Graduation Party Outfit #1

Graduation party season is still going strong and sometimes it can be hard to figure out what to wear to all the parties when your friends are getting off easy by wearing sun dresses, anyways it's not impossible to find something cute and covered - that's what my next few posts are going to be dedicated to - check it ouuut:

The Silk ruffle-front dress, bridget fit wide leg pant, and Chandelier thong sandals are all from Victoria's Secret (there's a huge sale there by the way). The floral metallic scarves are from Forever 21 and the metal beaded bangles are from Urban Outfitters. Click the names of items to get linked back to the sites (if you didn't already know that).

Also congrats to all the graduates!
Salaam

Chill, It's Spring Outfit

Finally, a new outfit!The top is from H&M, the tote, sandals, and scarf (howw cute is that scarf?!) are from Urban Outfitters, the new seventies jeans are from Victorias Secret, and the bracelets are from Forever21. I feel like this is a very earthy outfit. Speaking of earth, I planted flowers a few weeks ago and they started budding - but today when I checked on them, one whole pot of flowers was completely dead :( I think it was the drastic weather change that did it...

On a happier note, I received mail today! And not just any mail - this was lonnnng awaited mail. It is an 8-cd pack of lectures by Imam Suhaib Webb called Purification of the Soul. I've heard many good things about it so I am quite excited about the drive to school tomorrow because I'll start then. What a good way to begin my day! I'll report back when I finish i'A.

Malindi the Giraffe - Universal and Unique Expressions of Cultures on Curricula

First off, you will probably be seeing a lot of giraffe print this spring, secondly read below to see why I chose to do a giraffe print outfit (aside from the fact that I love it).
The top is by Michael Korrs, bronze bag is by Steve Madden, Rebecca ring, and gorgeous wedges a la Via Spiga all from Nordstrom, pants from Abercrombie & Fitch. The tan scarves are from Rebirth of Chic and the brown pashmina is from Star Scarves - you can choose from either! Ooh and another idea: brown turtleneck with a wrap hijab, chiicc.

I came across this story called "Malindi's Journey" it was part of the Fulbright Association Annual Conference in Marrakech, Morocco - Program of the International Education Task Force: “The Universal and Unique Expressions of Cultures on Curricula"
Teachers in Boston added it into their curriculum as piece of the whole. Click here for a link to the pdf. I think it's a cool concept and I'm glad we're trying to expand the horizons of the young generation.

these are the highlights:
Malindi’s Journey and the curriculum provides opportunities for students to learn that Africans, Asians, and Muslims have a history that has indeed been interconnected for centuries. Students learn about the thriving trade routes of the Indian Ocean in the centuries before and after the spread of Islam. In learning about the experience of African, Arab, and Chinese travelers and traders from long ago, students learn how to step into the shoes of others and develop deeper understanding of African, Chinese, and Islamic history

Malindi is a giraffe, why a giraffe?
In 1414 the giraffe was presented to the Yong Le Emperor in Beijing with ambassadors from Malindi -- the giraffe is still used today by the Chinese as a symbol of friendship and cooperation between China and Africa


**** edit
In response to Alixianna's comment, I thought this would be relevant:

Donate to Doctors Without Borders to help them aid the people of Kenya during this unfortunate time. May Allah reward you for your efforts insh'Allah.

Here is a link to their site - and a specific article if you don't know whats up: click here.

Young Women Follow Islam's Ancient Tenets on Modesty -- but With a Modern Twist

So this is kind of an old article, but oh how fitting it is... I found this article linked on another blog - Scarf Ace: http://scarfacewearingaheadscarfinamerica.blogspot.com/

Balancing Religious Sensitivity, Fashion Sense
Young Women Follow Islam's Ancient Tenets on Modesty -- but With a Modern Twist

By Sandhya Somashekhar
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 29, 2005; B01

"Isn't this so cute?" cooed Hiba Khan, admiring a loose-knit vest glimmering with a sequined brown collar at Tysons Corner Center's LVL X clothing store. Sexy, the 21-year-old Fairfax City resident admitted, but that's easily remedied with a long-sleeve top and a properly fastened head scarf.

In the hip young Muslim crowd, modesty is always in.

"I usually try not to buy anything too flashy or too revealing, but yeah, I want to look nice," she said while at the mall one recent afternoon for a little back-to-school shopping.

With summer coming to a close and classes about to start, she and a half-dozen other college students were in search of "sister-friendly" clothes -- attire that conforms to Islamic dictates but appeals to a contemporary sense of style and beauty.

But sticking to Islamic standards of modesty isn't always easy, and it doesn't always come naturally to girls raised in the United States, where MTV and Hollywood are more likely than religious texts to set fashion standards. Choosing to follow Islam's clothing guidelines is often the result of a deep desire for cultural identity or religious soul-searching -- especially for young women such as Khan, who as a teenager decided on her own to adopt the clothing standards of her religion.

