Style Notes: Erdem

Fall 2009

Floral Prints

Erdem's Fall collection to me is the more grown up, refined version of Spring 2009. His signature floral prints are back, this time on a darker base of blue and black. I love the elegant maxi dresses this season, which mostly came with a short sleeve. They'd be perfect to wear under a cropped tux jacket or blazer for a beautiful evening outfit. Erdem also featured a full-sleeved maxi dress and a skirt with a cropped floral jacket, which if a little looser would have been ideal for hijab. What do you think of this collection?

Maxi Lengths

Images: Style.com

Voting Time

It's now time for Hijab Style readers to vote for their favourite entry of the Spring/Summer edition of the Muslimah Style feature. Thank you to everyone who's sent in their photos so far - I've had contributions from all over the world!

Cast your vote in the small box on the top right hand side of the page, and as always you can see all of the entries here. Voting will end on the 2nd of September.

‘The veil should not be a barrier between women’

This article from The National talks about British Muslimah Rabina Khan, author of the book Behind the Hijab:

August 29. 2009

The writer and campaigner Rabina Khan talks to Charlotte Kemp about her drive to dispel the myths and stereotypes about the hijab, and how her latest project, which documents the views of Muslim and non-Muslim women on the subject, is helping to promote a new understanding.

With her beautiful face framed by a dusky pink headscarf, Rabina Khan arrives at our rendezvous in east London a slight and seemingly shy figure who looks no more than 20 years old. But as if to prove her mission to challenge people’s perceptions of each other, all is not quite as it seems. For in fact, not only is Khan 37, and married with two daughters, aged 15 and nine, she is far from shy, exuding a calm confidence which pervades her work as a novelist, editor, campaigner and general champion for Muslim women’s rights both in Britain and around the world.

There are more surprises. Though she now thrives in the ethnic diversity of London’s East End, she was born in Bangladesh but grew up in the predominantly white town of Rochester, Kent, in the south-east of England, less than 10 miles from my own childhood home.

Read the rest here.

Reader Request: Maternity Workwear

I am 7 months pregnant and having trouble dressing stylishly for work. I really do not want to compromise on my style now, but my bump is getting in the way. Please can you post some ideas?

Putting together maternity outfits for work needn't be a hassle, and it doesn't necessarily mean buying a whole new wardrobe. Depending on how you normally like to dress, a few key basics to invest in include a smart abaya, shirts/shirtdresses, a long black or grey skirt and trousers. Aside from that, you can most likely carry on wearing pre-pregnancy cardigans and jackets, as long as they're left open. And of course, don't forget that shoes, bags, scarves and jewellery make all the difference to an outfit!

And as for where to shop, many regular clothing shops have maternity sections, and you can also check out specialist shops like Mamas and Papas, Blooming Marvellous and Crave Maternity. Aab also do a lovely range of maternity abayas.

Here's one outfit I've put together using a few key basics, and just used some interesting accessories to add a bit more flair:


Black boyfriend cardigan £32, Wallis; maternity long line shirt £28, Dorothy Perkins; eşarp £10.95, LOSVE; maternity Paloma trousers £28, Topshop; red mock croc shoulder bag £22; black t-bar cut out court shoes £30, both Debenhams; red squares necklace £12, Dorothy Perkins.

Hint: If you struggle to find modestly fitting clothing on the high street that's suitable for your body shape, then why not try maternity tops? They actually fit nicely, but are looser at the bust and waist, so you can wear them whether or not you are pregnant! I particularly like the range at H&M.

‘I prefer to see my designs on other people’

Last month I posted here about designer Beena Soni who creates beautiful jalabiyas, and now the The National has published an article about her:

Katie Boucher
August 22. 2009

The jalabiya designer Beena Soni talks about her life in fashion.

It all started when I was a kid in Bombay. Like any other girl, I had my Barbie. My mother used to buy her own fabric and she would always have some extra material, so I used to pick that up and create clothes for it.

