World Hijab Day Held Next Month

January 24, 2014, 3:02 am

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On February 1 this year, up to a million women are expected to take part in the second annual World Hijab Day. The event was created last year by New York-based Nazma Khan with the express desire to help educate non-Muslims about Hijabs, why people wear them and what they represent. 

Khan’s event encourages non-Muslims to wear a Hijab for a day to be able to fully understand how it feels. She hopes that this will help people empathise with Hijab-wearers, remove misunderstanding and help create better relations between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Despite only being in its relative infancy, World Hijab Day has grown quickly – Khan’s literature for the day has been translated into 22 different languages and representatives from the UK, Australia, Germany, France, India and Pakistan have contacted her about taking up the cause. 

One of the events biggest supporters Mufti Ismail Menk is enthusiastic about the quick growth of the event. He explains: “A large number of non-Muslims show great support for our sisters and get a first-hand feel of the hijab by donning it for a day.

The owner of Jubbas, a Muslim clothing stockist, agrees. Akil Desai enthuses: “This is a fantastic opportunity for people to see what a Hijab truly represents.”

World Hijab Day is held on February 1 and more information can be found on the official Facebook page. Or just show your support by proudly donning your favourite Hijab on the day.

Will you be participating in World Hijab Day?

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Acacia Label

January 27, 2014, 1:46 am

≫ Next: Fab Favourites - Hijabs & Co

≪ Previous: World Hijab Day Held Next Month

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The last couple of weeks have been tinged with bouts of morning sickness and fatigue (like most pregnancies) so I've been in a space of not wanting to do anything because I've been feeling so blah, exhausted and gross a lot of the time. Seriously, the clock strikes 10am and I'm already considering a quick couch nap. 

I was meaning to get this review done two weeks ago but the feeling of crapness prevailed and procrastinated my plans which is a bit of a let down for me because I'm seriously loving this delightfully summer appropriate dress and have been really excited about photographing it and showing you guys.

So without further ado...

Acacia Label specialise in these type of long, embroidered dresses. While many hint at ethnic roots such as their South Asian tinged designs, I went for something I could wear without feeling like I was cashing in on someone else's culture. I wanted something detailed yet simple while pretty and was kinda wowed when the package arrived and I feasted my upon the White Amber dress. 

The purity of the white silk charmeuse fabric really upholds the exquisite colourful embroidery which methinks is pretty much spot on to wear on any bright summery day or some night time extravaganza.

The dress is lined with silk and also comes with long silky leggings to wear underneath as the design is quite flawy in the breeze (as I experienced this afternoon) so it's quite handy that they come with it because I think finding the exact matching leggings on my own would've been a task in itself.

Big bonus for me that it's empire waisted so I can wear it throughout my pregnancy!

All of Acacia Label's designs are made to your specific measurements and requirements (colour choice included) so what I received was a perfect fit and exactly what I was after, although it did take a few weeks to receive as it was hand crafted from scratch (even the embroidery is hand stitched), but as with all custom made creations the wait is well worth it.

Every aspect of the dress was top quality; from the material used to the stitching so I have nothing to complain about. I'm kinda in awe of it, truth be told. The Victoriana pleated ruffles and pearl looped buttons sucked me right in.

Quite a few other hijab bloggers have reviewed other gorgeous designs for Acacia Label already (Dina Tokio, Amenakin, Saman, Yaz the Spaz, etc) which you can check out on their website or Facebook page. 

Tell me, are you loving the dress as much as I am?

Details + Links

Dress ~ Acacia Label

Clutch ~ Dareen Hakim

Scarf ~ Similar

Heels ~ ASOS (similar)

Fab Favourites - Hijabs & Co

January 27, 2014, 7:33 pm

≫ Next: Easy Peasy Party Pastry Rolls

≪ Previous: Acacia Label

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I don't tend to read a lot of blogs because a lot of the current hijab bloggers are very same-samey when it comes to style. I think a lot has to do with the fact that they are roughly the same age (aka a lot younger than me) and the age difference seems to of course have me invested in other interests besides 101 ways to tie your turban. 

I tend to get hooked on hijab bloggers that showcase a little more than just fashion and show off some lifestyle tidbits as well. I think being older and being a mother/wife tends to open you up naturally to a broader range of interests. For those of us that aren't twenty one any more, single and living the high life of having no responsibilities (don't you miss those days at times?) we end up craving a little more than fashion 100% of the time because it just isn't the be all of our existence anymore (although it was once for me, many many years ago). Hence my admiration for Lamia, the blogger behind Hijabs and Co.

She doesn't blog too much these days but is a regular on Instagram where she shares her feminine, sophisticated style as well as glorious girly shots of fresh flowers, dainty tea cups and cakes, cute desk set ups and snippets of her family, life and gorgeous home. I wish she would blog regularly because she is one person who I have been following for a while and I always looked forward to her posts. She always has very fresh, bright looking photography and such an elegant style to everything she does whether it is dressing or home decorating.

I was more than happy to have her take part of my Fab Favourite series, so without further ado...

Favourite Perfume/Scent: 

Without hesitation Juicy Couture: Viva la juicy.

Luxurious, sweet, rich and beautiful floral. I absolutely love this perfume. It has an incredible lasting power and when you wear it. I've yet to meet anyone who disliked it the lovely bottle in pure juicy fashion.