That doesn't mean she and other young Muslim women want to put aside a desire to be pretty.

"We want to look beautiful, but we don't have that pressure to be sexy," said Khan's friend Khadija Amjad, 21, of Centreville, dressed in a sleek black-and-purple ensemble that stretched to her ankles. The outfit was topped by a pink-and-purple hijab , or head scarf.

Estimates of the number of Muslims in the United States vary from 3 million to 7 million. About 150,000 live in the Baltimore-Washington area, according to the American Religion Data Archive.

Muslims, men and women, are required by their holy book, the Koran, to be modest in their attire, Islamic scholars said. How the guidelines are interpreted varies by geography and family tradition, from simply avoiding form-fitting or revealing clothes to covering oneself with a head-to-toe burqa .

"The whole thing goes back to the presence of God," said Akbar Ahmed, chair of Islamic Studies at American University. "You need to be in a state of decorum. You must ask yourself: How would God like to see me?"

Rika Prodhan, 22, a recent graduate of George Washington University, never worried too much about her form-fitting outfits and cascading hair when she was growing up in Houston. But as she matured into an observant young Muslim woman, a nagging voice in the back of her head grew louder. She recalls it telling her that the Koran was unambiguous -- the body, including the hair, should be well covered.

While in college, she gradually adjusted her wardrobe to better reflect her religious convictions, eventually purging it of clothes that revealed her ankles or wrists. Finally, after much introspection, she began wearing the hijab, a big step that she knew would forever change the way she was perceived in public.

"I tried to find every reason not to wear it," she said. "But I came to the conclusion it was like listening to your parents. We may not know the wisdom behind it now, but we'll realize it later."

Her parents, she said, actually were troubled by the decision, fearful that she was becoming "too Muslim" and isolating herself from mainstream society.

Today, though, they respect her decision and are glad she wears the hijab, which she said she sees as a sacrifice for God.

These days the hijab has become a flashpoint of controversy over women's rights, religious extremism and terrorism -- a symbol in some eyes of more radical Islam. The French government banned the hijab in schools. But for Khan, Amjad and Prodhan, it's an expression of cultural and religious identity as well as a fashion accessory to be matched with a stylish handbag or jacket.

Modest doesn't have to mean ugly, said Sarah Ansari, co-owner of Artizara.com, a San Diego-based company that sells modest clothing with a modern flare.

Her site features wide-leg pants, tops that go up to the neck and down past the buttocks, and tailored jackets that cinch in a bit -- but not too much -- at the waist. Her best-selling item, she said, is a flowing tie-dye skirt festooned with sequins, a staple offering at any youth-oriented mall clothing store.

"I don't think there's anything in Islam that precludes women from looking attractive or professional," she said. "No one says you have to look like a bag lady. Actually, the Prophet [Muhammad] was known for wearing perfume, being clean and very well dressed."

One Web site, http://www.thehijabshop.com/ , offers a line of stretchable cotton athletic hijabs that are slipped over the head or fastened with Velcro rather than wrapped. Another, http://www.hasema.com/shopen , sells full-body swimsuits for women.

And dozens of sites selling trendy, modest clothes have cropped up in recent years, not only for a Muslim clientele but for orthodox Jews and conservative Christians as well.

Ansari, who is Muslim, said her customers range in age from 13 to 65 and come from a variety of backgrounds.

For Amjad, Khan, Prodhan and their friends, mainstream stores such Banana Republic and H&M offer enough choices. The latter, a Swedish retailer, is especially popular because its up-to-the-minute European styles tend to cover more of the body than standard American offerings, they said.

During their shopping trip, the young women pointed out their favorite styles of the day: peasant skirts, billowy gaucho pants that fall to the ankles and tunic-style tops that end far below the waist. They tend to buy jeans a size bigger than their actual size, fix ankle-baring skirts with a chic pair of boots and pair sleeveless tops with concealing blazers.

They will, however, occasionally buy an outfit that doesn't follow the rules, saving it for "sisters-only" -- or women-only -- events such as like sleepovers or bridal parties.

The hijab adds another accessory to the mix, they said, and has the bonus of covering up a bad hair day, Khan joked.

In all seriousness, she said, the hijab is a garment for the body and the soul.

"It lifts you up as a person," she said. "You're seen more as a person than that girl with her hair flowing around."

© 2005 The Washington Post Company

Orange Crush - Outfit

Mm orange! Haha I'm actually getting sick... and when I get sick I try to get as much vitamin C as possible i.e. oranges! So I decided that an orange-y outfit was in order. The Champaigne Sherbert Coat (how much are you loving that pattern? It's supposed to be inspired from Greek letters), L.A.M.B. tote, and bracelets are from Nordstrom. Marisa Fit Trouser Jeans a la Victoria's Secret (check them out they have some cute wide leg pants), and the sandals are from Urban Outfitters. I loove the shayla, it's from Al Muhajaba El Aniqa and I personally like mixing patterns but of course, it's just a suggestion.

salaam

A Pinch of Green Outfit

It's finally sunny again! yaay, in celebration, here is an "I'm so glad it's almost spring" outfit or a St. Patricks day one haha (note the word play "pinch" of green). The trapeze top is from Gap, jeans: True Religion Candice Wide leg, adorable granny satchel purse and bangles from Urban Outfitters, peep toe wedges from H&M and both scarves are from H&M as well. I decided that both of the scarves looked really good in their own way, so you can decide!