I preferred making party dresses to jalabiyas back then, which I think reflects my designs today – jalabiyas but with a more of a western cut.

We were a big family – 13 or 14 cousins all living together. Among the girls, even as kids we always wanted to look better than the other. We used to say: “Mama, I want to buy new clothes because she is wearing something and I don’t want the same.”

Read the rest here.

Perfect Plaid

Plaids and checks are always a favourite come Autumn, and as always several designers including Donna Karan and Marc Jacobs featured them in their collections for Fall 2009. Here are a couple of more unusual takes on the look; I love the maxi skirt by Isaac Mizrahi:

Vivienne Westwood; Isaac Mizrahi

Images: Style.com

And right now, the high street is full of checked shirts in long, loose styles, perfect for Muslimahs. H&M and Dorothy Perkins have several in stock, but I love this one from Debenhams which is on sale for £13! I'd pair it with jeans and a long cardigan for a casual day outfit:

Shoulder pleat long cardigan £32, Topshop; blue sleeveless checked shirt dress £13, Debenhams; purple pashmina £4.95, Hijab Store Online; Saints of soul blue wide leg jeans £35, Dorothy Perkins; Goyco shoe £44.98, Aldo; metallic canvas flower charm shoulder bag £30, Accessorize.

Style Notes: Kenzo

Fall 2009

Hijab Style kicks off Fall 2009 fashion coverage with a look at one of my favourite collections this season. Chanel weren't the only fashion house to be inspired by Russia; Kenzo incorporated fur trimmed skirts, folksy prints and military-style jackets into several hijab-friendly looks:

Patterned Maxi Skirts and Fur Trims

Military Jackets and Neck Scarves

Chunky Knits

Printed Maxi Dresses

Images: Style.com

Muslimah Style: Azureen

Reader's Contribution

Salam, my name is Azureen. I am 20 years old, and I'm an accounting student from Malaysia.

My Style

I used to wear hijab with plain shirts and trousers most of the time, and I kept repeating the same outfits as I didn't really care about my look. But I'm glad I came across Hijab Style, which had inspired me to change my appearance. Previously, I'd always thought that there was no way for me to play with fashion whilst wearing hijab. But after following this blog for months, it has opened my mind and changed my view of hijab. Since then, I've tried to wear different outfits, and I was surprised by the results. It has managed to develop my confidence level and I just realized that dressing up could provide a better personality!

Now, I'm usually dressed according to the occasions that I have to attend. When I need to attend classes, I always opt for trousers, as going to class requires me to move a lot and I find them more practical. But my favourite outfit has to be something that could make me look more feminine. So during the weekend, instead of my daily outfits, I'll change to skirts/maxi dresses when I go out shopping or spending time with my family and friends.

I don't have many clothes as I've just discovered the beauty of fashion, but I'm trying my best to mix and match whatever I have in my wardrobe. Being a student, and since I don't earn any personal income, I'm always extra careful when I shop for clothes. I'll make sure that I don't already own a specific design/colour, and that it could match with most of the clothes I already own. Only then will I spend my money on the items. The first things that I bought when I decided to change my apearance were colourful cardigans. I love to play with colors and I believe that by combining different colours together, it can change a boring look to something more fun and interesting.

Top Tips

I usually shop for clothes anywhere, no matter if it's branded or unbranded, either online or offline, as long as it's unique I don't already own any, I will definitely go for it!

A simple tip from a beginner like me is, don't be afraid to change for good. Know your body type as it will help you to find the right clothes that will look good on you. Be confident and love yourself. And the most important thing is, always remind yourself that there is no restricition of being fashionable when you are wearing hijab. Be proud to be a Muslim and show the beauty of Islam through stylish hijab!

What did you think of Azureen's style? If you want to be featured on Hijab Style, send in your photos and top tips to hijabstyle @ hotmail . co . uk

Readers will be able to vote for their favourite entry of the Spring/Summer edition on August 31st, and the winner will receive a FREE hijab of their choice from The Hijab Shop.

