When a niqabi talks about fashion.

Assalamualaikum dear friends and readers.

I was not planning to update this blog yet but from nowhere, the idea came for me to say something about the topic above. I know, I might be one in a thousand people out there who's a niqabi and talking about fashion in her blog. I know a few niqabi friends who observe fashion just like other women, only that we observed and try to sort out which one is suitable for us, muslim women.

The most important consideration is, we can choose to be fashionable but with caution. What I mean is everything I put on my body should make me feel beautiful in front of Allah, my husband and myself. If others think the clothes I'm wearing are beautiful too, alhamdulillah and I hope they can wear the same clothes too. 

I call this fashionable. 

I like fashion and I also like beautiful clothes and things. It does not mean that when you are a niqabi and you wear black almost everyday you can't like fashion. Who says you can't? In my dictionary, fashion is part of my daily life. It's very important for me to be fashionable in an Islamic way. Modest, stylish, elegant and makes me feel great with myself.

In my opinion, when you like the clothes that you are wearing, you know that the clothes are following the Islamic dress code, you wear it cleanly, tidily and smartly, all these thing combined together make me feel great to face the world. At the same time it makes me happy that my clothes have inspired others to change for the best. I'm not saying I'm better than others but this confidence in presenting myself as a niqabi with a career and two businesses also came from the way I am dressed.

I'm comfortable like this.

There are fashion and there are fashion. Choose the one that can help Islam. The choice is in our hands and with knowledge and experience we can present ourself as an elegant niqabi fashionista (can I use that word?). Always be modest but not over the top and do not be too extreme. 

Wassalam.

Being simple during the trip.

Assalamualaikum dear readers and friends.

It's another busy day for me after the holiday. I have 3 different accounts to close and life has started to feel like I'm living in a war zone. Dateline... dateline...  Well, it is my fault for not being one great accountant but a manageress who have to take over someone else job. Life has to go on and by the end of this week, all those accounts must be balanced and closed. May Allah bless me with clear mind and good health so that I can do this job very very well.

Anyway, enough talking about my work, let's take a look at what I have worn during my trip to Hattyai, Thailand. 3 days, so there were 3 different outfits. Here's the first one worn on the first day.

I'm wearing abaya C29 from Laniz Collection.

For the second day, I wore an all black abaya, with a side opening, a bit like a kimono. I don't know whether you can see it clearly or not.

The all black abaya with black embroidery. Abaya AR100.

And on the last day, I chose to wear the black with brown stripes jilbab which I have designed myself. It was custom made in 2000. Yes, the jilbab is already 10 years old but it is still in a good condition and I can still fit myself in it, alhamdulillah.

In front of Krue Se Mosque in Pattani.

I know some muslimah like to wear pants when they are touring but for me abaya or jilbab is always suitable and easy for me to pray. We Malays like to wear 'kain sembahyang' for praying but I prefer praying in my clothes provided that I'm confident that is's clean.

So, it's up to you and your comfort to wear whatever you like. I don't have the authority to ask you to follow me. Remember, be comfortable in whatever we wear as long as we're sure that Allah will like it. Wassalam.

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.

Islamic Fashion Festival: I'm Ashamed.

Assalamualaikum and may blessings of Allah be upon you.

I am so ashamed. I can't believe my eyes when I see all these photos below. How can they call it Islamic Fashion Festival when they mock Islam in everything they did? Astaghfirullahalaziim. O Allah, what has happened to our country leaders? Why are these people like this? Can't they differentiate between ISLAMic fashion and NOT? I think even preschool children know what kind of fashion are these.

What kind of Islamic fashion is this?

This might be the back view.  Astaghfirullah.

I think the organizers forgot to put the word NON before the word ISLAMIC. This is TOTALLY non-Islamic.

Please ERASE the backdrop!

NOT ISLAMIC! Not Islamic at all! How can they have this kind of event and call it ISLAMIC FASHION FESTIVAL? I repeat...

A true MOCKERY of our Islamic dress code. I find this really disturbing and feel so insulted.

This one REALLY makes me feel INSULTED!

Astaghfirullahalaziim... I never thought that MALAYSIAN leaders, which inspired the fashion event with a name ISLAMIC FASHION FESTIVAL applauded this creation! This is an insult to our HOLY QUR'AN! 

