Wednesday 31 March 2010

Green tea with stars!




I went what I can only describe as slightly insane yesterday. I attribute this to my starry scarf and the colourific energy transmitted from the intense bright GREEN of the second scarf! I am not joking I was laughing outloud at myself in the mirror as I attempted to take a picture that included more than the top lefthand corner of my head... The way I have tied the scarf here to me looks a little bit more urban. I'm interested in finding more urban hijab looks. There is something really elegant about hijab, and of course abaya, and yet some girls add a really urban flavour and I really love that some days. On this occasion the huge hoop earrings used again here really help! They were some of the treasure I discovered in the DP accessories sale at BHS last week. Lush!

Tuesday 30 March 2010

Blue & Green should ALWAYS be seen!



There is a saying in English 'Blue and green should never be seen, except with something inbetween.' I have to say I disagree heartily with this old adage. There is nothing as zesty as turquoise blue and lime green together! Here there is a bit more gold than green but think of the sky and the grass - perfect combination as far as I'm concerned...

That black abaya


Sister, that black abaya
is really quite unique
or is it the tone of your voice
when you speak?
Or is it the light that shines
From your eyes
As you think deep thoughts
Of the pure and wise
It fits and it covers
yet without a doubt you are
the most stunning
sister i have seen Masha'Allah!

Working with Muslim Hands


So I know this is really a fashion blog, and I have added some info on this subject to my other blog www.shashasinnerhumanlife.blogspot.com but something this important really needs to be talked about! This pic is some of the kids in Haiti who are currently being helped by Muslim Hands. Yesterday I had the privilege of visiting the Muslim Hands HQ in London where I met some truly lovely souls and had some really fruitful discussion about the fundraising event that I had conceived. These people really are the experts and it was with a grateful heart that I was able to learn from them on how this concept might come to fruition in the not too distant future. It has been on my heart to help the children of Gaza and insha'Allah I will be organising (with the expert help of MH) a small more local event intitially. This is something you ladies may be interested in, I hope to have more info on this very soon to display for you. Stay posted!

Friday 26 March 2010

Morocco Forever



I can't help it! This is a regular symptom of my obsession with Morocco... At least I have found the engagement ring that my future Moroccan prince can buy for me ;)

Thursday 25 March 2010

Sister Documented in non-Islamic ezine article

As salaam aleikum sisters this is well worth a read! It is one of my facebook sisters:

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/arts-and-entertainment/European-Muslims-reconcile-cultures-through-fashion-88844622.html

Gypsy style embellishments




I really struggled to get my whole head in a picture on this Gypsy-style hijab look! So here it is in peices... I don't own many high neck garments at the moment, but it's a look I could definitely enjoy more of!

Desert Chic



At present my thoughts are focussed on my presentation for Muslim Hands on Monday. Insha'Allah they will be excited by my vision for '30 Days of Desert Prayer' to raise money for the war-orphans and affected families of Palestine. Please remember the cause in your dua'a ladies, I would be really grateful for your prayers. Depending on how the presentation goes, I will share my vision with you following the meeting! The laptop is of course to keep updating my blog during my desert time. And because it's pretty...

Saturday 20 March 2010

Midnight blue abaya


A somewhat blurry image of my lovely blue abaya as promised. I think you can tell why I like it! While separates can provide a great deal of variety I think we can easily overlook the elegant ease of the abaya, especially for the summer months. I am still looking for a truly lovely pair of palazzo pants to take me through the summer months. At this rate - I will have to design some myself! I am certainly already considering designing a line of caftans and abayas. Necessity is the mother of invention as they say!

Desert Sands



Hi Ladies, above is a moodboard created by my dear friend, illustrator, designer and business partner Maria Criticos. I love love love the headdress, and would welcome your thoughts. This is a possibility (minus naked shoulders!) for my next creative project. x

Friday 19 March 2010

Should never be seen!


Well today I am wearing patchwork jeans, a leopard print tunic and a floral scarf - this SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED! But somehow it just happened and for some unknown reason, it did not offend my eyes when I looked in the mirror this morning. Of course it looks better with my bright lagoon blue jacket over the top as this separates the two prints, but how is this look possible?? HOW? What are your thoughts ladies? I had been moving boxes around all afternoon hence the rolled back sleeves :(

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Bluetiful Tuareg!


