Draped Cardigans

These Jersey draped tops from Promod are a nice alternative to regular knitted cardigans as the weather starts to warm up. They are generously cut so you can use the draping for extra chest coverage too - sort of like a cardigan and shawl all in one! You can pair them with anything from short-sleeved tunics and jeans, to maxi dresses or skirts. They're available in these four colours for £18 each:

Hint: Promod are offering free delivery on orders of £30 or more just for today! Enter the code SPRING at the checkout.

Hijab Style in Der Spiegel

Hijab Style was featured in an article about fashion blogs in Der Spiegel magazine. You can read the original article in German here. This is a roughly translated excerpt:

Fashion blogs: The Virtual Catwalk

Dialika Krahe
21.02.2009

[....] There is also another scene in which street-style-blogs achieve more and more attention: On websites like Hijab Style young Muslim women discuss the different ways of wearing a hijab. Whoever might have thought that wearing a veil is a kind of uniform will quickly learn better on Jana Kossaibati's blog: "Every country has it's own hijab style", says the 19 year-old student from London. "For example in Turkey, most women wear silk square scarves which are brightly coloured. But in the Gulf, the most popular scarves are oblong shaped and black – usually referred to as ‘shaylas’. In Egypt they use brightly coloured oblong scarves which are often layered together."

Kossaibati's blog works like an international trend centre for Muslim women. They discuss about sleeves that are too short, trousers that are too tight, about colours, cloth and different ways of wrapping. "Hijab blogs", says Kossaibati, "are an expression of Muslim women's self-confidence." [...]

AFW Update

I posted about Arabian Fashion World back in January, and they've now confirmed the line-up of designers: Amina Al Jassim, Abed Mahfouz, Omar Kashoura, Samira Haddouchi, and last but not least Rabia Z, whose designs I've posted previously here and here. And the good news is I will be attending the event in April! I'm too excited about seeing the collections first hand and meeting the designers! I am a fan of both Al-Jassim's traditional Saudi dresses, and Haddouchi's Moroccan kaftans, but I'm especially looking forward to Rabia Z's collection as it's specifically geared towards hijabis.

Here are some of Rabia's latest designs which she displayed during the Dubai Shopping Festival:

You can check out Rabia's profile to find out more about her. Hopefully I'll try to take photos at the event to post here too!

Scarf Storage

Unless you want to get the iron out each morning, you'll need an easy way to store your scarves to keep them organised and wrinkle-free. IKEA has a few inexpensive options. The first two hangers you can easily hang with the rest of your clothes in your wardrobe, or on the back of a door. The first one can take more scarves, though if you have many scarves which get creased easily it may not be ideal. The trouser hanger (no. 3) seems to be the best option, as you can see and select scarves without making a mess of the others. Although it does mean you'll need to take up some space in the wardrobe to install it like the one shown here. How do you store your scarves?

Komplement multi-use hanger £2.93

Brallis clothes hanger £2.73

Komplement trouser hanger £12.72

Ansaar Annual Charity Event

Imaan Collections will be exhibiting their 2009 collection at the Ansaar Annual Charity Event on Saturday 28th Februaury in Leicester. Sounds like a brilliant event! Click on the poster for more information:

Spring Classics

A classic trench coat never goes out of style, and is the perfect cover-up in between seasons. For a polished look, team with basic black wide leg trousers and peep-toe shoes. Add a patterned Turkish eşarp, textured handbag and cocktail ring for an outfit that will take you from the office and out to dinner in no time:


Stone double breasted trench coat £70, Wallis; black and cream esarp £10, Losve; grey fold over zip bag £30; black button trousers £20, both Dorothy Perkins; vintage medal disc ring £8, Accessorize; Dubai Heights court shoe £59.99, Clarks.

Hijab Stylist: Jailan Atef

In recent years some countries in the Middle East, most notably Egypt, have seen a rise in what are usually referred to as 'make-up and veil designers'. They offer the usual make-up services for women, but unlike regular salons, they can also style hijabs for special occasions like weddings. Jailan Atef is one such designer, and below are some of her bridal hijab designs. A lot of women often feel pressured to take their hijab off on their wedding day, so it's good to see that women do have options to keep covered whilst wearing a white wedding dress.

I personally prefer the simpler styles of the bottom two pictures here, though they could do with more neck coverage. I'm not too fond of the idea of swimming in white tulle and organza - we wouldn't want to upstage the cake now, would we?