I won't paste the other photos because you can find them in Google. Please read the news report from BERNAMA below:

ISLAMIC FASHION FAST BECOMING LUCRATIVE BUSINESS, SAYS ROSMAH

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Islamic fashion is fast becoming a lucrative business with the current market estimated to be worth more than US$96 billion (RM302 billion) a year, said Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Rosmah, wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, said it was an enormous market that had yet to be fully tapped.

"The global Muslim population comprises one of the fastest-growing consumer markets in the world, hence representing a major growth opportunity for businesses around the globe, including in the fashion sector," she said at the opening of the Malaysian-inspired festival, the Islamic Fashion Festival (IFF) Gala Dinner and Fashion Show, at the Monaco Sporting Club in Monte Carlo Monday night. The text of her speech was released here.

The event was attended also by, among others, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, Najib and Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

Rosmah said that according to the prestigious Dubai French Fashion University Esmod, over half of the world’s 1.6 billion Muslim population is spending a substantial part of their annual income on fashion and accessories.

"This recent interest in Muslim fashion signals the changing dynamics of the ever-increasing interaction among Eastern and Western cultures. Nowadays, Muslim women can choose from a broad selection of designs to create a look that matches their values, traditions and tastes, without compromising any of the three," said Rosmah.

She said that thus "the fashion players would do well to plan ahead so as not to miss the proverbial boat in capturing this lucrative segment of fashion".

Rosmah said major clothing retailers had been busy highlighting how top brands like Anne Klein and Ralph Lauren were already producing fashion lines that met the Islamic requirement of full coverage. Oh, really?

"In the same vein, it is interesting to note that even as the great 'veil' debate raged in France, the country, being the fashion capital of the world, remains as one of the world’s major exporters for Muslim couture 'abayas' and 'niqabs'.

"Clearly, politics notwithstanding, those in the fashion business are increasingly aware of the burgeoning demand for Muslim apparel worldwide," she said.

Rosmah said she hoped that Monaco could emerge as one of the gateways to the European market for Islamic-inspired fashion from Malaysia and the rest of Asia. If the Islamic-inspired fashion is like the ones shown, I don't think it's a good idea.

On IFF, she said its main mission was to capitalise on fashion as a platform to bring together designers and fashion enthusiasts of different cultures, religious backgrounds and race to bring Islamic Couture into the mainstream of style and fashion. Then, PLEAAAAASE make them REAL ISLAMIC. Please.

Since it was started in 2006, IFF has spread its wings to Jakarta, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and New York, featuring the works of more than 200 designers, and had showcased a varied choice of styles and looks for Muslim-dressing, decidedly different from the stereotypical impressions of Islamic apparel held by many. Define stereotypical impressions of Islamic apparel for me please. I'm still so green on this territory.

"The Islamic Fashion Festival is precisely intended to end the myth that a Muslim woman cannot posses a sense of style. On the contrary, Islamic dressing is a style of its own, and today it is beginning to attract more and more attention, as mainstream trends become increasingly bold, sensual and provocative which is unappealing to the more conservative consumers," she said. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

In fact, in affirming the coming-of-age of Muslim fashion through the impressive collections, Islamic fashion is now considered as the breath of fresh air in a global culture, she said. - Bernama

I'm ashamed. Really ashamed. Sorry everyone, I'm very emotional right now.

The fashion of today's teens.

 From my observation starting from 9 am until now at the public library.

1. Skinny jeans or skinny pants.

2. Tight and short shirts or t-shirts either short or long sleeves.

3. High heels, funky flats and funky wedges.

4. Cardigan on a hot day.

5. Instant hijab or tudung bawal which is flipped over the shoulders making it falls above the breasts.

6. Baju kurung but wears no other layer under the skirt. It's see-through.

7. Big handbags with funky colourful designs.

8. Expensive mobile phones.

9. Lots of them are following the Korean pop culture styles.

10. Boys are trying to look macho, spotting a mohican look-a-like hairdos. 

I think that's all that I can summarize for now. Luckily, they are here to study, well at least most of them are. A few are trying to take the opportunity to meet their girl friends or boy friends but were prevented from doing so inside the library. Sorry, it's not allowed.

I'm still thinking of the best way to approach them and share with them the concept of wearing modest clothing for Muslims. I've tried distributing some pamphlets about aurat but not that influencing. I think the best approach would be a personal talk. However it's too impossible to do it when we don't have enough man power.

So, for now, I'll make du'a for them. May Allah open up their hearts to the accept the nasihah and make changes to their attires. May Allah show them that wearing a proper aurah-covering clothes is the best action to do as a Muslim. May Allah show them the beauty of following the true teachings of Islam.

