Eid Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to the three winners of the Elenany Eid Giveaway. They are as follows:

Adibah from Malang, Indonesia: Testify! Shirt

Mariam A from London, UK: Throw Yo' Hands Jumper Dress

Maresa V from Strand, South Africa: Summer Baggies


Thank you to everyone who sent in their inspiring answers! Here are the winning entries:

I like the "Salaam" graphic, because it symbolizes brotherhood or sisterhood, and peace. No more hatred when we shake hands with our sister (between sister and sister) and brother (between brother and brother). - Adibah


My answer to this question is Elenany graphic 'Brotherhood'.

I like the different and wonderful colours of the praying men. For me it symbolises the fact that all true believers are alike. It even inspires me to say, Insha-Allah, each and one of us is part of the Islamic Ummah. We're human beings from many geographical areas of the world; the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe, America and Australia. However, our diverse colours, in other words diversity, in terms of culture, tradition and last but not least physique bear little significance in relation to how we are guided to behave in the holy Quran. Hence, good treatment of people, be it family members or strangers, is considered important in Islam.

Our religion highly regards relationships between Muslims, and even Non-Muslims. Some hadith (or saying) from our scriptures state: "What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of a human being, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the wrongs of the injured."

Brothers and likewise sisters have been ordered to not discriminate each other, but quite the opposite stand in strong faith side by side, like the men in the picture! They might be green, blue or whatever, but notice their yellow background, or in other words environment or common place in this earth, is the same. We all follow one religion, and we all must obey the creator of all creators, Allah (SWT). In addition, we're all yet again going to be judged equally in the hereafter. - Mariam A


'Salaam'. I have only recently become a Moslem and every time people say ‘Salaam’ to me it reminds me that I have so much more peace in my life. - Maresa V

Muslimah Style: Samia I

Reader's Contribution

My name is Samia, I'm 22 and I am currently residing in the UAE. I was born and brought up in the UAE although I'm originally from Bangladesh. I recently graduated from university and will start work soon InshaAllah.

My Style

I started wearing the hijab when I was 14, and it was an easy transition as the school I went to incorporated the hijab in their uniform and it's also a common sight here. I don't have a specific style and I like to experiment with my clothes and accessories. My look can vary from serious and professional (with a feminine twist), to fun and casual depending on the occasion, and there's no colour that I don't wear. My basic approach is to colour-coordinate all the pieces that I am wearing and that includes contrasts and not the same colour over and over again. I also love to have an element of surprise in my outfit, which usually comes from my shoes/handbags/accessories. On busy days, I wear an abaya over my clothes if I don't have the time to make a certain outfit look modest from all angles.

Top Tips

Wear a headband over you solid-coloured hijab for a unique way to accessorize it. For parties and formal occasions, you can go for more dressy headbands which have rhinestones/bows/feathers to up the glamour quotient of your outfit. Headbands don't go with ethnic outfits sometimes (depending on what your traditional dress is), and if you wear the hijab the way I do, earrings and necklaces are not likely to be visible. So for occasions like weddings, you can wear a forehead ornament called a tikka like the one pictured. Sunglasses with hijab also look very stylish - whether worn or perched on top of the head when indoors.


What did you think of Samia I'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, and the winner will receive a FREE hijab of their choice from The Hijab Shop.

Rabia Z's Hijab Styles

Many of you have commented in the past that you'd love to see how designer Rabia Z wraps her hijabs. Now you can watch her tutorial in this video report from Gulf News, with the accompanying pictures here.

Muslimah Style: Makada

Reader's Contribution

I'm Makada from Trinidad, a small island in the Caribbean (West Indies). I'm in Customer Service and I'm studying Business part-time. I've been wearing hijab since I was 11 and I love it!

My Style

My style depends on what I'm feeling at the time. I love bright, vibrant colours and also colours that match my skin tone. I love Indian clothes and clothes that say "I'm sophisticated, but girly". I try to incorporate different kinds of patterns and coloured under-pieces for my hijabs, just to spice it up a little. I love maxi dresses, but I'm yet to own one. I plan on learning to sew soon Insha'Allah so I'll be able to make my own clothes. My usual working-week style consists of long black trousers, black work top/dress and one of my vibrant hijabs and and my casual days consist of skirts (Indian/denim) or pencil jeans, knee-length dresses (long sleeved jersey for extended sleeves) or sometimes abayas and other Islamic dresses and of course my hijab! I love almost all types of hijabs and I like to try different colours as well.