Favourite Food: 

I don't have a favorite food, but I really like to cook cakes. I enjoy baking cakes for our family. I like to try new recipes from around the world. My last cake is a Japanese cake named Castella.

Favourite Beauty/Makeup Brand: 

Erno Lazslo, I shamefully admit that I bought this brand because the fact that Marylin Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly used to it. Erno Laszlo was a favorite beauty product of Marilyn’s based on the large amount of Laszlo products in her possession at the time of her death.

I purchased ''Active Phelityl Cream'' it's the favourite  moisturiser of Marylin Monroe and I really love it. My skin has never looked better than in the two years I have used this routine, and even though it costs me a fortune to get it shipped from the States, I still love Mr Laszlo and his products.

Favourite Clothing Brand:

By Malene Birger, Zara, Ted Baker, Histoire de Plaire.

Favourite Song:

I love old school music especially jazz, blues,  swing, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé. They have a certain quality to it that songs these days don't have. I'm saying that it is much less synthesized. The performers rarely altered their voices or instruments with electronics. 

Favourite Book: 

I loooooooove books, it takes you into another world and you can be a part of it. A good book takes me completely away from the stresses of real life at least for a short while and this is true even for religious books.

I have read and I enjoyed so many books that it's difficult to choose one, but I will say ''Harry Potter'' for youth section and ''Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls'' for adult section.

Favourite Blog: 

Intrigue Me Now, The Cherry Blossomgirl and Wish Wish Wish are my go-to blogs for inspiration. I love the creative concept and effort that consistently goes into every single post and think of them more as visual diaries of inspiring photography and life.

Favourite Travel Destination: 

London! London is so full of life you can't come here and leave disappointed. I love the atmosphere, people, accents, even the weather. I love how accepting people are here. It’s an amazing hub of different nationalities and people from all over Britain who’ve found their place in this wonderful city of opportunity. You can be anyone you want to be in London. It’s the city that doesn’t judge.

Favourite Hobby: 

Horse riding, Photography.

Favourite TV Show/Movie: 

I don't watch much TV, but when I can, I love watch Planet No limit, National Geographic. The magazine, the show, articles and pictures. I just love everything about it. So informative and amazing... a wonderful learning experience. But when I want to be just relax I like to watch ''Keeping up with the kardashians'', ''Fashion Police'' and ''The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'' (Mhhh, yeah I know, loool ;)

Coincidentaly, I'm about to put my kids down for a nap and watch The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills too. I'm an unashamed fan and methinks Lamia's love for flowers rivals Lisa Vanderpump's!

Keep up to date with Lamia via Instagram and make sure you stop by her blog!

Easy Peasy Party Pastry Rolls

January 31, 2014, 7:29 pm

≫ Next: Grocery, Meal & Day Planners

≪ Previous: Fab Favourites - Hijabs & Co

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My friend made a similar version at my baby shower last year and I kept thinking to myself "holy crap these look easy to make!" and indeed they are. I went home, made my own version and have remade it a few times over the past year. 

My hubby loves them (perfect fatty snack) and my kids love them which is a joy because it is damn hard to get my eldest to eat anything new.

These are so damn easy and quick to make - perfect for those times when people knock on your door unannounced and make you think to yourself "Ugh, now I have to let you in. I guess you want to be fed too..." As you can tell I'm not a fan of people turning up announced. I actually think it's kind of  rude although in many cultures (including my husband's) it's perfectly normal so it's handy to have something you can create at a moment's notice. 

Ingredients:
- puff pastry sheets
- your choice of filling (Romano cheese and kalamata olives in my case)

Recipe
1. Thaw pastry sheet and slice in half.
2. Cover each half with the filling of your choice. I did one side plain cheddar cheese (for the kids) and the other Romano cheese and olives. You can always buy pre-prepared pesto sauces and slather that on instead.
3. Taking the end of a half, roll it up like you would a rug and then slice those babies up (not too thickly though).
4. Place the mini rolls flat side up on a baking tray and cook in the oven (180ºC) until the pastry has risen and is golden brown.

I made some plain mozzarella cheese ones for the kids (they're not really olive aficionados yet) and they couldn't get enough. 

Grocery, Meal & Day Planners

February 3, 2014, 7:17 pm

≫ Next: My Childhood Bunnykins

≪ Previous: Easy Peasy Party Pastry Rolls

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I've never been the organised type but with a family to run you kind of have no choice but to change if only to make the day run a little more smoothly. In order to get my head around what I need to do during the week I have invested in a trio of planners where I can jot it all down.

The first, a 2014 diary, keeps my week ahead all laid out and prepared. Whether it's doctors appointments, meeting up with friends or random "must do this today!" notes I leave myself, I find myself being more on top of things with a simple diary. I picked this one up at the local newsagency for $14. When shopping for a perfect diary I only had two requirements:

1) It had to be in a weekly format because those a day to a page diaries give me the shits and I want to see my whole week in one go to know what's ahead.

2) It had to be girly. Pink, florals, pretty... you get the idea.

This ABC Gardening Australia diary ($14) is awesome. I love the layout, I love the beautiful flowers decorating every page and I love the overall design of the diary itself. It has heaps of gardening tips if you are into that sort of thing but it is rendered useless on me because my garden doesn't exist and if anything resembles a rundown old Western movie set... dry, dusty and brown. Nothing to be proud of there.

