are already in place in your life by the way you act, talk and dress especially around men.

1. Simply and most importantly because has Allah (SWT) ordered us to wear the hijab and to cover up. If you believe in Allah (SWT), you pray and do good deeds and wish to obey Him (SWT) then sooner or later you will feel the urge to wear hijab. If you don’t feel like this at all, you should focus on other, more fundamental parts of Islam like reading the Quran, prayer and even things like questioning the sort of effect the people you socialise with have on you and the way you act.

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils (head coverings) over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment accept to their own husbands or fathers or husbands' fathers, or their sons or their husbands' sons, or their brothers or their brothers' sons or sisters' sons, or women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women's nakedness. And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And turn unto Allah together, O believers, in order that ye may succeed.”
[Al Nur: 30]

Note what is mentioned first in the Iya: the lowering of the gaze and acting modestly or the covering of the breasts?

2. Dressing modestly in a world where women (and men!) are sexualized a lot will get you more respect from people who may have otherwise just ‘checked you out’ treating you, consciously or subconsciously, as a commodity.

3. Although a daunting thought and often a deterrent for a women wishing to wear hijab in the Western world, people will automatically know that you are a Muslim. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing though! If you are a walking representation of your religion then show it in a good light by the way you act and deal with people; if you change just one person’s bad opinion of Islam the jobs a good’n!

4. Only the people you want to see your Awrah will see it, when your outfit leaves only little to the imagination get back to the drawing board, love. On a slightly more serious note, if your outfits really do lend an eyeful and you want to dress more Islamically, start by de-cluttering your wardrobe of the most revealing items you have and then focus on covering your breasts, waist, hips and then move onto longer sleeves and covering the thighs. You’ll be several steps closer to hijab :)

5. People judge you by your intellect, opinions and achievements instead of your quickly perishable looks and you’re conforming by attempting to replicate unreasonable beauty stereotypes seen in the media.

I could go on and on but remember, the most important reason is because we are told to do so by our Creator who knows us better than we know ourselves and so knows what is good for us and what isn’t (SWT). I’m not saying that the next time you go out you must be covered from head to toe, that’s ridiculous. Islam came to humans in small chunks at a time so they could take it in and adapt their lives easily and over a long period. This is what a Muslimah wanting to be a Hijabi should do, adapt her lifestyle and clothing to be suited to Islam and Hijab only then should she cover her hair. Hope this helps any budding hijabis! More coming soon Isha'Allah :D

Celebrity Style Steal: Cheryl Cole's Hippie Dress

I saw this photo of Cheryl Cole the other day in a magazine and love her outfit so much that I had to do a post on it. After searching google for far too long I finally found the website (http://www.bluebee.com/) that she bought the dress from but unfortunately they don't sell it anymore, however they do sell a very similar dress (below) for $398.00 here. It is pricey but it's 95% silk and I looove it :D

Regrettably, we don't all have that amount of cash to splash on a single ensemble so I decided to recreate the look using items more within our decidedly limited budget.. Here is a skirt I found from a lovely website (http://www.thelittlebazaar.com/) that has a massive range of gypsy skirts all at fantastic prices, you can find this one here for a pocket-friendly $24.99.

I have paired it with wardrobe basics to complete the look, I gave the waist belt a miss as I don't think that counts as a hijabis wardrobe essential:

I think a hippie hijab style like this would look best with the outfit, but of course you can experiment to find what works:

Hope you like the look ^-^

A Head Scarf (and a Neck Scarf): Love it or Shove it?

We've all come across that hijabi who defies all the style rules in the book and dons both a neck scarf and a headscarf at the same time. In person, I have only seen one girl that managed to pull this look off and I think the reason for that was that she was wearing a high neck coat and the second scarf was only loosely draped across her shoulders.

I personally think that the look is quite nice for hijabi beginners or 'hijabis in training' as I like to call them but for me, it is so much more practical to wear a simple wrap style that covers your neck and chest and doesn't look like you've tried too hard!

Here are some different hijab and scarf looks:

So what do you think of the look, love it or shove it?