Scary styles:

I went to a friends birthday party yesterday and saw an old childhood friend of mine. She was wearing her hijab in a really cute which I have not seen before. She does pin it, the way rahma describes, but she uses these really cute rhinestone pins (no clue where she got them) but I though that was cute idea.

The pin under her chin was a smaller rhinstone design and the one she pinned on the side of her head was a larger design. Very cute!

I did a google search for it and there is just a ton of stuff you can use to accesorize your hijab. This website has many to choose from.

I go to thrift shops and the second hand store that my grandma volunteers at at her retirement facility for many of my pins. The old folks moving into the home often get rid of a lot of stuff, including tons and tons of hat pins. I've gotten the spiffiest pins from there, usually for no more than a dollar each.


And, if I already didn't have like close to 100 scarves, I'd be all over this new website that sells scarves for pretty cheap - http://www.hijabgirl.com/ - I think I'd have to get rid of some of mine first, since there is literally no more room in my closet and drawers for anymore scarves. I'm bursting at the seams.

You have really good taste Rahma, you need to take me shopping sometime... I wanted to get a bunch in Egypt, but the time went by soooo fast .. maybe next time inshaAllah.

Most of my scarves are from egypt. I love going to the makeshift markets where the sellers have everything spread out on a blanket. I dig through and my husband bargins for me. Some women have an inordinate amount of shoes. I have too many scarves

Love that pic JP! Sooooooo cute!




I too, have more then I will ever wear. And it seems my husband's family favourite gift (to me) is veils:lol: Esp since they gave me all colours, most I would never wear. I just am not a neon type girl

wow.. I really like these:







I just wish I weren't so hijab challenged since I have no clue how to get them to look like that!

Those are cute, but I cannot see to figure out how number 2 stays put... seems like you could not move in it, or it would come off...maybe alot of pins?!

maybe you just tie it wicked tight or something.

I had a bad migraine the other day and Usama said to tie my hijab as tight as I could stand it to put my 'brain bones" back together.

Ok I need $$$$ 'cause I am totally in love with all of the sets that this site has...like this one:

http://www.veiledbydesign.com/product_info...roducts_id=2030

It's expensive compared to a lot of sites but when you think of it...you're getting a lot more than just one out of it.

I want this one



and this one



and this one



and this one

Last is nice. I just love red I like this style too!
But i want to know wtfunuckles is this?
Also has anyone heard of islamic lingerie? What a quack! I have to rollmy eyes just thinking about it



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Caring for Your Hijab

Cotton and polyester scarves without trims are hassle-free and can be thrown into the washer on a delicate cycle. An additional way to keep them looking nice and new is to iron them on a low setting.

Generally, the best way to keep hijabs is to fold them into a triangle or square shape. Sock clips or laundry clips (for hanging the wash on a line) can be clipped onto the hijab to keep them folded properly. They're also a great way for keeping both pieces of a two-piece Amira Hijab in the same place. It is likely that your hijab drawer will be messy, so it's an effort to keep it in some semblance of order. Some sisters just take off the hijab, leave it pinned, and hang it on a tie hanger. In general, we would not recommend leaving it pinned, in case the scarf gets stuck on something which could snag the fabric.

Hijab Fasteners[font="Arial"]

Hijab pins: Most Islamic clothing stores and retailers sell little plastic pins which come in shapes (bows, ovals), and colors. If you are wearing a colored hijab or a black one, the hijab pin looks better than a big silver safety pin. It's a good idea to keep extra hijab or safety pins in your car, or purse. Be aware that regular safety pins may snag and tear the fabric. This is also the case with some decorative pins and brooches. In general, be careful about wearing these types of pins if your scarf is of a delicate fabric.



Straight pins: These are the types of pins used to fasten corsages, some hats, and hems while sewing. You can find them with plain flat heads, or with oval or round "pearlized" heads in various colors.



Hat pins: Wearing hat pins to both fasten and decorate the scarf has become popular in the past few years. When purchasing one, check to make sure that the decorative beads are securely fastened.