Style Notes: Chanel

Pre-Fall 2009

"There are three things I like about Russia...I love Imperial Russia, from Catherine the Great to Fabergé. I love constructivism, of course. And I love Russian folklore, which is very special. What was fun was to mix it all.”

Karl Lagerfeld, from WWD.com

I'm loving this collection from Chanel - not only does Lagerfeld use luxe fabrics, plenty of embellishment and rich colours; most of these outfits are very hijab friendly. He featured several long coats and plenty of full length skirts and dresses teamed with stylish jackets...

Back in August last year, I posted about Veronique Branquinho's Spring 2008 collection here, where she also showcased a similar technique of layering short dresses and skirts over longer ones. I definitely prefer Chanel's chic take on the look though:

Images: Style.com

Muslimah Asian Bridal Wear

Traditional clothing from the Subcontinent lends itself really well to hijab, especially bridal clothing. The loose layers of fabric are elegantly modest, and since the outfits are usually tailor-made, it should be easy to work in all your requirements.

I love the idea here in the second picture, of wearing a simple, plain hijab in a co-ordinating colour to provide the necessary hair and neck coverage. Sabrina over at Slice of Lemon wrote a great post about wearing hijab with traditional clothing for her own wedding; check it out here.

Hijabi Style: Raluca

Reader's Contribution



I live in Romania in a small city called Cluj-Napoca. There are a lot of Muslims in Romania who come to study medicine, pharmacy, and so on. I personally am a Christian, but maybe one day I will become Muslim.

My Style

I love clothes and I like shopping! Everytime I go shopping I always look out for something that will match with the clothes I already have. I usually wear tunics and large blouses with jeans; I like to have my own style and to be different from other people. I love accessories such as handbags, shoes, watches, scarves, and lots of bangles! My favourite colour is pink but I also like black, purple, red, blue, green and white.

I feel that wearing hijab and dressing with modesty, and also with a little bit of style, makes me more calm and confident. My parents don't really like me to dress like this, but I don't care.

Top Tip

My number one tip is to be confident, and not to listen to what others say about you and what are you wearing. As long as it's your choice, let people judge you as they want, and be indifferent when they say something about you.

What did you think of Raluca's style? If you want to be featured on Hijab Style, send in your photos and top tips to hijabstyle @ hotmail . co . uk

Readers will be able to vote for their favourite entry of the Spring/Summer edition on August 31st, and the winner will receive a FREE hijab of their choice from The Hijab Shop.

Islamic Clothing Updates

Get your Eid shopping sorted early with new ranges, special offers and more:

Aab are currently having a sale with 50% off their abayas.

2hijab; Al Jilbab and Islamic Boutique are all offering discounts from 15% to 30% until August 31st

Ihtijab are giving away a free hijab pin with all purchases over £20 until Eid ul Fitr.

Imaan Collections have just released new arrivals for Eid.

Islamic Design House are selling 3 hijabs for £10, as well as a buy 1 get 1 free offer on t-shirts.

You can still get 25% off at LOSVE by filling in their online survey.

Saif Modesty are offering all Hijab Style readers an exclusive 15% discount on any purchases made from their site with the code HS1509. The offer is valid until the end of August 2009.

Shukr has some beautiful new arrivals for Ramadan. I love this Cotton and Silk Carefree Printed Top.

Enjoy!

Ramadan Mubarak!

... to all Hijab Style readers! May this be a month of blessings, forgiveness and mercy for you and your families, inshallah.