To fix my not so healthy food habits (you've no doubt seen the amount of cakes I post on Instagram) and that of the family's, I trotted down to the city yesterday and popped into David Jones to visit their Kikki K collection where I picked up this awesome shopping list and weekly meal planner.

...and yes, a mountain of crap does live on top of my fridge, as does a piece of my daughter's artwork and a birthday card I got from my hubby yesterday. I'm 29 now, not afraid to say it and definitely not one of those women who weeps over her advancing age - every extra year we get to live is a blessing so we should be grateful for the chance to become older. Looking forward to my 30's!

The grocery list ($14.95) already has the food broken down into their sections which is pretty damn close to the way I section off my usual grocery list. That feature by itself is so handy and pretty much why I grabbed it. The pad comes with 60 sheets so you can use it every week for a whole year (or will last two years if you're like me and do your food shopping fortnightly). It comes with a pen that hooks onto the pad so you don't lose it (I always do) and is magnetised so it sticks to your fridge.

The meal planner ($9.95) is also magnetised and sorts out your three main meals plus snacks. I'm using it as a way to map out better pregnancy foods for myself because left to my own devices I will probably just lick cake all day and thus give birth to a diabetic sumo wrestler. Having it all written down in front of me works better for me in that I can plan my meals ahead of time and also write in what I did eat during the day that wasn't planned so I'm more aware of what goes in my stomach in order to kick my bad food habits once and for all.

Word of advice - don't go in Kikki K alone. Your wallet will never make it out alive - there's just way too much cute stuff to grab. I had my hubby with me to keep me inline otherwise I would have walked out with half the shop while draining our bank account. Even walking past the glorious Royal Albert tea sets was enough for him to grab me by the hand like a wayward child and lead me out the door. He knows me too well. I'm far too attached to anything pretty and floral!

Do you guys use planners of any sort? Do you find they bring a little more organisation into your life that otherwise would not be there or do you rely on other tactics to get your home life sorted?

My Childhood Bunnykins

February 8, 2014, 7:50 pm

≫ Next: Nocturnal Blooms + Giveaway

≪ Previous: Grocery, Meal & Day Planners

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My mother kept a few things left over from my childhood, some of which are my Barbie dolls and accessories, toddler dresses and the beloved Bunnykins that a lot of people seem to have. I currently use them for my own kids (heirloom in the process!). Considering since childhood I've been a clumsy, walking disaster I'm surprised they are in such good condition. They look brand new which is amazing since they are near thirty years old.

I've bought the modern version for my daughter when she was born but it is made of a strong plastic instead of the traditional porcelain. I much prefer the original material.

I use them occasionally for the kid's breakfast - in this case star shaped peanut butter toast and a cup of milk to get the day started.

Did you ever have a Bunnykins set as a kid? Have you still got any of your childhood belongings?

Nocturnal Blooms + Giveaway

February 14, 2014, 7:24 am

≫ Next: Rayanne's Designs Abayas + Giveaway

≪ Previous: My Childhood Bunnykins

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This last week has been a busy one - full of craptastic morning sickness, teething babies and the exhaustion that comes from a continuous massive lack of sleep. I'm barely surviving to be honest. Sometimes motherhood is the best thing in the world and other times I want to lock myself in the nearest jail cell and scream my lungs out while banging my head up against a concrete wall, asylum style. Or run away to Barbados. I've considered that.

Because of my lack of enthusiasm and energy for anything even slightly productive, I have let blogging fall by the wayside a bit which means I've got quite the little pile of Islamic designer clothing waiting to be reviewed, three different giveaways to start (you'll enjoy the prizes) and lots of personal pictorial posts to catch up on. Even writing back to emails is taking me a couple of days to get through instead of the usual same day response I aim for. Just so tired and unmotivated of late, I guess.

I've got this Sunday's Langston Hues & Alif Arts Hub event in Perth to attend and speak at (who else is going to this exciting day?!) and once that is done I plan on getting through the stack of work I need to break down. 

To add on to this already fun mix of sickness and stress, for some reason the heavy fatigue that usually hits me in my last trimester has decided to hurry itself up and haunt my 3.5 month pregnant body early. Speaking of pregnancy, I've reached that dreaded point in fetus growing where my normal clothes no longer fit. I've got one pair of pants that just do up but everything else has been cast aside for the meantime in favour of maxi dresses, abayas and anything else that doesn't suffocate my uterus. 

Mexican based company Alhelí SG helped me out in this department by custom making me one of their pretty abayas. I ended up going for the Nocturnal Blooms design because A) florals and B) You should know me by now. I was also given a scarf but will show you that at a later date when I've found the right outfit for it. 

The dress is made up of two layers - the top being the lace and the black stretchy opaque lining being the second. Thanks to the stretchiness, this dress will allow my stomach to grow comfortably as the baby grows (or if I eat a lot of pies in one go which wouldn't exactly be a stretch for me). It isn't meant to be a maternity dress but lucky for me the fabric suits this purpose tremendously. 

The dress is comfy and is one of those pieces that will work well in both summer and winter depending on how you wear it. Although still in summer here, I did have to layer up with a belt and a crochet vest because I felt like I needed to break up the pattern a bit to make it more wearable. 

I love the print, the lace and the colours but most of all I adore it because it is trés girly and you know how I love the feminine.