Eastern Inspiration

Mango have some beautiful pieces in their Spring collection right now, and this silk blouse and skirt really caught my attention. It's always difficult to find modest evening wear on the high street, but these two pieces together would be perfect. I was immediately reminded of bright African prints, but the style itself seems to be a cross between a Moroccan kaftan and Japanese kimono. It would make a beautiful outfit for a wedding guest in warmer climes. Just add an orange hijab, jersey top or sleeves for arm coverage and gold accessories:


Silk blouson £70 and silk skirt £95, Mango; orange kuwaiti hijab £3.99, Muslim Base; long sleeve top £7, Dorothy Perkins; Ladazello gold sandals £55, Faith; gold mixed bangles £8 ASOS; Misty bag £35, Dune.

Dar Aseelah

These stunning dresses are the work of Lebanese designer Najwa Al Rifa'ai for her label Dar Aseelah (دار أصيلة). Most Lebanese designers like Elie Saab, Abed Mahfouz and Zuhair Murad are known for their haute couture Western-style gowns, so it's a little unusual for one to focus on traditional Arab garments. Dar Aseelah use traditional embroidery methods, silver and even shells in their abayas/jalabiayas. You can read a short article about the brand in Asharq Al-Awsat (sorry it's in Arabic only!). My favourite have to be the first two turquoise designs:

Designer: Sarah Elenany

Sarah Elenany is a young up-and-coming British designer who aims to cater to Muslim youth. Her designs are modest, but with an urban twist. She has just launched her own brand Elenany and her Spring/Summer 09 collection. Hijab Style has an exclusive interview with Sarah about her work:

1. First off, tell us a little about yourself.

I'm 24 and live in Mitcham, Surrey. I have a BSc in Engineering Product Design and MSc in Enterprise by Learning Contract. My interests are: designing stuff, making things - especially clothes, fixing things, Japanese cartoons and canaries.

2. How did you come to start the brand?

I started the brand because I didn't think there was anything on the market that catered for the young Muslim audience. As a teenager I used to make my own clothes because I couldn't find anything in shops that I liked, and that I felt covered me up properly. So when people (both Muslims and non-Muslims) started complementing me on my clothes I realised that there could be a demand for my clothes.

I researched clothing currently on the market and found that most clothes for the Muslim youth were things like Islamic slogans, written in a graffiti style on t-shirt shirts and hoodies. For girls, it was either jilbabs or buying a “Western” dress then customising it, for example by wearing a long sleeved top under a short sleeve dress –and of course the dress would be bought in a larger size to make it more loose fitting.

Since art is deeply rooted in Islam, and that the Muslim youth clearly like graphics (with their graffiti t-shirts etc) I though the brand should be defined by its graphics. Almost every piece of Elenany clothing will incorporate a graphic which captures the spirit of the Muslim Youth.

Something else which is very important is the fit of the clothing. A girl will be able to buy clothing in her size, which will fit her beautifully,and won’t cling to the places she usually tries to cover up. Lastly, a lot of people asked me why I don’t just produce clothing then let a big high street chain sell it under their own name. I thought about this, but then based on my experience of Muslims, I really thought there needed to be a brand –a brand which they could feel happy buying from, which would not exploit people who make the clothes and who wouldn’t donate profits to anything Muslims didn’t agree with. So the business ethics also reflect the needs of Muslims.

3. What do you hope to achieve?

I hope to make the shopping experience of Muslims a lot easier. I want them to buy Elenany products in confidence, knowing that it won’t fit them too tightly and also to increase their pride of being a Muslim when they wear the products.

4. What are your future plans in the realm of fashion?

I want to start a menswear line late 2009/early 2010 and also open an Elenany shop in London.

Thank you for your time Sarah, and all the best with your venture!

Sleeve Solutions

Shrugs and boleros are the perfect way to provide arm coverage over sleeveless dress and tops without looking too bulky. The type you can tie at the front also let you control how loose you want them to be. Esprit has several in right now in white, grey, black, brown and purple. They're priced at £22 and delivery is free when you buy online:

Pretty in Pink

Shukr's Spring collection has just arrived, and my favourite piece has to be this beautiful grey and pink dress. The light linen is perfect for warmer weather. Team with a juicy pink hijab and these adorable demi-wedge sandals and cream accessories for a fresh outfit perfect for a day out:

Linen Shangri-La Dress £48.95; watermelon crinkled wrap £3.95, both Shukr; enamel flower ring £12; cream ruched buckle bag £20, both Dorothy Perkins; pink sandals £55, Nine West.

More Maxis

So the weather hasn't been too good recently, but I'm looking forward to warmer days and here's one such outfit in anticipation. Miss Selfridge has another maxi dress in right now, and the soft pink and brown tones are perfect for spring. The sleeves are quite generous so I'd add a brown long-sleeve top underneath, pink hijab (but brown would work well too), simple sandals and bag and finish off with some mixed bangles:

Indian print tier maxi dress £45, Miss Selfridge; pashmina £6.99, The Hijab Shop; Massamartana bag £40, Aldo; sandals £59, Nine West; hi-neck under-sweater £9, Promod; coral mixed bangle set £15, Miss Selfridge.