Brooches: Decorative brooches can add a pretty touch to a scarf, especially for a wedding or other special occasion. However, be forewarned that somethings may look pretty in a box at the store, though may seem hideously large or ugly when on your head. In general, if you plan to pin the brooch anywhere near your head, choose a small one. Larger brooches can decorate the back of the scarf, or be pinned at the shoulder.



Elastic Clips: Usually used to hold up sleeves, or clasp the waist of a jacket or dress, these clips are now being used by women in Turkey to fasten the tails of the scarf behind the head. Some of them are plain (a piece of solid colored elastic with two clips on either side), and some are pretty (flowered material scrunched over the elastic).

Hijabs at Work

One issue facing working sisters is how to make their hijab look professional, while maintaining proper modesty. In recent years, a number of fabrics, colors, patterns, and styles have come out that are perfect for those working in formal and informal sectors.



A plain white or cream scarf is always a good choice. Neutral colors such as beige, camel, and light grey also work. Amira Hijabs work well with business attire, modest Western dress, and even tailored jilbabs.



While the soft pastel or neutral abstract patterns that have become popular recently may be appropriate for office wear, you should stay away from pinks, light blues, yellows, flowers, Arabesques, or bright patterns if you work in a very formal environment. You should also avoid shawls with heavy embroidery work, rhinestones, beading, or fringed edges. Save these types of scarves for casual days or your life outside work. If you are working in the industrial, medical, food service, or hospitality industries, your best bet would probably be the Amira Hijab, not only for appearance, but for your convenience and safety as well. If you are working in the industrial or medical fields, make sure that the ends are tied or tucked safely into your garments to avoid getting them stuck in machinery or contaminated.



If you work in retail or education, your choices may be a little more diverse. If you're a teacher, choosing scarves in soft colors and pretty patterns will project a non-threatening image to students and parents who may have little or no personal experience with Muslims. The same goes for retail, although if you are young, and work in a more liberal environment, you can probably get away with funky patterns and bold colors as well.

Other Hijab Tips

Keeping it On Your Head: If you have fine/straight hair, you will more than likely need some type of material underneath the scarf in order to keep it from slipping off of your head. Sisters with rougher hair textures may find that they need some type of under scarf as well, though this is unlikely. In any event, many types are sold.

Wearing hijabs in the summer-time: The best thing for summer is that you wear light colored cotton scarves or poly blends including light-weight shawls, or even cotton or light-weight Amira Hijabs.



Wearing hijabs in the wintertime: Don't go over board and wear wool, heavy knits, or velvet on your head. Even the stretch velvet ones sold in Islamic stores get very hot and very slippery after awhile. If you choose a velvet one, make sure that the pattern is light (meaning, the velvet pattern has lots of big cutouts where the polyester shows). If you're really cold, buy a coat with a hood on it, a winter cap, or wrap a scarf around your neck. The last thing you want is for your head to be sweaty and itchy when in doors.




PS: Anyone know of any site that has long skirts(preferrbaly A line) of any type reasonably priced.... I would prefer non-islamic site...since the Muslim sites want too much $...Thanx

Those are indonesian style underscarves. I have some They're really spiffy, and make the top of your scarf rounded.







Shukr is an islamic site, but I get skirts there on clearance for $25. They're very very high quality and last a looooooooooooong time. My oldest ones are 3 years old and have probably been washed 100+ times, and they still look pretty decent. Sign up for their email list and pounce when they announce clearance.

Also, you have the added benefit of baraka, bc they run an islamically based business - all the workers are paid fair wages, the factory stops for prayer, etc.

If you go back to Cairo, have Usama's sisters show you how to do it.

Or, I have a webcam, I can show you this weekend, perhaps

Bridget...

Next time you go to Egypt pick yourself up some of the cute rhinestone pins. If you like the Egyptian way of doing higab then only buy the shayla style scarves (long not square). When I do wear the higab I start by wrapping it around my head and pin under my chin, then I wrap the rest around my head and pin. I pin mine with 4 pins total. One at the chin, one near each cheek and one at the top of my head to prevent slipping. I never have a problem with it coming loose or slipping. Make sure one side has excess fabric to flow down your shoulder. It's cute like that Last time I was in Egypt the girls were using really long scarves that draped down their back. Also, some wrapped it so it looked loose and flowy on the top of their head.