On a side note, I really ought to get out in the sun more. I know being Irish blooded means I'm not exactly going to naturally ride the tan train any time soon, but I didn't realise I looked so deathly white. Michael Jackson post-sugery white. Albino white. Glow in the dark white. Bring on the Casper jokes...

Giveaway Time!

Alhelí SG are giving one MissHijabi.com reader a designer dress or abaya of their choice! All you have to do to enter is:

1. Go to their website and choose the dress or abaya you want to win
2. Follow @AlhelíSG and @MissHijabi_blog on Instagram
3. Like Alhelí SG and MissHijabi.com on Facebook
4. Leave a comment below letting me know either your instagram or Facebook name and your choice of dress. 

I'll pick the winner on March 1st and let you know via Facebook. Good luck ladies!

Details + Links

Dress ~ Alhelí SG

Belt ~ ASOS

Shoes ~ Zara (similar)

Vest ~ Jay Jays (similar)

Scarf ~ Egypt (methinks?)

Rayanne's Designs Abayas + Giveaway

February 20, 2014, 2:32 am

≫ Next: Al-Qamees Giveaway - One for the Men!

≪ Previous: Nocturnal Blooms + Giveaway

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Rayanne's Design is probably the first Islamic clothing retailer I heard of once I converted and moved to Perth. At the time it was the only one in operation and one of the very few Australia-wide. Over the last few years they have expanded from simply a Perth based store to an online international retailer and are currently offering up a few special deals to their international (and local) customers which you can read more about below (and enter the giveaway while you are at it!) but first take a quick look at the very feminine and pretty abayas that they have to offer...

Loving all the subtle girly aspects to these dresses - loose ruffles, elegant draping, delicate lace and subtle colours but the best thing of all is that their products are so reasonably priced! There are countless abayas (and other items) around the $50 mark. So cheap compared to other sellers!

Giveaway

Rayanne's Designs are currently giving away a $50 voucher for three special MissHijabi.com readers. All you have to do to enter is...

- Like both MissHijabi.com and Rayanne's Design on Facebook

- Go to this picture linked here and share it on your wall and leave a comment as to what item you would put your $50 towards. So simple! I'll announce the winner on March 6th via Facebook. Good luck!

Current deals

- Free express shipping to US, UK, Canada, Australia + New Zealand for orders over $100

- Includes a mystery gift bag valued at $25

- 30% - 60% off final clearance abayas

- 50% off entire hijab range

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Al-Qamees Giveaway - One for the Men!

February 20, 2014, 3:57 pm

≫ Next: Baraka Bohemian

≪ Previous: Rayanne's Designs Abayas + Giveaway

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Typically all giveaways I have on my blog are catering to the female side of things. For once I have something to give away for the men in your life be that your husband, father, brother... you get the point. 

AlQamees is a Canadian based retailer providing custom made thobes for Muslim men, ensuring each piece is tailor made to the individual perfectly according to their measurements (much like the abayas that get sent my way).  They even let you design your own if you are after something particular! You can read more about the brand and its beginnings here. 

AlQamees are giving away a very generous $150 gift voucher to one of my readers so you can go ahead and spoil that certain someone in your life. Personally, I'm loving this piece because it has that business suit swag going on. All you have to do is...

- Like both MissHijabi.com and AlQamees on Facebook

- Follow MissHijabi.com and AlQamees on Twitter

- Leave me a comment below telling me what AlQamees design you would pick and who you would give it to. Make sure you either leave your Facebook name or twitter handle in the comment so I can contact you should you win. 

The winner will be announced in February 28 via Facebook. Good luck people!

Baraka Bohemian

February 23, 2014, 8:02 pm

≫ Next: DIY Recycled Vase

≪ Previous: Al-Qamees Giveaway - One for the Men!

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I'm all for anything boho or gypsy inspired. I tend to gravitate more towards those pieces but I think being stuck in an abaya rut previously for so many years meant that a lot of the clothing I would normally go for didn't really make it into my wardrobe. Since I've limited abaya use by quite a lot lately, I'm finding myself creeping more boho pieces in (albeit at a slow rate). 

This piece sent to me by home grown Aussie label Baraka (sort of a mix between a long sleeved maxi dress and the modern take on an abaya) is simply cut and features patchwork-esque combos of colours, patterned fabric and lace into a jigsaw of sorts on the chest and sleeve cuffs. 

Although it fits well everywhere else, it is a tad too short for me (the joys of being above average height) but found that wearing it over fitted jeans completed the look. The fit itself is great - even my husband remarked that you can't even tell I'm pregnant when wearing it. It just seems to nicely skim over everything which is surprising because it is made out of jersey and in my mind jersey is the crappest material ever that is akin to my worst clothing enemy but this jersey is obviously high quality and doesn't cling to every bump and curve on my body like the cheap jersey you get in most stores. Praise the Lord.

It also features a hidden zipper down the middle of the bust so it may just work out as a nursing top for me once this baby is surgically removed from my body. Hooray!

I was sent another piece from Baraka's latest line that I will show you guys soon - a silk blouse wrap in a gorgeous hue of blue that is perfection for blue lovers everywhere. Seriously, the colour had me in awe. More on that later though...

