Hijab Style

This is a post for Uzz who is looking for alternatives to heels with jeans. She described her style as “…a little tomboyish but with a feminine twist.” which is perfect for me because it’s what I love! So here are three options to work with.

Kitten Heels and Boyfriend Jeans

Option 1

For loose jeans you’ve got a couple of options, wide leg flares or slouchy boyfriend style denim. I quite like putting together quite a masculine look with really feminine details so the kitten heels work very well indeed.

Flats and denim

Option 2

Ballet pump style flats are a life saver when it comes to being on your feet all day. These moccasin style ones work well with almost any outfit, they’re smart enough for most occasions but if you want a bit more glamour then go for ballet pumps.

Converse and Jeans

Option 3

Possibly my favourite shoes, there’s not much I don’t wear them with. But they do go rather well with slouchy wide-leg jeans, and give an edgy casual look. Maybe I’m biased but out of the three I thought I saved the best till last.

Hope that helped. X

Couture Fall 2009

And Another…

This week I’ve combined these two stunning dresses into one hijab friendly outfit. I absolutely loved Valentino’s couture collection, and I’ll be doing a full couture report next week inshAllah.

Hijab Style

Don’t forget to vote for your look of the week

(inspiration images: style.com)

Fall 2009

Your Favourite

You overwhelmingly voted Fendi’s head covering your favourite in last weeks ‘Look of the Week’. It’s easy to see why, with that chic mix of classic and contemporary. There was just a hint at the exotic with the ruched headband, a winning combination.

It’s All in the Details

Sharp lines and texture were the key features in Fendi’s Fall collection. The were modest maxi dresses and knee length dresses over trousers, both of which (with a little adjustment) would be fit for a hijabi. Cropped capes also allow for good shape coverage without looking frumpy, in fact it was all these layers of clean shapes and details of texture that made each outfit exciting but functional. And as you would expect from such an iconic brand the accessories were as beautiful as the outfits.

The Finishing Touches

I have been on a bit of a quest for shades, which happens every summer. It seems a bit stupid looking now that summer is drawing to a close but I can’t make up my mind (which also happens every year). I love the Fendi shades, they look like they wouldn’t date too much, having said that I don’t think they would suit my face or my budget. Looks like I’ll be calling off the search for another year.

The Campaign

The Fendi ad campaign caught my eye a while ago, the images are striking but soft, and the concept is great. It could be a still from a film; something gladiatorial or a 30’s romance. Plus using Jessica Stam can never be a bad thing.

(images: style.com)

You can have your say again this week, take a look at Autumn Couture

Perfect Muslimah Print

For a muslimah It’s hard to find prints on the high-street that don’t have something inappropriate on them. So when in doubt stick to dots and stripes, luckily summer was full of them (after doing this post I was starting to feel like Yayoi Kusama).

Seeing Spots

Michael Kors has a style that seems to fit really well with the classic polka dot, with a kind of nautical feel. Whereas Duro Olowu’s bouquet of different prints uses it in a totally different style (I’ll be doing a full post about this amazing designer soon). And then you have the abstract multi coloured dots of Wunderkind. All these styles work well, you just have to find a dot to reflect your personality.

Fall finds

And dots haven’t completely disappeared off the runways this fall, although they have moved away from the nautical, more classic look. Just take a look at what Emanuel Ungaro has to offer. I love the strong colours.

Good Little Actions

If you hear of a way to gain reward then pass it on and share the love!

Hadith of the Day

“He who directs others to a good deed is as the one who did it: and, assuredly, God loves the act of aiding the distressed.” Ibn Abi ad-Dunya

The Content of Character, Collected by Shaykh Al-Amin Ali Mazuri

The Inspiration

Fall 2009

A lot of designers have gone for the grown up, more refined look with quirky details this Fall. It’s a look that is great for hijab style, you can wear a simple abaya and dress it up with playful accessories. I am quite liking the capped woolly hat look, very hijab friendly. The other great thing Prada has played with is this one bold colour with a mix of textures (velvet, cabled knit, leather and a soft satin sheen); another way of adding interest to a modest outfit. Here’s how we made the look a little more like Islamic fashion:

Hijab Style

(original image: style.com)

Her Style

You all saw her amazing art work and now as promised you get to see her style. Modest and feminine but with a fun quirky edge, she shows you can keep hijabi style whilst injecting your own personality. I absolutely love her style, I have a feeling you will too!