Style Notes: Jayson Brunsdon

Jayson Brunsdon is an Australian designer who according to his site, creates garments 'focusing a structured, strong silhouette with an emphasis on cinematic feminity'. These beautiful dresses were shown on the runway at the Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival 2009 a couple of days ago. I absolutely adore the clean-cut simplicity of the full-length shirtdresses - a few adjustments here and there and they'd be perfect for hijab. Full marks for Islamic fashion inspiration:

Images: Getty Images

Style Inspiration: Eid Day

With Ramadan just around the corner, and Eid a month away, many readers have requested ideas for Eid day outfits. The Pre-Fall 2009 collections provide plenty of inspiration. It's important to wear something you'll be comfortable enough to spend the whole day in; I've never been a fan of wearing sparkly outfits and huge heels on Eid day!

Try a chic ensemble of a long coat or cardigan with wide-leg trousers. Comfortable and relaxed, this is a great look if you'll be spending the day outdoors:

Giorgio Armani; Zac Posen

Silky blouses teamed with a full-length skirt were a popular runway look; perfect for evening occasions like dining out:

Lanvin; Monique Lhuillier; Rachel Roy

Put those summer maxis to good use by adding a short jacket or blazer on top. I particularly like Miu Miu's take on the look:

Miu Miu; Viktor and Rolf; Carolina Herrera

Images: Style.com

Holiday Style Snaps: Hijabi Trends

During my stay in Lebanon, I got to get a good look at what women on the streets were wearing, and there were a few definite trends that came up:

Maxi dresses were the must-have fashion item this summer. Every single shop I walked into had these in stock, usually in loud, colourful prints. Most hijabis layered these over long sleeve tees, and matching scarves. However, I added a bolero on top, which is a great way to cover up 'messy' layers, especially with strappy summer dresses. These too were widely available in assorted colours and fabrics.

Instead of going for a matching pink or white shoe, which would have been 'proper' Lebanese style, I went for peep-toe wedges in beige. One thing I did notice is that very few people used clothing and accessories in neutral shades - though I think it's a chicer alternative to wearing matching colours head to toe!

What did you think of Lebanese Muslimah style? More to come soon!

New Hijab Style Tutorials

A few new videos have been recently uploaded to YouTube by edbdesign giving directions to different hijab styles. Here's one of them, check the rest out here:

Holiday Style Snaps: Tripoli

I divided my time in Lebanon between the cities of Beirut and Tripoli. Being a majority Muslim city, there were a lot more hijabis to be seen on the streets of Tripoli, and consequently a lot more affordable places to shop!

The best place to buy hijabs in Tripoli has to be in Al Thouq Centre. This is a collection of several shops stocking just hijabs and abayas. Walking into one of these stores is just so much fun; the sheer variety of scarves is fantastic! This is one of the stores to be found, Al-Ahdab:




Azmi Street is Tripoli's more up-market high street. The shops here are mostly independent boutiques that bring in European and Turkish stock. The great thing about shopping here is that you'll find plenty of maxi dresses, long skirts and tunics. However, you'll often find the exact same items for a lower price in the old souq:

Azmi Street

The old markets in Tripoli are found in historic buildings and are divided into 'Khans' depending on what was traditionally sold there. This photo is of Khan Al-Khayateen, or Tailor's Market, where you can still find tailors who make garments such as sherwal, abayas and bishts:

Khan Al-Khayateen

When it came to street style, there was a lot of variation in the way women dressed, but from the point of hijab, sometimes there was a lot to be desired! I can best describe Lebanese hijab style as being quite similar to that of Egypt, in the colour co-ordination and attempts at layering even the skimpiest of tops over a long sleeve tee! The shop window displays give you some idea of what's popular right now:

Shop window display in the old market

Despite what I've mentioned, there were several hijabi trends I loved - keep an eye out for them in my next Lebanon post!

High Street Hijab Picks

The high street shops are a great place to find beautiful scarves to use as hijabs. Here are my top four finds. But as always, my favourite has to be H&M; they have a great selection in store!

Top left to bottom right:

Floral scarf £9.99, H&M

Tapestry Geometric Rose Stole £18, Accessorize
Plaid Scarf £20, Great Plains

Dolce scarf £19.95, White Stuff