Pure Pixie: here and in Canada +niqab of course!

Everything in this collage I really own except for the patent heels---those are flats in my day to day as I walk a few kilometers every night and every morning. The abaya with ruched satin sleeves is from http://www.sunnahstyle.com/product_info.php?pName=ruched-satin-sleeved-butterfly-abaya&cName=abayas-butterfly for $49.99 USD and it is soooooo easy to wear. I like to wear maxi dresses or coloured jeans (grey, pink, purple, green and yellow). I have a crummy scratched up pink motorolla cellohone and white rimmed sunglasses, and always keep my earrings on the big and dangling side under my hijab. I just bought this Betsey Johnson purse today (for about a quarter of its current retail value) and a matching pink keffiyah ($10.00 bucks that CAD). My beauty regime: I like mousse concealer in ivory, chocolate scented shampoo, pink eye shadow, sometimes an eyebrow pencil and that is it for day. Not the most awesome outfit, but something I like and am comfy in.

For my lil sister, lol

Punky princess, my lil sister's style.

Imaan Collections launches their Eid Collection

MashaAllah I was so happy to get the email from ImaanCollections in my inbox with the above pic on a Ramadan mubarak wish from the site, because that is soooooo my personal style:D. Aalia, remember my navy jumper with pink hear buttons (the buttons were usually covered by a pink hijab). Anyways, I love their stuff. A bit too pricey for everyday wear for me, but I can get inspiration and splurge for a special peice if I have the occasion to.

FOR THE PARTY GIRL:
FOR THE COSMO/I HAVE A JOB GIRL:
THE SLIGHLYMORE URBANE/STREET STYLE SISTA:

i love this sister's niqab

I love the ribbon detail on this sister's niqab. MashaAllah it's so pretty.

Jum'aa (Friday) Thoughts: a dua for getting dressed

The Qu'ran says that Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala likes to see the signs of His subhanhu wa ta'ala kindness on His servants. He is beautiful, and loves beauty.

The Qu'ran also says that the best garment we can wear is one of God-consciousness (which is, to dress in awareness of the Creator, and to dress with the soul aim of pleasing Allah subhanhu wa ta ala).

When I used to pray at home, I would forget this, and throw on a beat up old sheet and cover my body with it, but I would never think of doing da'wah work at my workplace in that same sheet. Yes, my goal in dressing well in hijab in my daily routine, is to make Islam a more approachable subject for non-muslims. If we can start a subect that leads to Islam on the grounds of, "I love your ring" or "that's pretty embroidery on your head-scarf" or "I didn't know Muslims could wear colour" than alhamdulilah!!!!!!!! I got to tell them about Aisha R.A wearings rings and more important conduct of the Sahabiyat than that one issue. I got to explain how I became a Muslim and how hijab is freedom. I get to tell them how Muslims themselves often confuse culture for Islam.

These are all good things, but I shouldn't forget to dress well when praising Allah subhanhu wa ta'ala (when I can, I mean, between scrubbing the bathroom with bleach and doing the dishes I'm sure my Creator is fine with a clean modest sheet), but when I have the time, why don't I dress in my prettiest jalibiyia and hijab? At home, why don't I put on my glittery caftan, and line my eyes with kohl, (AFTER WUDU ALL) and do my hair under my hijab, and put that hijab on neatly styled, and spend a bit of time on my salat. It isn't a condition upon women, that we do sunnah and nafl salat and dress in beautiful modest clothes in the process, but why not? There is reward for dressing beautifully for our husbands. There is the MOST reward for dressing beautiful and modestly and praising Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala during salat.

If I am praying at home, I try to put away ten minutes for dressing for salat in the evening (which is when I have the most time). I put on my jalibiyia (if I were going out in front of non-maharam men I would choose clean modesty over brilliant beauty), I make wudu, I put on make-up (if I were going in front of non-maharam I wouldn't do defined makeup), do my hair, style my hijab, and then I try and spend at least the same ammount of time or x3 in salat. We would put this much effort in for visiting our friends, so I see it important for me to call on my Creator.

The Qu'ran says "... Say: 'What has My Lord to do with you if you do not call on Him?'" (Surat al-Furqan: 77) I really feel that if I call upon My Lord, the Compassionate, the Merciful, the One, with as much effort or hundred times more so, then put forward for people. I never, never want to be asked if I cared for the opinion of a person more than I did for Allah`s.

Here is a dua that is good to recite whenever getting dressed, but is very specific to the puting on of new clothes. It may be recited in English, but the sunnah is to do so in Arabic. Both are good and valid:

Allaahumma lakal-hamdu Anta kasawtaneehi, asàluka min khayrihi wa khayri maa suni`a lahu, wa a`oothu bika min sharrihi wa sharri maa suni`a lahu.

Oh Allah, Praise be to You. You have clothed me. I ask You for its goodness and the goodness of what it has been made for and I seek Your protection from the evil of it and the evil of what it has been made for.