Where do you live?
I live in Malaysia, a rainy, tropical colourful country

What do you study?
I’m currently studying at the International Islamic University Malaysia. I’m in my 2nd year of BSc. in Architectural Studies. Architecture is a crazy course, but it’s fun and exciting at the same time.

How would you describe your personal style?
My personal style? Hmm… it’s a mix of lazy-to-iron wear, my quirkiness, and being comfortable.

Which item of clothing would you say was a key piece for a Muslimah?
Besides the essential hijab, I think every girl should have an abaya. They are easy, practical, modest, yet look great at the same time.

Do you follow fashion trends?
Not really, at least not consciously, I think. I never go out of my way to follow a specific trend, as I think it’s really pointless. I don’t consciously avoid trends either, I just wear whatever I find to be beautiful.

Once, a couple of years back, I was shopping with this girl. She said she was looking for suspenders. Intrigued, I asked her, “You like suspenders?” because I thought they were quirky and cute. To my surprise, she said, “No, not really. But I saw it in magazines and it says it’s the lastest trend.” That really got me confounded.

As they say, “Trends come and go, but style is forever.”

What do you look at for style inspiration?
My inspiration comes from anyone and anywhere. I could be inspred by a piece of artwork, maybe by it’s colours, it’s style, mood, feel, etc. I may be inspired by blogs, movies, music videos, story books, even history books. Even everyday people inspire me. However, I love looking at historical styles such as Victorian, Edwardian, Midieval… even the fictional Steampunk inspires me alot!

Who are your favourite designers?

I don’t really follow designers that closely, but I love Vivienne Westwood for her spunk. Laura Ashley for the girliness.

Which fashion magazines do you read?

I don’t really buy fashion magazines, but if Lula were sold here, I might. I like browsing through blogs, though. I think they are much better than magazines nowadays.

What tip can you share with StyleCovered readers?
Just be comfortable, just be yourself

No matter how pretty or awesome something might look, if you’re not comfortable in it, it will show through. And that will definitely make you *not* look pretty or awesome

What goes through your head when you’re putting an everyday outfit together?
Hmm… whether it needs to be ironed! Hahaha! Seriously. Another thing is whether I will be comfortable in it all day, and how the outfit really suits my mood for that day.

Favourite item of clothing?
My abaya. It’s the best. Oh, and this jacket I found at a reject shop, it cost me RM30 when the one in the store cost RM300.

Are there any trends that you stay away from?
super skinny jeans, tight clothing.

What are your style habits?
I like to wear big skirts. They’re modest and comfortable to be in. I also like to mix and match ‘girly’ pieces with spunkier things like zippered structured jackets, or sneakers.
A style tip if you’re saving money?
Try looking in your wardrobe. There might be things you haven’t worn in awhile. Maybe you wore them diffrently last time, and got bored of it. Mix and match and find new ways to wear it. You can alter it if you want to. Sometimes all you need to do is ‘refresh’ old pieces, and you won’t need to buy something new for quite some time.
Another thing you can do is swap with your friends, of course.

If you go on a spending spree what do you go for?
Hijabs.

Beauty is…?
in the eye of the beholder. But beauty is a beautiful soul

How does wearing hijab make you feel?
It makes me feel great. Makes me feel closer to Allah, and protected. It’s my identity as a Muslimah, and no one can take away that.

As a Muslimah what do you look for in clothing?
I look for modesty. That means I avoid tight, see-through, or short clothing. I also don’t splurge too much on clothing. Modesty isn’t just about the physical aspects. If it’s expensive, it ain’t modest, dears!

In high-street shops I head straight for…
I rarely shop at high-street. But if I do, it’s the sale section. Hehe.

When it comes to accessories I…
Love button badges. I collect them. I wear them on bags. I wear them as pins for my hijabs. The button badges I love the most are the ones with messages on them. That way, it has a purpose. It’s kind of like wearing
t-shirts with slogans.

Thank you so so much for letting me do this post on you sister!

