A chain of events

Assalamualaikum and good morning everyone.

May Allah bless all of you with good health and strong eeman. I am really sorry to neglect again this blog for more than a week. An eventful week.

Starting with the Eid holidays for 4 days - I was quite busy with family matters and a sick husband. I was supposed to go to my convocation on Nov 20th but it does not happen. A bit sad but it's okay because I get to look after my husband properly.

Then, Cheng Ho Expo started and as I've already sign up to join the exhibitors booth, I gathered the help of my wonderful sisters:- Kak An, Adik and Adneen to maintain my Abaya & Books booth. It was really a great event because this is the first time the State Government organized such exhibitions. There're lots of photos taken and I've already shared them here:

http://keluargakusayang.blogspot.com/search/label/Cheng%20Ho%20Expo

Actually, I haven't seen the actual exhibition yet because of my busy situation at the booth but insyaallah there is still time to see it at Kelantan Trade Centre because the exhibition is extended until Dec. 21st. If I'm healthy I want to visit KTC this weekend.

Beautiful folk dancers from Xhinjian, China visited my booth. They're here to perform during Ladies Nite.

One day after the event ended, I was attacked by influenza. And right now I'm still suffering from watery nose and mild coughing. I know, this might be the after effect of the hectic schedule during the expo and the not very healthy food that was consumed. Insyaallah I'll better in a few days.

I am at work but my boss allows me to rest because of this fever. Got to have a nap now. Thanks for dropping by and read the blog.

Enough's Enough.

If there is one thing I find utterly detestable, it's got to be The Sect Question.

SO, as of today, I refuse to answer this ridiculous, dividing and not to mention, nosey, enquiry.. It's sickens me that we are so separated. I am simply a MUSLIM; I couldn't give a monkeys about the details of what other Muslims believe - each to their own. Nobody is going to sleep in another person's grave! As long as we all follow the Quran and the Prophet (S), I don't care about anything else. What is with this continuous judgement of each other that we are in no way entitled to be dishing out?! We are supposed to be ONE UMMAH.

A video I found here on YouTube to make you feel all gooy, yay:

United we stand, divided.. well just look around.

.

(Note for the ones that don't get too offended.. 3.24mins... Don't have a fit, I lowered my gaze LOL)

A Modest Outfit For Work

Here's a simple winter work wear idea for you.. (you may want to go for a slightly longer length top if the trousers aren't loose enough):

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Asalaam alaykom all:

I know, I know, I am the world's worst blogger in the history of hijab bloggers.

But I have been busy and I have recently met with quite a few heads of Islamic education and this has always been a dream child of mine but...

What do you think of an Islamic University that can be taught jointly in English AND in Arabic, so that studies can be pursued in both lanuages at the same time?

I know I wanted that when I was a new convert.

Now this doesn't exist anywhere yet, but what about an Islamic University that teaches Islamic history and jurisprudence from every side? I mean, Sunni, Shia, Ibadhi, Sufi, what have you, and teachers the head of their feilds from all over the world leading classes through video so that you get the best from Madinah, Al Ahzar, Iran, and the West? As ya'll know, I need to buff up on my Jaffari shariah (since I am not Shia who am I to tell you what all shia believe right?). A university where true dialogue takes place, and no one school of thoughts takes precendance over the students' mind, only their rational skills, and the evidence, which they would be taught, through jurisprudence, and history (preIslamic, Seerah-era, Salafi, Caliphate, and Modern), as well as classical Arabic, Quran, tauhid, tafseer, ahadith, ect...

Through which students could choose to specialize in numerous feilds. Banking, family counselling, marriage counselling/divorce counselling and law, Imam training, Sheikh [teaching] training, Islamic art, Islamic music, Islamic media, Islamic marketing, Islamic medicine, Islamic sciences.... Having a course load similiar to other University programs which would be transferable for course credits at universities through out the world [both Islamic and Accademic], not only of a religious nature, but endeavoring to the richness of classical Islamic thought and achievments.

Think about it. Islam has so many areas of study.

• History, through all its periods, from historical as well as Islamic sources.