They are my younger sisters and brothers in Islam and I wish they can see the greatness of following the sunnah in their way of life.

My Precious Handbag

Assalamualaikum.

This morning while I was getting ready to go to work, I was thinking of changing my handbag from the current one that I'm using to another handbag. I have several handbags that I used daily to any kind of events. All my handbags are big in size because I love spaces and I need them to put so many things, important things even though I seldom use some of them.

The most comfortable handbag that I love to use is this one from Rorine:

I love this handbag.

I've bought it in 2008 if I'm not mistaken with a reduced price because I am a member of the Rorine MLM business. I love it because:

1. The big size. You can store an A4 paper inside. The width is just nice for my taste.

2. It is layered with a gauzy cloth material inside which I always preferred.

3. The shoulder strap's length is just nice and when I carry the bag, it's always stays on my hip.

This is an original Rorine handbag and I think among all the choices, this is the best one for me.

Gorgeous! Who made these abayaat?

Assalamualaikum dear friends.

I've borrowed some photos from an FB group selling abaya, called Abaya Collection. They have some pretty gorgeous abaya which are so glamorous for me. However they are beautiful to see. I won't dare wearing them but I know some of us can rock this abaya just like... it's nothing!

Here are some that really caught my eyes.

Would mind sharing your thoughts?

EID MUBARAK!

I've bought a second butterfly abaya and they named it after me.

Assalamualaikum and good evening to all dear friends and readers.

How's everyone these days? I'm doing fine except for being a bit tired because of so many businesses to tend to. Insyaallah overall, everything's great especially since Ramadhan is just around the corner. I'm so nervous.

Just to share with you, my abaya business is doing very good this past two months and I believe that until the second week of Ramadhan, more orders will be coming. I'm amazed that many local Muslimahs are buying abaya to wear during Ramadhan and Eid and my sincere hope is they'll wear the abaya as their daily dress after this. I hope my partner will be happy with this news too.

And you know what, I think I've found the best local abaya maker who can custom made a gorgeous butterfly abaya. Remember, I've written about my first purchase from her in this blog. And since I love that abaya so much, I wear it almost every week. Washing is by hands but I won't mind at all.

A friend who saw me wearing it ordered one for herself and I also ordered another one. Already worn the new butterfly abaya during my booksale at Open University Malaysia Open Day last Saturday. It feels great and I am going to promote and sell this abaya at my shop soon.

The greatest news is, the abaya maker has named the abaya after me, it is now called Butterfly Abaya Haniza. Isn't it great? Mashaallah... I don't deserve it but still I want to thank her for her kind action. So, for your view, this is Butterfly Abaya Haniza and me wearing it.

Butterfly Abaya Haniza

I don't really know how to pose nicely.

Anyone interested to order, please email me your measurement and a bit info about yourself to me. This is only available for anyone from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. My email is: hanniaziz@yahoo.com

Wassalam.

Fashionable Yet Modest

Assalamualaikum dear friends and readers,

Thank you for taking your time to visit this blog, read and leave some valuable comments. I really appreciate your feedbacks on the things that I've shared here. After I posted about Mr. Hatta Dolmat's creations last night, I kept thinking about the attitude of our Muslim designers who created so many beautiful-to-look-at designs but not aurah appropriate. It's not just the local Malaysian designers but generally the Muslim designers all over the world.

Sri Munawwarah Designs. Image from here.

So far, I only approve designs from Munawwarah Designs, Yasmin Siddik, Amal Murad, SunnahStyle, and Shukr, just to name a few well known designers or fashion companies which specified in Islamic fashion. Please be assured that I'm no fashion expert but as a consumer and a person who love Islamic fashion passionately, I think I have the right to voice my opinion.

Amal Murad

I have a big hope for the local Muslim designers. I wish whenever they want to come out with a new line of creation for Muslimah they will take great care in following the Islamic dress code. Hopefully they can create many fashionable clothes yet they are very modest. Just look at the abayat created by Mrs. Amal Murad, they are very elegant and stylo at the same time very modest.

Sunnah Style

Don't just create clothes that will be praised in the fashion market as beautiful, gorgeous and trendy but defy the main purpose of clothing which is to secure our dignity. Maybe the designers that created the not-so-proper Islamic clothes can't really understand and see the soul in creating a real modest yet fashionable attires because they themselves are not practicing Muslims. Sorry to say but I've seen a lot of them in this country. Just read about them in the mainstream media and many fashion and women magazines.