I wore it the way you described when I was there. Thing is.....I have a feeling that there are different styles that complement different types of heads, you know? I have a big head and my face is totally round, so I wonder if the shayla isn't for me. Tends to look better on long oblong faces I think. When I wear the amira style, it looks like when my nana used to squeeze my cheeks together. lolol. Just one big chubby cheek with a nose and mouth stickin' out. I'll like one in a picture but then when I put it on me...as with any clothing...it will look ridiculous.

I wish there was a site like Clinique has where you enter in the size of your head, the chubbiness of your cheeks, shape of your face and voila...they find the perfect hijab scarf style for you! lol

I used to think shaylas looked funny on my head, but it just took me awhile to practice wrapping it until I found the exact way that looked good on me. I still go with the square hijab trianged, pinned under the chin and one part pinned on top of my head 90% of the time, but when I'm feeling adventerous, I pull out the ol shayla.

Higabs always make faces look chubby. My face isn't normally "chubby" but when I put on a higab it appears that I've gained 20lbs. You're not the only one.

today in the supermarket the checker had a beautiful scarf loose over her hair. do women in some countries wear a hijab that doesn't come tightly around their face and cover all their hair? like a loose scarf over their head...flowy and some hair showing?

Yes. Actually in the airport at Cairo on my way home there were a bunch of Paskistani women who all wore theirs like that. I think it might depend on a lot of factors, like what culture you're from and what you believe it should be for. That's kind of my problem....and I'm sure will be for many Americans if they convert and decide to wear hijab................Americans don't really have a "hijab style", you know? I'm kind of just looking around at all the different styles already out there but I think it would be a huge market to enter into if someone from the US were to invent a whole new american hijab style. In Egypt the shayla is pretty popular (the long rectangular scarf wrapped in many different ways), in some it's the triangular scarf just pinned in front and the triangular shape down the back. We need our own here! (or I do). I think it would be cool to wear a red and white heart printed scarf over a red or white underscarf for Valentine's day.

Subcontinent muslims will wear a dupatta with their cultural dress - http://www.pardesifashions.com/SalwarKamee...aTutorial1.aspx

I wouldn't really classify it as hijab persay, since hijab is suppose to cover all the hair. Many pakistani women at our masjid wear dupattas, but when it's time to pray, they'll pull them tightly around their heads to cover all their hair. Well, except for a few eid muslims, who come to prayer wearing tight short sleeve salwar kameezes and have their pony tail hanging out the back of their scarf.

the hearts would be so cute!

if i were to wear hijab i would wear the loose, flowy kind. it seems much more flattering and comfortable.
the woman in the market looked turkish or ... i don't know. a pretty light-skinned girl.

ahh yes, i always see south asian women wearing loose flowing also. gorgeousssssssss! i love the clothes south asian women wear. that website has some awesome stuff!

There are a few websites that sell western style hijab stuff:

Shukr


Silk Route




rebirth of chic




Marabo




Artizara






I do own quite a few egyptian style abayas, but most of the time, I'm squarely in the american dress camp.

The thing is....in my opinion, the type where the hair shows is not hijab. Where's that ummah film guy when ya need him. He did a whole skit on this and it was hysterical. lol.

The whole point of wearing the scarf is to cover your hair and your chest. If you can see the hair, then really you're just doing it for decoration and nothing else. . . which is fine.....it's all up to the individual and why they're doing it in the first place. To look gorgeous kind of defeats the purpose since the point is to be modest. I like different styles so that i'll look "ok" in them but I don't want to look knock out drop dead gorgeous (not that I have ANY fear of that EVER happening lol) because if I do I might as well just take the thing off.

I think that's my inner struggle actually. (lays down on psychiatric couch poppin' her Paxil).............when I put it on I look aweful.....so now I'm trying to get used to wearing makeup so that when i do wear it, insha Allah, I won't look THAT bad.................but really I shouldn't even be wearing makeup if the point is to look modest and not attractive to men. This debate goes on and on in my head. I should just throw a potato sack over my head and be done with it. lol

good point. i do see many muslim women in hijabs and djellabas that are very decorative, flashy, and wear make up and jewelry. why can't looking pretty be modest? if you cover all the parts needed for modesty but like to accessorize, is that bad? i guess there is a fine line i do not yet understand.