-including classical Arabic

-seerah

-how to authenticate Islamic daleel (evidences)

-historical branches, such as shariah, and textiles, even archeology and anthropology

• Shariah and Islamic Jurisprudance

-debate

-schools of thought including ALL sects and madhabs

-specialized focus into developed subject realms as as Sheikh training and overall course for Imams

-dealing with Islam in the modern day

• Quran and Sunnah

-in terms of tauhid

-language and litterature

-history

-shariah

• Applications of Islamic Knowledge

-development of Islamic medium such as internet and television programming, articles, ect...

-development and conservation of knowledge and resources through archives and new articles and journals

-Islamic art and design

-Islamic music/dance [halal alternatives]

-Islamic banking

-Sadaqah management

-Family Management

-Community Managment

I see endless possibilities, and I am still brainstorming right now, how EXACTLY to get it off the ground. But if it were at all possible, how many of you would be interested, either as qualified teachers, or as students?

I mean, me personally, I am not all that into what they are teaching at Al Ahzar beyond language and old madhabs, and going to Iran to study is a bit scary for one whose written what I have (yet I like to read books from Iran). And Saudi is hard for female students unless they are married or have family there.

Sooo let me know what ya'll think.

She Inpires Me: Amal Murad

Assalamualaikum, Jumu'ah Mubarak and Eid Mubarak!

Alhamdulillah for the blessings that Allah has bestow upon me. There are lots of things that I truly feel grateful especially when it's Jumu'ah morning. It's great to breathe the morning air of Jumu'ah which always make me feel so thankful and wonderful. Thank you Allah for giving me another day on this world. Insyaallah I'll fulfill it with many good deeds.

As I was doing my morning routine which consist of boiling water, prepare our breakfast, checking the emails and messages on facebook, I login to youtube and look for 'abaya'. As usual when I watched videos about abaya, my mind keep going to Ms. Amal Murad, the famous abaya designer.

I just couldn't resist looking after her facebook profile which I'm still on her 'awaiting friend conformation' list but I can still look at the photos in her albums. And please forgive me Ms Amal, because I've copied this gorgeous photo of you.

Simply beautiful, both the designer and the abaya.

You always inpires me. I'm so thankful that in the fashion world, there is someone like you who creates so many modest, elegant, beautiful and gorgeous abayaat. I'm not a designer but I love wearing abaya and make lots of abaya style ideas because I believe, we can still be elegant and modest at the same time. 

More important, as a Muslim woman, I really want others to see that Islam does not restrict it's believers from being beautiful as long as they follow the correct Islamic dress code. Ahem, I wish you would cover more of the chest area but who am I to say so? Only my du'as are for you.

Thank you Amal Murad for being who you are in the fashion world!

Eid Mubarak and All the Best for Hijabi Fashion Week Contest!

Assalamualaikum everyone!

Eid Mubarak! I know some of us are already celebrating Eid today but for us Malaysian, it will be tomorrow. However I'd like to wish all of you Happy Eid-ul-Adha and may Allah bless you with lots of love.

And... I'd like to wish best of luck to all the sisters who have participate in the Hijabi Fashion Week contest. I've seen some of their sets and insyaallah I'll give my support even though I can't join HFW.

That's it. Have a nice and beautiful Eid!

It's easy to find colourful jilbab around this town.

Assalamualaikum and good afternoon to all my dear friends, readers and visitors.

It is a weekend for many of us but I'm working as usual on Saturday. Anyway, while I was browsing through my photo albums, I came across some interesting photos that I forgot to share them here. 

I think most of you know that I'm selling black abayaat from the Middle East and I am not selling colourful jilbabs, however, I always like helping friends finding and buying the jilbabs for them. 

And I am living in a town where colourful abayaat or we call them 'jubah' can be found easily especially during the Friday religious lecture in Jalan Dato' Pati. 

Let's have a look at what I've found.

Aren't you interested?

Colourful choices.

I know some of the vendors and they love it when I took pictures of their goods. I wish I can open a stall like them too but the place is already too crowded and no space available for me.

Women loved this kind of stalls.

Tourists both local and foreign love visiting this place on Friday. The main attraction is the lecture which was held on the main road which was closed for nearly 6 hours. You can only see and experience this events in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Another Style To Try

If you're sick of the bog standard hijab wrap, give this style for FloralCharms a go. The only thing I would definitely advise against is the use of two (or even one) under cap. They are tight and will make your hairline really thin.. also, the simpler a headscarf style is, the better it looks.