If you or your friends would like to inspire other Muslimahs then send in your photos to hana@stylecovered.com

Stunning statement white Valli coat and a gorgeous Alexander Mcqueen maxi dress

Silver Lining

There’s nothing more satisfying than a crisp white garment, and head to toe can only really be done in Summer (water marks on hems are not a good look!). But we do have to be careful when it comes to summer sun through a skirt beautifully illustrated by the pic above. But you can always attach a lining, it doesn’t even have to be made well or neatly. A handy way to wear semi sheer white clothes or one of those floaty kaftans that are everywhere in the sales now.

copyright MAYSAA Ltd.

Something Special

Muslim wedding dresses can be something really special, with a bit of creative imagination you can do pretty much anything. Even with the constraints of hijab, maybe because of the constraints you think outside the conventional box. So here are the best bridal wear designers with elements Muslimah’s can use, I thought it would be easier if I scribbled tips on the pictures so you can really see what I’m thinking.

Things to Think About

What’s Your Body Shape?

Even though you’ll be covered up there are still certain considerations you can take in to account. Maybe avoid adding volume and net to places you’d rather not accentuate. Conversely volume can give great shape if you want more fullness.

How tall are you?

I am most definitely lacking in the height department, so high waisted skirts and empire waist dresses work well to give the illusion of length to your lower body. If you’re tall you can pretty much get away with any shape, I love the kind of 1930’s dropped waist on tall slim girls it looks so elegant.

What’s your shade?

You tend to know what colours make you fade away and what looks radiant but if you opt for white, because we don’t often go head to toe the are some tips about choosing. The easiest option is somewhere between white and cream, it looks great against all complexions. Pure white can look striking on very dark skin and pinkish brown nude tones can look lovely against fair skin. Generally go for something at least a few shades darker or lighter than your skin otherwise you can look washed out. Alternatively if you go for a colour, try wearing a headscarf in the same shade as a mini trial and see how it looks in photographs.

Lanvin Resort 2010, the perfect inspiration for an alternative wedding (with a few minor adjustments)

Express yourself

The key thing is to find a dress that fits your personality, feeling comfortable is so important for your confidence. This is a day when you’re going to be looked at and photographed more probably more than any other day so staying in your comfort zone should not be underestimated!

copyright MAYSAA Ltd.

Extended Feature

My 2 part Muslim bridal wear guide has now become a trilogy, I had a few more sketches and designers like Givenchy and Vera Wang (incase you thought I had amnesia and forgot about her), could I be saving the best till last?… very suspenseful. And if you missed the first part you can get to it here, you can also look forward to another bridal edition of the Hijabi Sketchbook, and if you missed the first of that you can see it here!

images: (style.com, ny.mag)

designs copyright of MAYSAA Ltd.

Hard to Miss

Givenchy have carried on from where they left off this Fall with sheer chiffon headscarves, but this time the middle eastern influence was much more present. The gold was veering towards being garish and if it had been done by any other designer I think it would look tacky. What I liked more were the different textures and the tattoo like gem embellishment. They pushed the designs to a more creative level, and against the sleek silhouettes Riccardo Tisci does so well they looked stunning.

The Make-Up

Before I forget, I owe this post entirely to a sister, Fae, who commented on a previous post. She has an awesome blog Breathe Hijab on which I spied the Givenchy collection. You can see the whole post here. I hope you don’t mind sis, I am just an admirer of your work!

(images: style.com)

Ombre

Ombre is a trend I absolutely love. It’s been around for quite a while, popping up in some stunning collections- Alexander McQueen Spring 2008, Alberta Ferretti Fall 2007 to name just a couple. For Spring Summer 2009 it was a feature for quite a few designers, most notably in Burberry Prorsum. The choice of colour and texture helped to set it apart from other collections and made it a definite reinvention of ombre. I did go a little overboard with all this, sorry for all the bytes of dip dyed fashion but I think it’s worth it.

Burberry Prorsum Spring 2009

One of my favourite ready-to-wear shows of Spring 2009 and that has a lot to do with the dip-dyed hems

The Best of the Rest

Past Seasons Ombre- Greyscale

Creative Colour

Well that was a whole lot of fine fashion, It works well with casual wear and gorgeous ball gowns, I hope you liked.

(images:style.com and nymag.com)