In the meantime you can follow Baraka on Facebook and their Instagram account while you check out my pics. Don't forget to enter the three giveaways that are currently running over the next week or so. For the ladies there is an Alhelí dress/abaya giveaway, three Rayanne's Boutique gift vouchers to be won and a special $150 gift voucher from AlQamees men's clothing for that special man in your life.

Details + Links

Dress ~ Baraka

Shoes ~ Steve Madden

Skinny Jeans ~ Stole them off my mum

Ring ~ YSL

Hijab ~ Saudi

Clutch ~ Dareen Hakim 

  Shop similar items:

DIY Recycled Vase

February 26, 2014, 8:21 pm

≫ Next: Modern Community Vintage

≪ Previous: Baraka Bohemian

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I don't usually buy fresh flowers because for many years I had the mentality of "They're basically dead. They last two days before they go brown and shit and have to be thrown out... what a waste of money!" so I never asked and expected flowers for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. But unbeknownst why, I changed my mind and told my husband this year he had to buy me flowers for my birthday. I think it was the emergence of Instagram into my life and all the pretty floral features some people show that made want some of that pretty into my own life. 

Once I got flowers I had nowhere to put them. I have a couple of old vases around the places but most were chipped or crap looking (nothing survives these kids) and of the opaque variety. I really wanted a transparent vase to give off that clean and minimalist look but the thought of paying $40 plus for a vase that my kids will no doubt one day smash to pieces didn't exactly appeal to me or my common sense. 

Forward to me cleaning my kitchen yesterday and after spooning out the last little bit of coffee from my coffee jar to have my morning halal crack (I swear some days a cup of the brown stuff is the only thing that keeps me awake) I realised that the massive jar was transparent, strong, huge in width and height and was pretty much perfect for an el-cheapo vase. If it breaks I won't cry myself to sleep because I can always go grab another jar of coffee from the grocery shop and recycle that in the same fashion if needs be. I also kept the lid in case one day I want to use the jar for small storage when I go back to teaching. Seriously, teachers are the craftiest when it comes to recycling household goods.

All I did was rip off the label and soak it in warm soapy water for a while so it was easy to scrub off the remnants of the label's glue that was still attached. I let it air dry and then went and bought this colourful bouquet for $9 from Coles, placing it on the white Ikea dresser in my bedroom.

I doubt I would ever go to an actual florist to buy flowers for my home because they ridiculously overcharge for something that will be dead in a few days. Both Coles and Woolies are starting to sell a large variety of fancy flowers in gorgeous colours so they've been my go to when wanting something to brighten up my home and most of the time I find those same bouquets (if not better) for much cheaper pricers at the grocery store. Personal instagram example: This bouquet from a florist cost my mother $40. These even more gorgeous bouquets from Woolworths cost $15.

The finished arrangement currently brightening up my home...

Have you ever handily recycled household goods for other purposes?

Modern Community Vintage

March 1, 2014, 9:23 pm

≫ Next: Rawaa Scarves Giveaway

≪ Previous: DIY Recycled Vase

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Modern Community Vintage is an upcoming business that will be opening in Spring 2014, ready to provide you with a whole array of items. They cater for not only for women, but men as well but of course it is the woman's range I'm more interested in seeing. When they open a plethora of shirts, sweaters, scarves, bags, shoes, dresses, abayas, pants, skirts and blazers will be available. Add on to this the accessory sections full of rings, bracelets and necklaces and you basically have a whole wardrobe option available.

Clothing aside, they will also stock household goodies and great gift items for sale like tea, greeting and post cards, crockery of all sorts, vintage and traditional Islamic books for your own personal library, journals, Shea butter products and plenty more!

At the moment the Modern community Vintage website (click here) is not currently available and will launch as mentioned in Spring but you can always follow them on both of their social media accounts via the Modern Community Vintage Facebook pageand their Instagram account. 

Modern Community Vintage, besides being a business, also have an online lifestyle magazine  (related Facebook page found here) jam packed with a broad range of articles about travel, religion, culture, food, etc - basally what you would expect of any current lifestyle magazine. 

The articles are written by various authors so you always get a fresh point of view when reading and aren't stuck following the thoughts of only one person. Being somewhat of a foodie myself (or at least a food lover) my favourite posts are those that revolve around yummy stuff to gorge yourself on; specifically the restaurant highlights (like Veggin' out in Singapore - I'm not a vegetarian but this does look delicious!) and the do it yourself recipe style posts of magazine contributor Culinary Keda who makes yummy plate fillers like this Strawberry Shortcake French Toast. 

And of course the clothing side of things - the Modern Community Vintage magazine introduced me to Gary Graham's gorgeous folkloric collection of threads in their Strange Beauty post. Seriously love these pieces especially the abaya-like lace piece shown first.

They even have a Tumblr page dedicated to the modest fashion they adore which you can take a look at here while also checking out the blog of Modern Community Vintage's creative director for a peek behind the scenes, comps, giveaways and super cool discount codes.

And finally, a quick glance at the styling work of Modern Community Vintage:

Layering on top of skinny jeans for an instant street cool yet casual look...

A more traditional and simplified black on black abaya look.

Fuss free minimalist dressing...

Loving this grey tunic by the way.

Hues of red, black and grey...

Rawaa Scarves Giveaway

March 6, 2014, 4:48 pm

≫ Next: DIY Labato Jewelled Phone Cover

≪ Previous: Modern Community Vintage

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Dubai based brand Rawaa Scarves are giving away one of their elegant Turkish scarves to one MissHijabi.com reader. To be in the running to win the prize, please follow all steps below.