Colour Mistakes

A nice 'article' about colour mistakes in clothing from the Yahoo Lifestyle site:

1) Matchy matchy
“Women’s usual mistake with colour is trying to colour match their entire outfit,” confides Kirsty Attwood, Styling Manager at Selfridges, London. “Gone are the days of the ‘matching shoe and bag’ combination - have fun and add an extra tone or colour to your outfit.”

2) Overkill
Coco Chanel told us to always take one accessory off, and she was right. Too many colours all at once is guaranteed to kill a look. Caroline Hodson, personal shopper at Harvey Nichols, London, has this advice: “Always have in mind that less is more! For example, a key trend this season is leopard print. It’s easy to make the mistake of wearing too much of this print, but when done subtly, say with black skinny trousers this is a fantastic look.”

Read the rest here.

Request from Suraya

Assalamualaikum and good evening everyone.

I'm here just to update with a short post. This is intended for dear Suraya who has been waiting patiently for me to fulfill her request. I hope she'll forgive me for being so late in doing this. Luckily she reminds me. Alhamdulillah.

So, Sue, this is one suggestion for you. I do not create more than one set because I don't want to confuse you. Let's take a look at my suggestion.

For Suraya by hanniaziz featuring diamond jewelries

La Regale 25424 Clutch, $42
PIG CHARM PEARL BRACELET - Betsey Johnson, $200
Glitter Diamond Bangles - Teen Clothing by Wet Seal, $29
Lipgloss, 175 DKK
ÉCRITURE DE CHANEL AUTOMATIC LIQUID EYELINER | Nordstrom.com, $36
Strappy Metallic Heel - Teen Clothing by Wet Seal
Nokia touch screen
Igal Hijab Store
Abaya Suraya :: International Muslimahs' Apparel : Busana Muslimah...

I love your jalabiya Sue. It is very feminine and gorgeous. I would suggest you find a hijab with a darker tone of either pink or burgundy with some bling-bling on it. Find a pair of shoe also from the same colour tone. Matched them with a black shiny clutch to make your appearance a bit formal.

Use only a light make-up with a beautiful kohl applied around your eyes. Just enough to follow the sunnah and enhance a bit your self confidence to walk up that stairs and stand in front of the audience to receive your degree.

And as for the accessories, use some simple bangles maybe black + gold + pink, a bracelet and also a cute ring. Do not add to much.

If my suggestion is not to your liking, I'll be okay but I hope you shall like it.

Congratulation Suraya! Happy Graduation!

My Personal Abaya Collection

Assalamualaikum and good afternoon everyone.

I am very tired right now and almost fall asleep on this chair. It was a very busy day for me. I just want to lie down and close my eyes but it's not possible yet. Insyaallah when I completed half of the data entries for Abaya Elegan's inventories, I'll get my rest.

So, this is a kind of entry that is intended to make me alert. A short intermission from all those confusing data. Let's talk about my wardrobe. Yes, the real KakChik's Wardrobe.

I think I've already shown you in another entry those inside look of my wardrobe. So, I won't be sharing any new photo of the same view. Why don't I show one by one some of my current abayaat collection? I have nearly 20 pieces of black abayaat which I wear daily and more than half of the collection is from Dubai.

Let's not waste anymore time and we proceed to the first photo.

My first abaya. It was from Indonesia. Has lots of beautiful neatly sewn beads on the chest.

An abaya from Vietnam. It is decorated with beads and sequins.

My favourite abaya for formal occasions. Lots of customers also like this Dubai abaya.

My one and only Mecca abaya. Also my favourite.

My 36th. birthday present. An expensive Dubai abaya which I love very much.

My 2nd. butterfly abaya which the dressmaker named after my real name. 

An abaya from Qatar which was supposed to be a gift for a friend but turn out smaller than her normal size. Now it's mine.

Another favourite abaya. I still remember the day I wore this abaya during a promotion, customers bought every size available because they think it's so gorgeous.

The latest addition. The cutting is just right for me and it flows nicely when I wear it.