I do agree with you Doodle. I know how you feel too. When I first started wearing hijab, I wore the scarf but it did not cover my chest. I used to tuck it in my shirt, or sweater..and have some extremely tight jeans on. (This was when I was about 17). Gradually I started changing the way I dress, I wore pants that were much looser, and shirts that covered the bootay .

After I got married, I started wearing these long shirts.. I think they are called shalwar kameez..just the shirt part..and the loose pants. Even though the shirt went past my knees..my husband disliked it. I got the HUGE lecture (in a kind way) on how the correct way to wear hijab is the abaya, or jilbab. He told me that the seperation of the legs should not show because that is Awrah..and a womans figure should not be revealed in anyway. He also gave me a few days to find fatwa and proof that it is ok for women to wear pants. lol, I really couldnt find much.

He also gave me this hadith: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam): "Cursed men who make themselves like women and cursed women who make themselves like men."

I have come to accept it, and I do wear the abaya, or long skirts with long shirts.

But honestly, I believe hijab is more than just a physical thing, moral is a big part too. In the end, it has to do with one doing it for the purpose of pleasing Allah, and not anyone else. Like you said Doodle, culture has a huge impact on this. The definition of hijab differs from person to person.

Am I the only one whose husband dislikes jilbab and abaya and prefers for me to wear jeans?

There will always be a wide range of opinoins on what is hijab and what is not. I am on a message board where the moderators have decided that this is proper hijab. I tried to start a thread about scarf fashion and was shot down. I don't talk about hijab there.





And then on the other hand, I've long been a part of the yahoo group muslimahs in hijab. We have all manners of schools of thought and levels of practice on the board. The only requirement is that you believe covering your hair is fard. From there, we share fashion tips and whatnot.

Oh by the way, I won't be a hypocrite.. I do wear just a small amount of makeup..but you can barely tell..just around my eyes sometimes, cause I get these glasses marks when I don't wear my contacts..uffies ..and a little bit or mascara.

Sorry, Rahma, but that type of higab (the pic) is wayyyyyyyy too uptight, IMO. I wouldn't be able to relate to those kinda ppl.

My husband prefers skirts. He likes me in abayas but doesn't push it. In fact, he discourages me from wearing abayas to work. I have a closet full of abayas that are crying for some wear time

I also have a closet full of abayas and galabiyas that rarely get worn (and a BIG box of scarves). I do wear the galabiyas around the house occasionally. They were just too cute not to have.

Me either My favorite abaya is a a black gulf style one with some white embroidery, but I always pair it with a bright scarf. I'll have to post pics of me from last year's festival of nations. I had my (favorite) hot pink shayla on with the flowing black abaya. I got quite a few compliments.

If there is one thing I can say about my husband, it's that he has an excellent taste in scarves. The hot pink shayla was my bday present last year, along with a bright orange square scarf, lol.

I love bright scarves, too. I have a multi colored scarf with gold thread mixed in that I got in Khan el Khalili that I LOVE!

Here's a pic of me wearing it. It was sunny so forgive the squinty eyes.

Bridget...notice the fat face?



Click to view attachment

MashaAllah, you look adorabbbbbbbbbble in it wallahy!!

Awwwww thank you, Chococat

You're most welcome . I know how to wrap it like that..but I dunno..Just dont look right on me like that...It looks nice on you though.. I just stick to the square ones, with the pin on the bottom, and another on top to hold it.

awwwww I agree you look adorable!!!!!!! I love the way you wrapped it too.


As for the abaya, etc. I think my husband is confusing. Before we married I would show him pictures of different skirts that I was going to get to bring to Egypt. He kept stressing that I can always just wear jeans.