Top Tips

Wear clothes that match your skin tone and clothes that you feel comfortable in. Shoes that are too high are a no-no and too much brown and black makes you look boring unless you really accessorize it well. Try to incorporate modesty at all times and remember, a smile makes for a perfect picture :)


What did you think of Makada'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, and the winner will receive a FREE hijab of their choice from The Hijab Shop.

A look at Muslim wear in Indonesia

CNN recently did a video report on Islamic fashion, featuring designer Dian Pelangi. Check it out:

Bonus August Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Kiyaane R. from London, UK for winning the Bonus August Giveaway! Your scarf will be making its way to you shortly!

Elenany Eid Giveaway

Seeing as Eid is just around the corner, Hijab Style has an extra giveaway this month, courtesy of Elenany! Three luck winners will each receive one of the following: Throw Yo' Hands Jumper Dress; Testify! Shirt; Summer Baggies; worth a total of £150!

To enter, all you have to do is take a look at the graphics on the Elenany website, and answer the following question:

"Which is your favourite Elenany graphic, and why?"

Send an email in with your answer, the name of the prize you wish to win, along with your full name and city with 'Eid Giveaway' in the subject line to hijabstyle@hotmail.co.uk. Please note that if any of this information is missing, you will not be entered into the competition.

The deadline for entries is midnight GMT on Saturday 28th August 2010.

The best answers will be chosen and the winners contacted via e-mail. Don't forget to tell all your friends and family too - the giveaway is open to entrants from all countries!

Silk Scarves at Demure Look

Demure Look is a new online store which sells beautiful silk scarves. They have a selection of both square Turkish-stye eşarps as well as long shayla wraps. I'm especially loving the Thai Silk Scarves.

Hijab Style readers get a 10% discount with the code SILK2010. The discount will automatically be applied at the checkout and is valid until 31st October 2010. Enjoy!

Muslimah Style - Entries Wanted!

I've noticed that the Muslimah Style feature has been a little neglected lately! So here's a quick reminder to get sending in your photos and style tips to Hijab Style! There's a vote at the end of each edition and the winner wins a free hijab. You can see all the previous entries here.

Summer Style: Office Chic

Apologies for not having done an outfit set in a while! No excuses really, I've just been busy with several things, including organising a very exciting event in London coming up in October; but I'll keep you updated!

This outfit is all about chic office wear. Cool greys and blues are a lovely combination, and add an elegent touch with a smart bag, court shoes and a subtly printed scarf:

Fine stripe tunic shirt £75, Toast; Tab Side Wide Leg £30, ASOS; Flower cluster ring £9, Dorothy Perkins; Riley scarf £39, Reiss; Selina Shopper £35, Oasis; Ariana black court shoe £80, Kurt Geiger.

Product Review: Hijab Fashion Shop

Hijab Fashion Shop is a UK-based online store launched in March 2010. At the moment they have a large selection of summer hijabs, both plain and printed, as well as the usual hijab accessories; bonnets, pins, sleeves, etc. I was recent sent the Summer silky hijab in Ivory to review!

First Impressions

The package arrived in a bubblegum-pink envelope, and came with a cute little note and free gift of two hijab pins:

The fabric of this hijab is lovely - very soft, lightweight and with a hint of shine. I was expecting a thicker, pashmina-type fabric, but was pleasantly surprised. The colour though is actually a little lighter than the website photo, as you can see in my picture below:



Wearability

I like the size of the hijab (190cm x 65cm), it's not too wide and long enough to wrap around about 2.5 times. The fabric is a little see-through so I'd recommend wearing a bonnet cap underneath. Apart from that though, the hijab is very soft and easy to shape without being bulky. It's versatile enough to dress up a simple outfit or to complement evening wear. However the fabric is quite delicate and tends to snag easily, so it's best worn without too many pins.

Overall

The website has a nice selection of scarves and the customer service is excellent. This hijab comes in a lovely soft fabric and is ideal if you prefer to wrap your scarves without pins.

Disclaimer: I received this hijab in exchange for my honest review. The opinions and thoughts expressed are my own and I received no other compensation for my review.

Bonus August Giveaway

Following the exclusive interview, Hijab Style is giving you the chance to win a scarf of your choice from Bellissima Scarves!

To enter, all you have to do is visit the Bellissima Scarves website, and send an email in with the name of your favourite scarf, along with your full name and city with 'Bonus August Giveaway' in the subject line to hijabstyle@hotmail.co.uk. Please note that if any of this information is missing, you will not be entered into the competition.