Hajaba

Apart from the designers and the companies that I've mentioned above, do you know any other designers and fashion companies that designed or manufactured fashionable yet modest Islamic clothing? Please share information about them with me. Thank you.

Simple is the Word

Just Be Simple by hanniaziz featuring Deena & Ozzy wallets

Olive Cream Summer Shaylas
Restricted "Scrabble" Oxfords in green, $39
Deena & Ozzy Cross Zip Satchel, $40
Abaya Elegan

Simple can always get you anywhere and in any kind of event. This is my type of assemble for daily outings - work and my bookshop.

Being Sexy and Trendy in Hijab

Assalamualaikum and good morning to all dear friends and readers.

I was reading a local magazine about the current fashion trend among the local Muslimah which is the Sexy Hijabi Fashion. Here's the cover of the said magazine.

These days there are more covered Muslimah compared to 10 years ago. Alhamdulillah. It means that Islamic teaching especially about covering ourselves has been widely accepted by the Malaysian Muslimahs. This development also has attracted the fashion designers worldwide to create more fashion for Muslim women which they called Muslimah Fashion.

Of course there are designs which I think really Islamic and follow the Islamic dress code. However there are too many creations or clothes that said to be 'Muslimah Fashion' but sadly not Islamic at all. They can varies from tudungs, dresses, pants, skirts, baju kurungs, jubahs and so on. They will make you look sexy when you wear them.

Figure hugging or tight fitting blouse, matched with a lycra instant tudung and complete the assemble with a skinny pants or skinny jeans - you can see that every where in Malaysia. Do not bluff me by saying that your aurah is covered. No... No... No. You are only wrapping yourselves with clothes not covering it.

Look at this cartoon spread inside the same magazine,

Don't you think you've seen this kind of fashion out there? Use our mind and reflect. Yes, we've seen this kind of fashion in many places. Sometimes people wear leotard or tights and top it off with a knee-length dress and a tudung. Please dear Muslimah, let's cover our aurah  P R O P E R L Y.

There's no point wearing clothes like this. It's a waste of money, a waste of time and the biggest waste is your DIGNITY. Everyone can see how small, how big, how thin, how slim, how fat, how tight and all the how that you can think off when speaking on human body. 

Let's get back to the right teaching about our dress code. We can wear ANYTHING, as long as it does not show our body shape, does not show our skin and does not show our personal adornment in front and at the back (breasts, hips, bottoms, thigh - you know them.)

Before I forget, do not wear jubah with cutting. Please... the cutting's purpose is to shape your body. That jubah would not help in covering our aurah but helping to disclose our figure to others. Wear something loose without cuttings. Save our body from searching eyes insyaallah we will also save our iman.

A reminder for all of us, women of Islam.

Her creation is simply amazing!

Assalamualaikum everyone.

I've just visited Amal Murad's FB page and saw this new profile pic. WOW! Amazing! That's the word that came to my mind. This is one gorgeous abaya and for me, it is very suitable for my coming graduation dinner. 

From this point of view, I think it is a butterfly abaya but I'm nor sure. Maybe the sleeves are just has one big open sleeves. But it really looks like a butterfly abaya.

One beautiful abaya.

Miss Amal Murad is really amazing in designing and creating abayaat. May Allah bless her with more amazing ideas to create more aurah appropriate abayaat. Thank you Miss Murad.

Using Ponchos As Your Dress

Assalamualaikum everyone.

My new creation with Polyvore for women who don't like wearing abayaat, want to be a bit stylish and modern, maybe ponchos can be a help. Conditions are:

• please wear an inner long sleeves top under the poncho.
• make sure your hijab covers your chest.
• use a loose pants and long skirts.

So, here my two recent sets. Just a reminder, they are only my suggestion. It does not mean that I am selling the items. If you are interested in any of the item, please click on the set and you'll be brought to Polyvore.com. From there just trial and error ok.

This is the first one:

2 Choices by hanniaziz featuring Lotta Stensson dresses

And the second one is:

Randomly Made by hanniaziz featuring Not Rated shoes

Thank you for reading.

Before vs After

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Can you see the difference?

Going out in simple attire.

Assalamualaikum.

HAPPY HOLIDAY EVERYONE!

For those who like skirt and blouse, this is my idea for going out somewhere for today.

Let's Go Blue by hanniaziz featuring Ippolita jewelry

Make sure the blouse is loose, opaque, covers your bum nicely and this blue blouse looks suitable. However it's too pricey so find one that's reasonable.