You may have realized by now that I heart, heart HEART blue. Well here is a hijab look that I tried with two scarves - I love it! but strictly a cool weather look if using normal pashmina weight scarves as it is double toasty... This could go with the blue maxi dress look in my previous post 'Maxi-mum ease', but longer beads may be required as the scarf would hide them otherwise. I took the flower from a dress I no longer wear and just used a normal safety pin to attach it. A friend of mine told me it looked 'bluetiful' lol! Brilliant. I'm going to wear the look with my dark blue abaya, I promise to get a picture on here as soon as I remember where I stored it.

While we are on the subject of blue, my book of the month is 'Desert' by JMG Le Clezio I will be buying it as soon as I get paid... check it out at www.amazon.co.uk. I havent yet realized my goal to travel in the Sahara with my son, but perhaps I should wait until he is a little bit older. Praying at dawn in the desert - can you imagine it? Makeup will definitely not be an option, and it will be abaya and trousers all the way. I just need to find trustworthy people to travel with. And some cash! I'd like to do it for charity. Hmmn, this warrants some more thought. If you have any thoughts - let me know! I have been thinking recently that rather than just give money to charity I would like to somehow get involved in a more hands-on way. It' something I could also do with my son as a way of teaching him how to think of other people's needs - not an easy thing to understand when you have so recently been a helpless baby! Wow, who would have thought that one look and one book could reawaken such plans? Well, perhaps I should wear blue more often...

Monday 15 March 2010

Maxi-mum ease...




I am so wanting to make life easy on myself right now. What could be easier than a maxi dress? I'm sick of waistbands, I want to feel some freedom! Here are three maxi dress looks, I hope you like! I'm thinking of designing a range of long-sleeved abaya-style dresses myself as I can never find exactly what I want out there. Even my recently purchased blue abaya leaves something to be desired! I had to adjust it as soon as I got home to avoid looking like a drowned rat! Great colour though... it's always worth working with these things! Anyway, I'll keep you posted. I'm in love with this liberty print scarf! Too bad my friend Lucy doesn't work there anymore!

LOOKBOOK.nu

Well, I have recently been accepted as a member with the online fashion community lookbook.nu! Since applying for this membership I have started covering so it is going to be a real challenge to create really fantastic everyday looks incorporating hijab, not to mention finding the time to photograph them. If I only had a camera with a timer...

Monday 8 March 2010

Great minds think alike!

Here is a link to Stylish Muslimah's blog on hijab style, again about the spring lace frenzy:

http://stylishmuslimah.blogspot.com/2010/03/hijabifying-lace.html

what can I say? Great minds think alike!

<3

Hoojab, underscarf, Lace, ACTION!



I have now received my products from www.pearl-daisy.com and have had a brief chance to experiment. Continuing on my lace theme from last week, I used the pearl-daisy underscarf to create an arrangement with some lace I have previously used to customise a dress! The teal scarf is a hoojab, very hastily thrown on at work which just proves how easy it is to create something casual with this piece.

Tuesday 2 March 2010

Lacey Weekend






Ok, so I'm getting a little carried away. I could atually create looks all day everyday it seems!

I'm currently helping girlfriends choose and style their wedding dresses and it's driving me mad for lace! This is a little weekend look complete with heels AND flats for day-to-evening glamour! The whole set goes perfectly with my recently ordered Mocha flower underscarf and Teal hoojab from - yes, you've got it! www.pearl-daisy.com!

One more from Polyvore...




Well this has filled me with the need to aquire a turquoise biker jacket... these handbags from Mary Frances are gorgeous, so glad I've discovered her. I have boots like these and I love the biker vibe, but I require a bit more colour in my day-to-day looks to help maintain the energy I need to keep me going throughout my busy days! i like the longline t-shirt, I must look out for one. H&M is a possibility. I love this sherbert coloured hijab too! The gloves are necessary to keep out the chill that is still in the air! I have a yellow bag that I will customise to fit this look - watch this space for the results!

Tea with the girls!




I just created this look and I have to say I could almost create it from my own wardrobe - without the designer price tag. The hijab is an underscarf from pearl-daisy.com. I do not, however have anything like the beautiful handbag! Am I a fan of the jeans-over-skirt look? yes I am from before my days of covering it has always been a fun look for me and this skirt is just DIVINE! Heels for glamour of course. And I know the zinging yellow of this structured-shouldered jacket would put a spring in my step no matter what shoes I am wearing!

Monday 1 March 2010

www.pearl-daisy.com

I just picked up a link to this fantastic hijab site on the Stylish Muslimah blog. Really pleased I did! Promise to post pics when my order arrives - uniquely arranged in my own particular style of course! :) x

www.pearl-daisy.com

Also available on FB - Pearl-Daisy Ltd

Happy shopping!