To enter:

1. Follow MissHijabi.com on Facebook or Instagram (@MissHijabi_blog)

2. You can also follow Rawaa Scarves on Facebook or Instagram(@RawaaScarves)

3. Leave a comment on this post telling me either your Facebook name or your Instagram name once you have followed.

The winner will be chosen and announced on Saturday, 15th March via Facebook.

Good luck, ladies!

DIY Labato Jewelled Phone Cover

March 6, 2014, 8:06 pm

≫ Next: Jade Kaftan to the Rescue

≪ Previous: Rawaa Scarves Giveaway

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Labato have sent me phone covers before and have decided to send me two more again - similar in design to the last one but in a more updated version. The main difference between these and the last lot are that the newer models have plastic inserts that holds the phone a lot more securely and of course colour variations. My hubby uses the black one while I took over the brown (big fan of earthy colours here even though I tend not to wear them too much).

Once again, the covers are made of leather so it is more durable and of higher quality than the usual plastic crap on the market. The Labato phone covers are sold online via Amazon, AliExpressand Ebay. You can get both the black and my brown one here for iPhone 5 and 5s.

I loved the shade of brown I got but wanted to spice it up a little (as I have done before to an older phone) and did a little DIYing in order to do this. The big cluster of moonstone white and amber bling was part of an old earring set (that I wore in this old post) that broke but I always held on to it thinking "I'll use that someday for something else". Use it I did by simply coating the back in superglue and sticking it on to the phone cover, making sure it was smack bang in the centre.

It was probably the easiest, cheapest and prettiest DIY trick I have ever done - all in under thirty seconds!

What do you think of my pretty new accessory? Have you ever DIYed something old into something new?

Jade Kaftan to the Rescue

March 10, 2014, 4:22 am

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Sahara Boutique sent me this kaftan and it really came at the right time. I've hit the part of pregnancy where everything begins to not fit anymore. I'm having to say goodbye to pants and most of my maxi skirts because they are all too tight to the point where I feel like I'm choking myself from the stomach up. It's bloody depressing, especially when it comes time to get dressed to go out when I have to rummage through piles of clothing that are no longer comfortable which just leaves me wanting to sit on the bed and have a hormonal cry about fabric and how much it sucks. I foresee spending the rest of my pregnancy in kaftans and abayas, possibly tents and stretchy pants if I can get away with it.                                                    

I've been wearing this piece on its own at home on and off since I received it in February (I'm very behind on catching up on my product reviews and let me tell you they are piling up at home!). When I get back from going out I just want to rip everything off and slip a comfy kaftan on where I can die comfortably for ten minutes on the couch. Going out though, it needs a little help in the sleeve department (hence the dreaded carina top underneath) and I do have to wear either fitted pants or a maxi skirt underneath because it's just a tad too short for me. 

The dipped hem at the back is rather cool and not something you tend to see in most kaftans. The sides are not meant to be split but I split them up the sides more (without ruining the dress or stitching) so I can make sure it lasts me further into my pregnancy. There are ties on the inside of the kaftan to tighten it more around your waist but it is mainly wasted on me considering I said goodbye to my waistline last month and it won't be reappearing until later on in the year. The coiled embellishment on the chest is made from a golden yellow plaited thread with metallic gold stitching run through it to make it glisten in the sun. I couldn't quite capture it with my camera but it was really sparkly. 

It comes in other colours (there's a gorgeous navy blue version I was originally going to get) and they have plenty of other designs, all of which you can check out via their Facebook page. 

Details + Links

Kaftan ~ Sahara Boutique

Top ~ Carina (Egypt)

Hijab ~ Egypt

Maxi Skirt ~ Dunno 

Shoes ~ Zara

Bag ~ Palestyle

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The Pro-Hijab Statement T-shirt

March 10, 2014, 8:18 pm

≫ Next: Introducing Mod Shop

≪ Previous: Jade Kaftan to the Rescue

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Hijab Louvre sent me their pro-hijab t-shirt and at first I honestly didn't know how to style it because I'm not a t-shirt type of gal. I don't even own one and probably haven't since I was a young child because as a whole they can be quite masculine looking on me so I always stayed away from them. I did have to see how other hijab bloggers were wearing this shirt (it was sent out to a few as far as I can see) to get some ideas and decided a card-like open blouse over the top and a maxi skirt would seal the deal for me both style-wise and shape wise as t-shirts always make me look bigger than I am. The mixture of broad shoulders and a larger bust don't do well in t-shirts, hence me tucking it into the skirt at the waist and hiding the sleeves. You really have to know how to dress for your own body shape!

The complete message of the top was a little cut off in my pics so for comprehension sake I have to tell you it says Hijab is Freedom, Fierce and Faith. The colours are very soft and girly so I worked in some brown and soft pinky-peach hues in to dress it up.

I'm heading over to Malaysia for a week in a few months time with some friends for a girly pampering trip and we have mostly decided on making use of the gym hotel in the mornings while we are there, knowing that every single day we will be devouring fancy high teas and cakes galore. I don't really have any workout clothes besides a pile of cute Adidas clothing pieces that I KNOW will not fit me once the holiday time arrives and this baby is busting out of my torso so I'm thinking this top would be cute hotel gym apparel with a pair of trackies. For this reason I got the biggest size they sell which means although it is extra roomy now, it will be maternity perfect in a few months time. 

