Elegant Maxi dresses

Serbian desinger Roksanda Ilincic has delivered these beautiful pieces. I love the colours and silhouette these dresses have. I'm really starting to appreciate the whole 'just add a blazer' look for a more chic presence.

Finally!

At long last a long sleeved loose top! Found it on the General Pants website. Its an Agent 99 top which you can get for $39.95 a top or 2 for $50...Im opting for the 2 for $50 coz seriously you aint gona find something like this again for a long time.

New in for Zara

For all you frequent jet-setters here is the latest from Zara..the much loved Spanish chain. We should start lobbying for this store to be in Australia. But I must say if we could get the middle-eastern stock of the clothes it would be even better. Every product from the european stores are sold with extra sleeves for the arabs..pretty smart. pretty nice.

So start ringing up your relos overseas and score yourself some of this hijabi friendly clothes :)

Now for the guests!

K so i got the bride cover...what about the guest? Esp if your direct family of the bridal party you will know that you get just as much scrutiny as the bride. Ergo your choice of attire needs to be researched and planned just as intensely as the bride.You dont wana get a pinch from your grandma if the tiniest bit of flesh is showing now do ya....trust me it hurts.

Got a few gallabiyas and some haute couture mixed up in there. Now to tackle the next issue...hijab colour and style!

Pretty bride in white

For the past 4yrs there has been an ongoing supply of weddings in my family. Like alhamdulillah and all but the constant attention spent on looking and browsing through magazines for that perfect dress can be a full time job. With my sister getting married soon inshalla i began to wonder and search for myself some muslim friendly wedding gowns, may it be for a hijabi or not. The following are some i've picked up on my regular internet perusal..i really need a paying job.

enjoy :)

homage to my hijab

i've recenty started wearing the hijab. In the past few years leading onto it it seemed like a huge burden, an unnecessary additional piece of garment thats only purpose was to cramp your style. But back then all we cared about was making sure our hair was the "in" colour and cut, and going on hard-core dieting schemes to fit into pants that were tighter than our own skin. But lately all that vanished and a sense of calm and serenity eclipses your mindset, and all those adolescent yearnings seem, well childish.

But now i face another hurdle. Living as a minority in a predominantly Christian nation, you automatically and inevitably become an unofficial ambassador for your faith once you wear the hijab. I live on the coast where going to the shopping centre barefoot and in bikinis is the norm in summer and im the pink elephant in the room. But this is not a negative hurdle. I love being asked questions about my religion. If they are willing to be curious we should honour that desire to know and explain. I do find it funny though how the questions from so many people arent that diverse. Its always "Don't you feel hot in that?" or "Seriously, why?!" . And so you reply, Yes sometimes it is hot but thats what air conditioning is for, and I do it because I believe it to be a detrimental component of me practicing my faith.

It is hard sometimes to convey the reasons behind the hijab to non-muslims. They sometimes cant seem to wrap how shrouding yourself from head to toe in material has any benefit. So i say to them when you wear the hijab, you are not opressing womanhood, but liberating it. When i wear hijab i have much more confidence, and i feel more feminine than those who burnt their bras.

I know this site was meant to be about fashion but I thought i needed to say this. So to society i say don't judge muslim women as opressed "tea-towel" cladded ladies, but as every day aussies just trying to live our life, just without the VB's, BLTs and LBDs.

Shopping update

Since the end of uni exams I haven't really wanted to go shopping until i knew i passed...which i have alhamdulillah...and so i started my shopping expedition this week, and i must admit that i finally had fun shopping during the summer season. Happy to see so many tops that are not tight or skimpy. This season's A-line singlets and oversized T's are the easiet to muslimize and the light fabric will make life a whole lot breezier. Don't wait till this season's look are gone.


So shop my friends SHOP!!

Skirts, glorious skirts!

Some very Muslim adaptable outfits :)

Kirrily Johnston:

Ant!podium:

Marnie Skillings:

sass & bide:

Topshop coming to Sydney??

Apparently i've been living under a rock because apparently Topshop is coming to 256 Oxford St Paddington Sydney. See what happens when you concentrate all your time and internet surfing to only uni-related crap!

I am quite excited..I do run to Topshop when overseas...but must express some annoyance at the latest that came out of Topshop...nonetheless the nostalgia of shopping at the british chain will never escape me.

Will surely check it out in the next few days..hopefully the weather will be nicer..

Designer Spotlight - Gary Bigeni

Contemporary Aussie designer Gary Bigeni sure is a colourful character..literally. With his rainbow socks, platform dancing shoes and multi-coloured shirt, its funny that his personal style isn't reflected much in his designs.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Bigeni and am now quite embarrassed that i didn't check out his website before meeting him. If i had i would surely have complimented him for having such muslim friendly designs...bet he didnt expect that market...

You'd be gladto know that all his garments are Australian made so it wouldn't sting as much when you see the price...coz i would imagine it being 3-figures...give the guy some credit, he's a lone soldier in all this.

So here are some muslim friendly pieces from his latest Spring Summer collection..not to sure where he is stocked these days..he was at The Corner Shop but not sure if he is anymore..


enjoy :)

Eid mubarak

Eid mubarak and Happy Eid to all muslims everywhere!

yea yea i know im late...

Paris Je'taime

Sometimes i wish i had an unlimited bank account and go shopping in Paris. The city of lights, sophistication and unorthodox methods of gaining entry into the Fifa world cup.


I'm a bit confused though. Perusing through the latest Spring/Summer 2010 shows in Paris as you do at 1am in the morning, there is alot of turtle-neck action going on. So Sarkozy doesn't like the fact that we cover up so much...but does that mean the rest of the nation can?? Could it possibly be that the French are rebelling against their president?


Stirring away from politics, I was really amazed at some of the collections i saw. You'd think they were showcasing their Fall pieces not summer. Alot of blacks, sailor necklines and alot of coverage which means muslim friendly (sometimes). I applaud the European fashion houses for venturing onto the world of modesty. At least for this Summer the muslims can go shopping with ease :)




YSL


scratch the strawberries and maybe we'll talk

Salvatore Ferragamo

see wat i mean about the turtle neck....i know the french are romantics but are they that desperate to hide their hickeys??

Gareth Pugh

yes i know its a guy..i think....but that cropped lil bolero is ideal!

i'm not sure if being a goth is allowed in islam..pretty sure its not...but if it is here's your latest look!

change the colours..and morbid make up and you've got your new gallabiya :)

**Word of caution..if your going to check up this collection..be warned there are is some nudity..so dont view it with your mum, aunty or anyone that is an expert at the tck tck sound...you will hate your life. **




Valentino....my orange-cladded hero

at least he stayed true to the spring/summer feel...don't you just love this cutting...bellisimo!