Spanish Serenity - Outfit

Here's a good transition outfit since the weather's starting to get a bit warmer - hence the sandals and white pants! The gold necklace reminds me of a Spanish gate and it complements the gold in the scarf nicely, no? (yes, I am totally going to flatter myself until I start getting more comments haha). The top is from Forever 21, bag, sandals, and necklace are from Urban Outfitters, pants a la Abercrombie & Fitch, and the scarf is from H&M. enjoy!

peace

Vintage Inspired Outfit

(click it so you can admire it with a closer eye)
As I was browsing through the Rebirth of Chic website I came across the GORGEOUS hijab above. howww vintage inspired is it?! Soo I created an outfit for it... Suede flats, canvas hobo (which is actually huge, but I had to resize it to fit), and grey pants are all from Old Navy; shirred sweater top from twelvebytwelve.com; and the pearl bracelet is from perlunapearls.com (super expensive ha, but I had to add it). I think these colors complement eachother well, they remind me of an oyster shell. Which reminds me of a story...

When I used to have days like "OMG why can't I just go out after Maghrib and blah blah" my mom always told me this extended metaphor: first I was to imagine that there is a pearl that has "been around" and is rolling all over the streets, and it's super dirty - if you saw that pearl would you even take a second glance? And then there'd be another pearl that had kept itself safely in it's oyster and was clean - which one would I prefer? Naturally, the clean one. So I think of the oyster as being the limits that I've put on myself - not as my house because it's the 21st century and us Muslimahs have to uphold our Din when it is wrongly slandered about - we have a voice and aren't afraid to use it! But essentially we have set out limits for ourselves as we amalgamate Islamic morals into our modern Western lifestyles, and I believe that is our oyster shell.

Hints of Yellow - Outfit

okay, so I love winter, but I've noticed that I tend to reach for dark colors during this season... I don't even know why because I mean it's already pretty dull outside. Thus, I incorporated yellow into this outfit, because it's a happy/sunshine-esque color. Sometimes it's hard to wear straight up yellow - however I am a big fan of pops of color so here we are:


mm and I was thinking a yellow handbag if you feel like.. but I couldn't find any that particularly "tickled my fancy" heh. The dress is from express, the hijab from www.thecanadianmuslim.ca, peep toes, bangles, and pants all from banana republic (they have an amazing 70% off sale right now actually so check that out).

Pretty much everything in this outfit was on sale - you love it.

Muslim Women Fashion on Today Show

So I was looking around YouTube today and found this Today Show segment from July, it's annoying that it's in 5 parts, so you'll have to watch each 30 second clip separately. I like what she says at the end: "We're like ambassadors to Islam, when you have a well put together appearance, it adds to being a good Muslim."

Winter Wear

assalamalaikum, so we're well into winter now, and this is an especially easy time to find clothes that cover up correctly! I was looking through some high name brands' winter collections, and even though I feel that spending $200 on a top is very excessive, I definitely think they are good items to model looks off of! [disregard the bottoms of the following outfits - concentrating on tops!]

I LOVE coats they are so classy without being revealing! this one is a nice length that covers sufficiently and it is very in style these days. I like the pairing with black bottoms [which would be looser of course] and a black hijab would complete the look.

this silk/wool mock turtleneck dress is from Banana Republic. Alhumdulillah long tops are in fashion! A great plus for this is the turtleneck part. I would pair it with wide leg pants in grey or black [try Express]

This wool-blend collarless coat is from Banana Republic. The neutral colors matched together makes it very simple yet presentable. I suggest pairing it with a bright hijab for some balance - but if one wants to go low-key a neutral hijab looks nice as well.

(banana republic) this outfit, I fell in love with immediately! The wool-blend topcoat is very elegant with its streamlined silhouette. The sweater dress is adorable - chunky sweater dresses are a must-have this winter!

For those of us who like patterns, this Plaid Flannel Tunic is by Ralph Lauren: "A slim tunic silhouette creates a chic twist on an American classic, styled in ultra-soft, plaid cotton flannel for vintage character." I love the laid-back but chic look this gives off and how perfect is the length of the shirt!

This "Stella Sateen Tuxedo Shirt" is another one by Ralph Lauren, going on the same style just a plain white one.

Yet another one by RL, here I wanted to point out the turtleneck worn under and how put-together it looks. [and eww to the tights because this great shirt looks horrible with them]

So that is all for now, good luck to all of my sisters!
Allah alone gives success.