Adorn yourself with simple jeweleries to give a little embellishment. Women are allowed to wear jeweleries as long as not very attention grabber. You do not want potential robbers aim you as their victim, right.

Covers your upper body parts with a simple long and big hijab matching nicely with the blouse and your skirt.

Then hooked on a pair of flat shoes and shouldered the same tone colored handbag.

Now, you are ready to go out with your family.

Exam Week - Be confident

Assalamualaikum and peace everyone.

Today is one stress day for me. The exam paper was quite difficult but I managed to answer all of the Qs except for one small partition that carries 3 marks. I lose that one. Hopefully the other answers are correct. Anyway, I'm still glad that I took this diploma. I learned so many interesting and beneficial things so far and there are still 2 more semester to go.

Insyaallah I'll finish on time.

My newest Rorine shoe, not that new anymore but I love it.

I can't be long online. Got to look into the book for the minute revision. Tomorrow morning will be my last battle. I am hoping for at least A for this paper. It's my favorite subject so I want to do my best for it.

Until then, wassalam.

Exam Week - Blue for motivation.

Assalamualaikum everyone!

Alhamdulillah I have successfully sat for my first exam paper this afternoon. I'm so lucky to be reminded by the Almighty that I my exam starts today not tomorrow. Alhamdulillah. If He didn't reminds me to check for my exam schedule last night, I just can't imagine what would happen to me. Thank you O Allah!

So, at 12 pm, I took my afternoon bath to cool myself down and get ready to go to OUM. I thought there would be lots of cars there but to my utter relief, I can parked my car in front of the building, alhamdulillah. Usually I have to park at the second floor parking lot inside the building. Looks like there won't be many students sitting for exam today.

I checked my exam room and table and took the lift to the 3rd floor. It's still early and there's no one else on that floor. It's good. I do not want any disturbance because I need to take a look at the sample questionnaires before the exam starts. I still have more than one hour to look at them. Sigh.

While doing that I took a few minutes to snap a few pictures of todays attire. Maybe notti netti will come and visit my blog, hehe. Here's the pics.

blue stripy hijab + blue niqab (gift from Michelle) + black abaya + coach handbag (imitation ler...)

and the shoes is a present from my lovely older sister.

Well gurls, I can't get away from wearing my black abaya, I love it so much. However, to avoid getting headache from the heat, oh, it is so hot these days, I seldom wear black hijabs but I match the black abaya with colored cotton 60" hijabs. Alhamdulillah. Still nicely covered.

Regarding today's exam paper, I think I've done my very best for it. Alhamdulillah most of what I've read and do the exercises came out in the questions. Hopefully my answers would be accepted and will grant me an A for the paper. May Allah bless my do'a.

Till then, see you tomorrow after my second paper. Wassalam.

Study Week - Today's Attire

Assalamualaikum everyone.

I am in the middle of my study week now and in a few days my exam will start. Since I don't want this blog to be left alone without any update, I think I'll share with you today's attire, inspired by a virtual friend Notti Netti.

two-toned purple pashmina + black single layer niqab + hannan abaya

and I have this Nautifit light purple wedgy on my feet.

I forgot to snap a picture of my handbag, but anyway, today's theme is purple on black but my handbag is red+black. Well, as a Muslimah with a career, we should always look smart, clean, tidy, elegant and efficient. We should try our best to be the walking example of a good Muslim to others. Even though I cover myself from head to toe, it does not mean that I cannot look good.

Looking good and feeling good with our presentation, is a kind of self-confidence. It is also a magnet for da'wah. For me, clothes are related with akhlaq, our behaviour. Insyaallah our appearance in front of others especially in a big Muslim community can help us influenced them to love Islam. This is from my own experience.

When we wear our dresses our akhlaq should tally with the way we dressed which is according to the teaching of Islam.

When I googled 'fesyen muslimah'

These are what I found:

A beautiful bride, she looks so sweet in her bridal attire.

Image source: FESYEN MUSLIMAH

A smiling Indonesian actress in her hijabi attire. Turquoise hijab on a black dress is very pretty.

Image source: Techlure

They are beautiful, aren't they?

A beautiful lady with a gorgeous hijab wrap

 

Pic credit to Mohd Redwan Ilias in facebook

Farah Adeeba is our local celebrity TV presenter. I just think she looks so beautiful wearing her hijab like this not like her usual TV images with her hijab tuck inside her jacket or dress. I really like her image during this program.