On a side note - I've had this skirt for quite a few months now and have never worn it and I have no idea why because I think it is just absolutely beautiful! It is all black at the back while the front is colour blocked in very feminine colours. I just love it! I really need to wear it more often.

Details + Links

Top ~ Hijab Louvre

Scarf ~ Egypt

Skirt ~ ASOS

Shoes ~ Zara

Blouse ~ Big W/Kmart?

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Introducing Mod Shop

March 14, 2014, 9:06 pm

≫ Next: The Drawbacks of Freely Given Trust

≪ Previous: The Pro-Hijab Statement T-shirt

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Mod Shop is a brand new US based business created by Sweet Modesty blogger Sadeel which caters for "the woman who embraces technology with style and a caring edge with brands that make you feel good about what you wear" as they are very selective about providing ethical fair labour clothing pieces that are stylish yet modern without compromising the livelihood of the garment's makers. You can read more about their fantastic cause for slave-free labour made clothing here on the Sweet Modesty blog.

They have plenty of plainer pieces but these exquisitly embroidered kaftans are what really stood out to me. I love the bronzed gold matched with the softer mint and purple shades.

They also sell some very unique jewellery, scarves, custom made pieces and design your own bridal clothing.

Make sure you pop on over to their website to see their collection. You can also follow ModShop on Facebook and Instagram.

The Drawbacks of Freely Given Trust

March 21, 2014, 1:50 am

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The recent IMFW scandal Aquila Style wrote about (it's not often you hear the word scandal tossed around in Muslim circles) has definitely brought up the issue of trust and how much you should trust a stranger, an acquaintance, a supposed friend, etc.

In my own mind I tend not to trust people wholeheartedly no matter who they are. A close friend can always turn their back on you, a family member can let you down, your spouse can betray you and you yourself can be your own worst enemy at times. However, when it comes to business I think we owe it to ourselves to walk into situations with a little bit of cynicism and a healthy dose of doubt. Even something as simple and usually hassle free as online shopping needs to be looked at carefully before handing over your hard earned cash. A well renown and long established company is usually a safe bet, but a brand new business or one that has a history of not so good reviews really needs to be examined before parting with your dollars. I myself have had an experience with a Muslim clothing company who had sent me items to review on the blog which were great only to turn around and swindle actual customers out of their money, not to send a single thing and then proceed to simply disappear into the internet abyss with pockets full of stolen cash. 

It pays to check things out. A simple google search of the IMFW organiser's name (Shea Natrice Bates, so I've been told) will lead you to many first page results of her alleged past arrest mugshots. The crime in question? "Theft by taking". Although people should all be given the benefit of the doubt, sometimes you have to be smarter, put two and two together and cast some serious doubt on the issue at hand. If something doesn't look right, back away. If the smallest thing worries you about a person or a business then listen to your gut and keep your distance. If you know something and feel it will affect others involved then say something - that is another aspect to trust. It is not always about you trusting others but what are you doing yourself to ensure others can trust in you? 

Apparently other bloggers knew of her alleged criminal past where she had allegedly swindled others out of their money by promoting fake events and still they said nothing. Their reasons are their reasons, some legal, some not and while it is their prerogative to either say something or not it could have saved many Muslim women from purchasing event tickets, purchasing domestic and international plane tickets, hotel payments and the high cost and associated fees that vendors and designers had to pay to be a part of the now famously "scammed" event. I know a few of the designers that forked out a lot of personal money that they had to take away from their families in order to participate. It has been a huge financial and emotional blow to them and by the looks of it and what I have heard they may not even get their money back as according to police nothing can really be done about it. 

Trust is a huge issue and being Muslim doesn't make it any less important. We tend to think that because someone practices the same religion as us, wears a hijab, has a beard, has a good Islamic name, etc that they are all of a sudden one hundred percent trust worthy. We automatically assume that they fear God and therefore would be a good person. Not the case, my friends. Not the case. Would you hand your children over to a stranger merely because she is Muslim? Would you pass your personal banking details over to a random man simply because he attends your local mosque every week? No, you wouldn't, nor should you. Trust is something that is earned, not freely given on sight. If you don't know the person and they are asking something substantial of you then it pays to do your homework. Research them if needs be, ask around in regards to their reputation, etc. If they come out squeaky clean, great. If not... take it on board and make your decision from there. 

For me, this event didn't affect me in any way.  I was asked to promote this event and for a time I did as the person in question repeatedly asked many bloggers and Instagram peeps to share her event to their followings for free. Most legitimate businesses or events that require promotional services from bloggers, no matter what form it is in, will pay for that service in one way or another. I didn't feel it was right for a business to use me for free to promote their money making event. Any legitimate business knows that if you want to make money you have to spend money, particularly in advertising.

Other bloggers however paid out of pocket to fly internationally to attend the event, being told that they would later be compensated for flights, hotel costs and appearance fees. Now they are stuck with the payments and the stress of it. 

I feel incredibly sorry for all the women and families that have lost money, time and faith in the Muslim business community as a result of this disaster. Hopefully something can be resolved for their sake but many of us doubt that will actually happen. If anything can be taken away from this situation, it may just be that we need to be more wary of those whom we deal with and treat the issue of trust on whole with a little more distrust if only to safeguard ourselves in the future. You know... tie your camel first and all that. 