That's not all but I think it's enough to share with you. Ever since I started wearing black abaya, I am not interested anymore in coloured abaya. I have give away all my jilbabs because I don't want to waste them inside my wardrobe. It's better if they can find a new owner who'll appreciate and wear them.

Enough said, I'm going to continue my work. Salam.

The Long Black Skirt

As long skirts and dresses are very in at the moment (of course, for hijabis, they are kinda always in..), I decided to put together an outfit idea for a skirt in slightly cold weather:

Biker Jacket by Zaenab

Of course, don't forget the leggings underneath.. Even though they have become a popular alternative to jeans (in case you haven't noticed..).

Never give up!

I can read your mind and I know your story
I see what you're going through
It's an uphill climb, and I'm feeling sorry
But I know it will come to you

Don't surrender 'cause you can win
In this thing called love

When you want it the most there's no easy way out
When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt
Don't give up on your faith
Love comes to those who believe it
And that's the way it is

When you question me for a simple answer
I don't know what to say, no
But it's plain to see, if you stick together
You're gonna find a way, yeah

So don't surrender 'cause you can win
In this thing called love

When you want it the most there's no easy way out
When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt
Don't give up on your faith
Love comes to those who believe it
And that's the way it is

When life is empty with no tomorrow
And loneliness starts to call
Baby, don't worry, forget your sorrow
'Cause love's gonna conquer it all, all

When you want it the most there's no easy way out
When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt
Don't give up on your faith
Love comes to those who believe it
And that's the way it is

When you want it the most there's no easy way out
When you're ready to go and your heart's left in doubt
Don't give up on your faith
Love comes to those who believe it
And that's the way it is

That's the way it is
That's the way it is, babe
Don't give up on your faith
Love comes to those who believe it
And that's the way it is."


by Celine Dion

Designs that I like...

from the recent 'Majlis Peragaan Fesyen Sempena Promosi Kraf Tekstil 2010'. Photos credit goes to LOW LAY PHON of THE STAR.

All they need are a proper hijab to make a complete aurah covering.

What do you think of my choices?

If you want to have a look at more photos from the event, you can just click HERE.

Cardigans - Hijab Style

Sorry I have not been able to post recently, I'm bogged down with university at the moment and all the work that comes with it.. But there's always time for a spot of shopping! Here's a cardigan I recently purchased from Firetrap, I love it as it's so modest but stylish at the same time:

It's great because it's long and covered enough to just about let you get away with wearing skinny jeans without confusing people with that ever popular headscarf and skin tight clothing combo..

Here's an outfit idea:

Where was I?

Assalamualaikum to all dear friends and readers.

I'm really sorry for not blogging for almost a week. Actually I did blogged everyday at Keluargaku Sayang but there were lots of activities regarding my bookshop and abayashop that I have to neglect KakChik's Wardrobe for a while. I don't even spare time to reply to your comments and messages. I'm really am sorry.

It's the end of the year and there are many works to be done such as accounts for both businesses, stocks updates and inventories, so many new abayaat have already arrived and I have to take photos, edit them and upload them to the blogshop and also to facebook's albums. Ok, ok, enough with all the excuses. I know you do not want to hear that.

abayaelegan.blogspot.com

Anyway, I have good news for you. Starting from yesterday (sorry for telling you about this today) my abaya blogshop is having our 1st Anniversary Sale until the end of this month. And I haven't write a proper entry for it yet at ABAYA ELEGAN. I am in such a busy situation right now. To top it off, one of my assistance is in labour and the other one is a flood victim. (I think she managed to come to work today). They are my good assistances and they are having difficulties which I have to tolerate. Hopefully everything will be good for them after this.

I'm learning to be a good manager for my life. It's not always easy to jumble between family, work and businesses but I have lots of fun doing all that. Thankfully, I have a husband who's always support me especially when I came home tired. He'll help with the household chores and that'll make lots of my tasks easy. Alhamdulillah.

I think that's for now as an update about what's going on in my life recently. Insyaallah I'll try to reply all your comments and messages. Another thing before I forget, I haven't reply to some of your emails especially the long ones because it takes a bit of a time for me to think and compose my reply. Insyaallah I'll be sending the reply soon especially to adib, binetou, miza, aida and em. Thanks to all your emails.

Lots of love,
KakChik