Then when I got there I did wear my jeans, but the first day that I wore a long denim skirt he was all oooohing and aaaaaahing and alhumdulilaaaaaaaaaaaaaahing. I think maybe he was trying not to make me feel uncomfortable at first by saying jeans were ok. He was trying to say anything to make me not be afraid to go to Cairo and to make me think that it's just like NYC or something...which it is kind of except for double the trash and pollution and a few more hijabis. lol.

Anyways I still wear jeans and pants and he knows that and hasn't said he doesn't like it but we'll see what he says once he's here. He does not like the Abayas though...those coat type things that some wear. he likes me to look like me...and that's not me. lol. We were walking through this modern type mall in Cairo and they had some cool stores, though every store we went to we were so pressed for time. I didn't want to waste a second by stopping to look at stuff because I would miss him too much. lol I know it's corny and sappy but I just wanted to soak each minute in and so did he. Anyhooo....the styles that he likes are just like that shukr site that Rahma loves so much.

ok now i know it's been waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long 'cause I just went to the male section of shukr looking for things for the hubster and got MAJORLY turned on.

my fiance would like me to wear a hijab with jeans too. i think he's really torn between his religion and modernization. he's young, hip, and loves girls in sexy tight jeans but yet when i tried on a hijab for him for fun he almost fainted. i never saw a bigger smile on his face.



this was his mama's...her friend bought it on her hajj and she passed it onto me.

omg you two are sooooo in love!!!


now....realistically though.....would your mom not faint BIGTIME if she saw you in that? lol

omg my mom would keel over!!!

All of the pictures of me in Egypt had hijab on and my mom was NOT pleased. lol. I think she must have said about ten rosarys after I left!!!

rahma is in love with shukr




Show your husband the styles you like on the website and have him buy stuff in egypt that look similar. I showed DH some stuff I would like for him to wear, and he's always like, uh, it's much cheaper in egypt, i'll just buy it next time I'm there.



Just cuz one wears hijab doesn't mean they can't have fun and look sexy at home My little lingere and mini skirt collection grows quite often



It's taken almost 4 years of me wearing hijab for my parents to not freak out. In fact, I wore my hijabi swimgear this weekend to do water aerobics with my mom, and she didn't complain too much

When I go out, and know I will not be around any mirrors I tie mine up super tight. My brian cells start to hurt
But my husband on the other hand has this weird habit to want to fixmy hijeb (he will literally come running if he knows I am tying it up) He *trys* bless his heart to fix it all fashionable, but LOL it is no good. Usually one side is longer then the other, he pooks me accidently with the pin and it is way too loose, I just move an inch and it comes right off...but LOL he assumes me

I locve shukr too... their prices are abit high $80 or so...but I never checked the clearance...will do!




If you put it under your chin, makes you look fatter, but if you put right at the chin line actually slims. Also colours are big factor too!

I belong to a forum like that too... Algerien women group. I met a bunch of them when I was in DZ... I was of course outcasted since I did not doon the niqaab or the chadour. ufffffffff
I personally think you can be modest and modern at the same time.
My husband says: It is modest if it covers the goodies. I tend to agree. You have your bum and bossum covered it's all good!




I donnot think you are a hypcrite. I use makeup too... but I look natural. No blue eye shadow and kohl for me!



Tell me about it...more caftans and abayas then I will ever wear out, so I just play dress up at home:lol:

The fat face can be remedied by adjusting the positioning of the hijeb. Moving it slightly closer in on the cheek bones and having it cover your jowl area.

So how does the thing with the strait pin go? When a pin is used at the side of the head on level with the forehead or therabouts....do you put it in Downward or upward...Pointing toward the front or back of the head...?

It has something to do with preventing slippage or something. I keep forgetting.

I am hesitating to start wearing my scarves until I know the reason I am doing it is not only because my fiance would like me to. It is not the worst reason, but not the right one, either. I think general modesty in dress and behavior follows the spirit behind the idea of hijab. I also hesitate because, hey, I'm a coward and I live with my devout Christian mother who doesn't know I converted. I decided on 06/22/06 at 0622 and I remember I had just finished reading about 622CE (year many consider as 'the birth of Islam') does anyone notice a pattern with those numbers? I thought it was interesting. Beginnings.

BT