Back In The Abaya Game

March 22, 2014, 9:58 am

≫ Next: Casual Weekend Wear

≪ Previous: The Drawbacks of Freely Given Trust

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I was talking to Imaan of TheHijablog, who like me was blogging way back in the early hijab blogging days of 2008 and we started discussing personal style. I brought up my opinion that a lot of the much younger hijab bloggers all seem to wear very similar styles that at times make me question whether they are dressing according to their own personal style (something which I realise develops over time so it may just be an age related thing) or they are merely following trends - aka the original Ascia and the trillion Ascia turban  copycats. Skinny jeans, oversized tops and turbans. It seems to be part uniform for the new generation of hijab bloggers.

For a long time I was known for wearing abayas. I obviously have opened up my wardrobe range slowly over the last year or so but being currently pregnant for the third time (about to hit that 20 week half way point!) has me reaching back into the depths of my closet for abayas again because up until a few weeks ago my usual pants fit great. Now they barely do up with the help of an extender elastic. 

It has made me realise that I kind miss wearing them - they are so graceful, elegant and ladylike; but more importantly they are damn comfy to wear. No belly restrictions, no reason to feel like you are going to bust through your clothes any minute now after eating half a meal. Last week at lunch with my friends I actually had to undo my pant's top button because I thought I was going to cut off my blood pressure and die facedown in a bowl of mansaf. Still haven't gotten around to buying maternity pants... probably should. I nearly bought a few the other day from ASOS when they had their 20% off discount but by the time I got my two kids in bed the sale was over and I lost out. 

In the meantime my old abayas are getting more and more use and being introduced to new friends - this NA Exclusive abaya being one of the new lot. It's definitely a night time piece but night shots wouldn't capture the true sparkle of this gown. Those golden offshoots of light blinging off the sequins are 100% natural. I did not edit them into the pics except for one on my face in one particular photo because I'm not photogenic and nine times out of ten my normal looking face contorts into shrekdom when dealing with the sun. Just one of the many times that I look back on photos and think "Holy crap... do I really look like that?" while laughing and jokingly pondering "How did I ever get a man?". I'm not a selfie taker by any means so practicing camera appropriate faces isn't really a skill of mine. I didn't want any of my readers shitting themselves in terror, hence the facial star. But seriously... the abaya... so damn sparkly. The sun is just bouncing of it. 

The strip of golden sequins goes all the way down the sides of the arms, across the neck (which you can't see - scarf's fault) and down the sides of the body, flaring out at the bottom. The sequins are lined on the interior of the sleeves. They're not on the body section though. The belt is a wrap around so you can wear it or not wear it to your heart's content. The matching hijab also has a strip of sequins on one end but I went without it today as I thought it was a little too much gold going on at the one time.

The material is light but a little too thick for Perth's summery desert-like days but the piece is so in your face that you wouldn't want to wear it in the daytime anyway so that doesn't really matter. 

As always the abaya was custom made for my measurements so it was a perfect fit, even with the baby bump.

Details + Links

Abayas ~ NA Exclusive Abayas

Heels ~ ASOS

Ring ~ Egypt

Nails ~ Sally Hansen

Crazy short nails because they never grow for me when I'm preggers. Sad face. 

Casual Weekend Wear

March 26, 2014, 3:38 am

≫ Next: Hair Be Gone!

≪ Previous: Back In The Abaya Game

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The downside to pregnancy? Half of everything you own refuses to fit. Sammy Dress sent me a few items to review, one of them being the grey knitted dress below which I had a friend wear for me (I played photographer for the day) because although the piece fit me, it was way too tight on me for modesty sake. I looked like a giant fish trapped in a fishing net. It was not good, lol. On my friend, however, it was perfect. The upside to this dress is that it is one size and only costs $16. So damn cheap and decent quality considering the price. 

My friend tied her turban herself in a scarf print I adore while the rest of the outfit we kept pretty casual as the Sammy Dress sweater dress isn't exactly formal attire in itself. It also gave me a chance to include a recent bag purchase of mine - the Cambridge Satchel in lilac. 

A little while ago I got rid of basically 90% of my bags and clutches when I decided to minimise what I did own and promise myself to only buy quality. Since it is made of leather and is made in England I had no doubts about its workmanship. The fasteners are really handy because when worn over your shoulder and across your body it is pretty hard to nab. There are so many bag thieves and pickpockets in Perth. I hear about incidents almost on a daily basis thanks to a certain Facebook crime watch page so having a secure closing bag was important to me. I only wish it was a little bigger so I could fit my camera in it too. Other than that I love it. It is a tad expensive but seeing that it is leather I completely expected that and had no problem paying a bit more than I usually would for a bag knowing that it will last a hell of a lot longer than any synthetic bag on the market. Besides, a lot of synthetic material made bags can have a similar price tag so it didn't phase me paying $200 odd for a decent handmade leather bag. 

The lilac colour was limited edition so I'm not sure if they still sell the exact same colour anymore but they're always producing new models in a plethora of different shades. Good news is ShopBop sells them and offer international free delivery which is a huge bonus in my opinion. 

Details + Links

Dress ~ Sammy Dress

Cambridge Satchel ~ ShopBop

Everything else ~ Friend's Own


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