Extra Entries:

You can get an extra entry into the giveaway when you follow Hijab Style on Twitter! Simply send in a separate e-mail with your full name and link to your Twitter profile. The deadline for entries is midnight GMT on Saturday 21st August 2010.

The winner will be chosen at random and contacted via e-mail. Don't forget to tell all your friends and family too - the giveaway is open to entrants from all countries!

Style Inspiration: Warehouse

Lots more to look forward to style-wise this coming Autumn! These shots are from the AW 10 Lookbook at Warehouse. I'm loving all the maxis and warm knitted layers:

August Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Virginia I from Yogyakarta, Indonesia for winning the August Giveaway! Hope you enjoy spending your $100 voucher!

But even if you didn't win, you can get 20% off any purchases from iLoveModesty throughout the month of Ramadan with the code DCHS081020P at the checkout!

Keep an eye out for the second August giveaway coming soon!

Ramadan Mubarak

... to all Hijab Style readers! May this be a blessed month for you and your families, inshallah.

Hijab Style Exclusive: Bellissima Interview

Hijab Style loves to find out about the people behind our favourite brands, and today's interview is with Hadia Himmat, founder of Bellissima Scarves.

Jana: Tell us a little about yourself?

Hadia: I’m Hadia. I have two beautiful young children, Rashed and Omar. I used to practise Law, first in Italy and then here in the UK before the birth of my first child. My parents are originally from Syria, but I lived in Italy since birth and I grew up there, in a little village close to Switzerland, until I moved to London 7 years ago.

Jana: What was the inspiration behind Bellissima?

Hadia: Growing up between my Syrian origins and my Italian upbringing, I have developed a special blend that fuses the best of both worlds. This has created in me a passion for Islamic fashion. I’ve always tried to find clothes that both conform with the Islamic dress code and are elegant and fashionable. I’ve always believed that a scarf is not just a piece of cloth, it is part of one’s personality; it plays an important role in how you feel about yourself and the impression you leave on others. Because of this, I used to always visit textiles outlets to find suitable hijabs that would cater for my different needs: from my need in the work place to look professional, to my need to find elegant hijabs for special occasions. This developed my understanding of textiles, materials, designs, finish, and fashion.

As the years went by I had an idea: rather than buying ready-made scarves, why not produce my own scarves to be exactly the way I like them? I thought that if I did this I could then share it with others so that they can also enjoy high quality scarves that have been produced with the professional western Muslim woman in mind. After long research and experimentation, I was ready to launch my own line of scarves; Bellissima Scarves was born.

Jana: Why did you choose to have the scarves produced in Italy rather than the UK?

Hadia: Italy is world-famous for style and good taste in fashion. And when it comes to fabric, Italy has the best quality textiles available in the market. Most of the textiles factories have centuries of experience and do not do mass production but cater for the needs of their customers as individuals. People travel from across the globe to come to Italy to buy and produce exclusive, high-quality fabrics.

I bought many scarves in the past from different Muslim outlets but I was never really completely happy with them: it seemed that one always had to compromise; so either the finishing wasn’t well done, or the fabric was poor and easily worn out. I thought, being Muslim doesn’t mean that I have to compromise on quality or standards. Therefore I wanted to produce something that is high in terms of the quality, the fabric, the finishing and the design, something that Muslim women would feel proud to wear. Italy therefore was the obvious choice for me.

Jana: Aside from your website, how else do you reach out to your target customers?

Hadia: Since starting the business nearly a year ago I’ve quickly come to learn that having a great product and a website is not enough, as people need to know that it exists. As a result I have managed to get Bellissima Scarves to be reviewed on different websites and magazines. Many people also still prefer the old way of buying where they touch, feel, and try the product; therefore I try to attend as many major events as possible.

I also organise ‘Tea Parties with Bellissima Scarves”. I do this regularly at my own place. Visitors come to have a look at the collection, try on the scarves, and get style tips. There’s no obligation at these occasions but most people end up buying when they see the quality of the scarves and the beautiful colours and patterns. These occasions are also an excuse to meet friends, have a good time and also try the Italian food that I love preparing.

I also get invited to attend ladies' gatherings where sisters get the chance to see the collection. If any of your readers are based in London and are organising gatherings, they can get in touch and I’ll bring along my collection so all their friends can shop and socialise at the same time!