Scarves for Layering

Right now, H&M have got some lovely long crinkled scarves which are perfect for creating layered styles like the ones I've posted here and here. Prices start from £4.99, and you can download a 20% discount voucher valid until February 13th.

Bosnian Street Style

Muslim women's fashion in Bosnia appears to be a blend of Turkish, Arab and European styles. The end result is fresh and relaxed without looking scruffy. I particularly like the hijab wraps of the girl in pink in the 1st picture, and the girl in orange in the 3rd. I've already profiled one Bosnian muslimah, Aida Begić, and here are more photos of Bosnian hijab style:

Fashion Matters @ The V&A

I was recently given a very exciting opportunity to be part of a panel in one of a series of discussions called Fashion Matters at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington. The event is incredibly popular and it would be brilliant if Hijab Style readers would attend. It would also be a great chance to meet up afterwards. Tickets sell out very quickly, so be sure to buy yours soon if you are attending. Here's the info:

Fashion Matters: Fashion and the Internet
Friday 20th March 19.00-20.30
V&A

The V&A and the London College of Fashion jointly present an event exploring how the Internet has transformed the experience of fashion for designers, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. Fashion forecasters from WGSN join Dolly Jones from Vogue.com, fashion blogger Jana Kossaibati from hijabstyle.com, and academic Prof. Louise Crewe, to discuss with LCF Professor Reina Lewis how the internet has facilitated different relationships to style and fashion for consumers.

Tickets are £8/6 and can be purchased here or by phone on 020 7942 2211

Muslimahs in Fashion Retail

A request for help from Professor Reina Lewis, London College of Fashion:

Everyone who reads this blog is interested in modest fashion, but do any of you also work in fashion retail? If so, perhaps you would consider helping me with research for my new book on Islam and Fashion.

I would the opportunity to speak with women [mostly but not exclusively hijabis] who work in mainstream fashion shops [full-time or part-time], or have done so recently: I want to find out if/how you felt that your 'visible' Muslim identity was a factor at work [with managers, colleagues, customers] and if anyone experienced any discrimination on this basis. I am focussing especially on women working in fashion as opposed to other types of retail because fashion more than any other type of shop work relies on front of house staff to embody the identity of the brand.

Whatever your experiences I would really like to hear about them!

I will be travelling the country this spring to do interviews. Interviewees’ identities will remain confidential in any publications that result.

Do please get in touch with me on reina.lewis@fashion.arts.ac.uk.

Hijab chic on the catwalk

I recently had a quick chat with journalist Roisin Ingle for the Irish Times regarding an article she was writing about a Hijab Fashion Show at UCD. She gives Hijab Style a mention in the article too! Check it out:

ROISIN INGLE

IT’S FASHION, but not as we know it. The latest trends in “hijab chic” will be unveiled at a fashion show in UCD today when over one hundred young Muslim women gather at a female-only event to strike a pose in a headscarf.

Instead of the usual catwalk uniform of plunging necklines and form-fitting couture, participants will be conservatively covered up for the second annual Hijab Fashion Show organised by students of the university.

“Our aim is to promote the hijab, to show how it can be worn anytime, anywhere and to communicate the message that beauty can be modest and fashionable at the same time,” says food science student Fatima Elkhomssi (18), at a meeting with the rest of the event’s organising committee in UCD’s Student Centre.

The women – some international students from countries such as Malaysia, others who have spent most of their lives in Ireland after arriving with their families from Libya, Saudi Arabia or Pakistan – are keen to dispel what they see as myths about the conservative Muslim dress code.

Read the rest here.

If any readers attended the show, let us know how it went!

Professional Plus Sized Clothing

Ulla Popken is a great store for finding clothing in larger sizes. They are also quite good in stocking smart/formal wear. These 'Frock coats' are long-length blazers which would be perfect with a skirt (for taller women) or wide leg trousers if you are more petite. Prices start at £31, click on each to buy:

They also have a selection of longer length blouses. I love this one in pink, and it's on sale now for £17. I've paired it with a black skirt here, but it would look great with grey, navy or brown too:

Long blouse £17, Ulla Popken; jersey maxi skirt £17.50, Simply Be; silver thread rayon wrap hijab £4.95, Shukr; cluster rhinestone ring £12, Wallis; black rouched bow court shoes £30, Debenhams; Loretta hand held strap bag £35, Oasis.