(Reported by Abu Dawood and at-Tirmidhee)

Cream abaya from http://www.aabuk.com/product_details.php?id=161&picid=3&PHPSESSID=70c1502fba8679242740c7d7fc167f26 for $44.99 GBP

Cream Niqab and Hijab set from http://www.hijabgirl.com/sn1002.html for $7.95 USD

California Casual: an abaya look for Melissa

This is completely how my bestfriends dressed when we were growing up (non abaya version 'course). Shout out Amanda and Brittany, and Leigh-Anne and crew, and Carlie, LOL. It's a Westcoast thaaaang.

Abaya from http://www.muslimbase.com/product_info.php?products_id=4686 for $31.99 GBP

Square hijab in a california gingham http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog_name=FOREVER21&category_name=acc&product_id=1056011939&Page=4 for $8.80 USD.

This set was hard for me to create actually, because I have never worn this look (I have a European style but with a relaxed African vibe and for I am picking up some Arab glamour here on in to my later years LOL), even though the casual girlie flirty style was TOTALLY the rage of my highschool, before the ooompha looompha tramp of my little sister's generation took over in thongs (oooompha looompha is a reference to "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" characters that had orange skin and green hair and that's exactly how the Ooompha Loooompha tramps in my highschool looked with their fake tanner orange skin and green-blonde high-lighted hair:D). Anyways, surfer shorts and cool tees with a pretty grown up Marc Jacobs bag and thongs (the sandal kind) or little girlish flats is all the thing. Layer a long beaded necklace under the hijab, and do it in Gingham, like Gidget. (Gidget was a movie surfer, for those who might not get the reference).

Suitcase Stylings: Los Angeles (an abaya look)

I went to L.A when I was fourteen and walked down sunset boulevard and stood outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre and pressed my hands into the cement to see what movie actress had the same size hands and feet as me. I came up with Rita Hayworth. Marilyn Munroe's hands were genormous!!!!!! LOL, funny how places like these are pilgrimages for non-muslims. Would WAAAAAAAAAAAY rather run around the Kaba in Hajj:D

Well, I was asked to come up with a couple California looks, and we'll start with L.A.: stars in this abaya conjure Hollywood nights. Abaya http://www.desertstore.com/abaya/balloon-sleeves-abaya-1785.html for $62.72 USD. I'd totally style this Roxy print scarf http://www.buckle.com/product/product_detail.jsp;jsessionid=JMlfyjTGzB1wFkkQmk14Lhkb20JnyTyHyttNVGvF5vHHtbkWs3mn!-1392185229?prd=74910454C13MU&cm_mmc=LinkShare*Women%27s%2520Accessories*Roxy%2520Providence%2520Scarf&siteID=Hy3bqNL2jtQ-feLAp3hPdyGD5ue4uRGMYw&sku=7487490000&bmUID=1238115711268 for $22.00 USD into a niqab (were I famous, like if they ever want to add a Muslimah character on the Desperate Housewives cast). I like it with vintage style accessories (shades of course) in retro shapes. Does it work for you Melissa?

Work Safe set: black abaya with gold satin diamond applique

Black abaya with gold satin diamond applique from http://www.2hijab.com/proddetail.asp?prod=abaya-126&PARTNER=nor for $59.90 USD. It is perfect for work, with beige, cream or black flats and flowy way of wearing a black or cream shayla. Buy a long chain of faux-pearls that reaches to your belly-button, and wear so this hangs out from underneath your hijab (or niqab). It is a very business-like look, good for university interviews and taking the lead at work in a corporate setting. LOL and I love my trenchcoats to play a bit before work.

New York Niqabi: cream abaya and beige niqab

This elegant cream abaya Cream & Brown Abaya for $55.99 USD [let me know if you have had any experiences ordering from this company] made me think about Donna Karan (and thus New York) and I think it would look elegant with this beige niqab Beige Oval Niqab 3 Layers - Eye Mesh - Nose String for $9.99 GBP and these flats http://www.charlotterusse.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3435169 for $18.99 USD, as well as black satin gloves and tights (for the cool new york weather). If you are a munaqaba, would you wear it? And I DON'T want any of the-black-is-the-only-halal-colour niqabis commenting:D. I mean you can, but I don't regard your opinion the same way, because it is not based solely in Islam, no offence meant.

Abaya Do: do layer three quarter sleeve boxy coats for a professional look

An abaya is an overgarment but that doesn't mean you can't play with it as a base for your self-expression. An abaya with frilled sleeves like this one from http://www.islamicboutique.com/proddetail.asp?prod=abaya-1163&PARTNER=nor for $69.90 USD, is just like a blouse under a suit jacket when you pair a quarter-sleeve box jacket over top. Beige scrunch hijab from http://www.funaccessories.com.au/www/298/1001286/displayproduct/beige-scrunch-scarf--1028505_scarves--1001326_.html for $5.00 USD.