Finally, word of mouth is still the most powerful marketing tool. Therefore many of my friends and customers, after experiencing Bellissima Scarves, have recommended it to others, who in turn pass on the word. I’m very grateful to all of them for their enthusiasm and support!

Jana: As a business owner, do you feel that companies can contribute positively to their communities?

Hadia: Of course companies need to put something back into the community. As the Prophet (pbuh) says: “all of you are ‘shepherds’ and all have a responsibility towards their flock”. Therefore, we should always feel responsibility for each other and try our best to help out in different ways, whether through words of advice, through raising awareness, or through financial help and donations. Bellissima Scarves are regularly donated to charities to be used as auction items to raise funds for good causes.

Jana: And finally, what can we expect from Bellissima in the future?

Hadia: Bellissima will always strive to raise the bar with regards to quality, elegance and style. I’m regularly visiting Italy to keep up with the latest in fashion, and I’m always trying my best to fuse that with our Islamic principles, so that Muslim women can always look their best while adhering to Islam. I am working currently on our Autumn and Winter Collection, and I promise your readers that they will not be disappointed with it. The new collection will be launched in October, so keep checking the website to be amongst the first to see it.

Finally, as Ramadan is just around the corner, I wish you and your readers a Ramadan filled with blessings and after that a joyous Eid. I’d like to share with your readers that we’re introducing a special Ramadan offer so that you and your loved ones can celebrate Eid in style. Don’t miss out, check Bellissima Scarves for details of our unmissable sale.

A Look Ahead

Pre-Fall 2010

I'm already anticipating Autumn fashions; my favourite season style-wise and summer never really had a chance in the did it? These are some day-to-evening looks from the Pre-Fall 2010 collections - looks promising!

Akris

Tibi; Matthew Williamson

Reem Acra

Images: Style.com

Product Review: Maysaa

Many of us love Maysaa for the fresh, innovative and stylish designs, so I was very excited when I received my parcel in the post! Here's my review of the Pleat Front Wide Leg Trousers, £39:



First Impressions

Maysaa products arrived very nicely packaged, and more importantly, an order receipt and returns slip is also included. Hijab Style loves professionalism!

When I first took the trousers out of their packing, the first thing I noticed is the stunning fabric. It's lightweight, soft and silky with a subtle shine, and is cool to the touch - perfect for summer! The trousers are also fully lined, so no need to worry about being see-through either. Other features include two side pockets, two front pleats, and a discreet zip and hook and eye fastening in the centre back.

Maysaa trousers in action

Sizing

I ordered my usual high street trouser size, which I found to be a good fit around the waist (none of the gaping you get with most trousers!). However the fit around the hips was problematic. The pockets tend to balloon out, and the front pleats only serve to make your midsection look larger. Combined with the extra-wide cut of the trouser legs, I didn't find them to be the most flattering fit for my shape; I felt they were designed with a very slim figure in mind. As you can see from the photo above, the trousers are also quite long, so if you're short they'll need to be hemmed up.

Wearability

On the website, the trousers are shown worn with a fitted long sleeve top. Considering the slinky nature of the fabric, I am personally not comfortable wearing them without a longer top. However with such a wide leg fit, that's pretty difficult to pull off without ending up looking huge, especially if you're not particularly tall!

Overall

I love the fabric and colour of the trousers; they're perfect for taking on holiday and wearing either with neutrals or richer jewel tones. I'd love to see a few alterations such as a wider waistband for a better fit around the top, and a slightly narrower leg so they can be worn with longer tops.

August Giveaway

iLoveModesty is an online Canadian fashion boutique founded in 2009, with the aim of providing modest clothing that was both affordable and stylish.

And for the first giveaway this month, Hijab Style has teamed up with iLoveModesty to give you the chance to win a shopping spree worth $100 (CAD) to spend on the website, plus free international delivery!

To be in with a chance of winning, you must do two things:

1. Visit the iLoveModesty website and sign up to their newsletter (left hand side column).

AND

2. E-mail in your full name and city with 'August Giveaway' in the subject line to hijabstyle@hotmail.co.uk. Please note that if any of this information is missing, you will not be entered into the competition.

Extra Entries:

You can get an extra entry into the giveaway when you follow Hijab Style on Twitter! Simply send in a separate e-mail with your full name and link to your Twitter profile. The deadline for entries is midnight GMT on Saturday 7th August 2010.

The winner will be chosen at random and contacted via e-mail. Don't forget to tell all your friends and family too - the giveaway is open to entrants from all countries!