Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Rayyan's Forth Outfit - Scarf

A shayla-shawl style scarf in brown with a pink scarf.


The Hijab Shop's Hijab £8.95 As this scarf is not opaque it needs an underscarf to be modest, try Canadian Muslim's Undertube in Dark Rose Brown US $4.99 for a close color match


Hijab Shop's Vogue Hijab £8.95 The black and white edging on the front is a decoration from the underscarf used on the model

The pretty Star Scarves' Reversible Pink and Brown Scarf US $10.99


This chiffon shayla is really pretty and features a lot of pink if that's what you like Hijab Lady's Swirl Print Shawl in Brown US $9.95


The same chiffon pattern but in a square scarf Hijab Lady's Swirl Print Hijab in Brown US $9.95

The very pretty embroidered Everything Islamic's Lightweight two tone Hijab Scarf in Brown £3.50

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Rayyan's Third Outfit - Scarf

Also a shayla-shawl scarf in pink with a pale apricot end, with a sheen to it. I couldn't find any scarves with an apricot end so here's some other options:

Try the shiny Star Scarves' Dark Pink with Sequins and Beads Scarf US $13.99


Or the silver shot The Hijab Shop's Vogue Hijab in Pink with Beaded Tassles £7.95


Or the flower patterned The Hijab Shop's Vogue Hijab in Pink £8.95


For something really different have a look at this striped Muslim Base's Igal Hijab - Maroon, Brown and Pink Tie and Dye Effect £4.99 This is a really different style of hijab and as far as I know it is exclusive to Muslim Base

The following is a YouTube Video from Muslim Base showing you how to tie this style of hijab


How To Wear Hijab Series - The Igal Hijab

Friday, July 27, 2007

Rayyan's Third Outfit - Kurta

This is a very pretty purple kurta with silver embroidery with a bit of ribbon around the cuffs. You cannot see in the episode what pants Rayyan is wearing with the kurta as she is pictured sitting down or the shot is framed to only show her upper body. All kurta are different so here's two you could try:

Modesty Catalog's Dark Mauve Kurta US $24.00


Islamic Outfitter's Traditions Kurta in Mauve US $25.00

Rayyan's Second Outfit - Scarf Pin

Only photo I could get of the pin from this episode. It seems to be the same as in Outfit 1 and I would not usually repeat the item if its the same but I've found some alternatives:

Urban Muslimah's Crystal Spray CAD$6

Urban Muslimah's Crystal Tear Drop in Clear CAD$6

Rayyan's Second Outfit - Scarf


This scarf is a similar very pale pastel blue to Rayyan's shirt, its a shayla (shawl) style rectangular scarf quite broad and long, with vertical stripes. Hijabs are so fun and blue is one of my favorite colors so here's heaps:

The Hijab Shop's Shine Stripe Hijab in Blue £6.25


The Hijab Shop's Hijab in Blue £4.95


For an bright trinagular scarf try Hijab Girl's Khadija Hijab in Navy Blue US $7.95


or a paler option Click's Fashion's Hijab 4

Or try this al-Amira StarScarves' Light Blue Al-Amira Hijab (2pcs) $9.99 as your hijab or as an underscarf

Rayyan's Second Outfit - Pants

It was quite hard to get a good photo of these pants but here they are. The pants are a pale khaki , quite tight (maybe too tight) and ironed to have a crease in the front.


Here are a few options:
Shukr's Rasmi Pants US $34.95 in Wheat

Shukr's Antalya Pants in Wheat US $29.95

The very modest Shukr's Lengha Pants in Chai US $48.95

The tighter Aba Kaftan's Egyptian Linen Look Trousers in Beige £5.00

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Poll results and new poll

The results for the poll about what the priority of this blog should be are out. The options are hidden by the bars so I'll reproduce the answers here

- Choosing lower cost clothing options - 1 (10%)
- Offering clothing options from Muslim retailers over general retailers - 0 (0%)
- Copying Rayyan's clothing as closely as possible - 5 (50%)
- Seeking other sources of fashion inspiration beyond Rayyan - 3 (30%)
- Putting together outfits without inspiration from a pictured person - 1 (10%)

I will now remove the poll from the blog to save space.

It's clear that copying Rayyan's clothing should be the priority but that people are also interested in other hijab fashion role models. I'll have a look for some other pictures to imitate later on. Lower cost options and putting outfits together without a role model are priorities for 1 person each. I'll see what I can do to choose lower cost options and perhaps when I get more confident I'll try to put outfits together without inspiration.

A new poll is listed now with regard to the design of the blog page or blog articles with regard how to hijab instructions.

At the moment I have embedded youtube videos that show how to tie hijab from The Canadian Muslim and Muslim Base. If you like this tick box one and I'll keep it, I just don't want to clutter up the blog if its not helpful. The second option is for me to create a list of links of instructional guides to tying head scarves for hijab. If the embedded videos are not popular I will include links to them in this list. The final option is my writing an article on how to tie hijab. I've allowed users to select multiple answers, so pick as many as you want.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Rayyan's First Outfit - Scarf Update!

A brand new Muslim clothing e-retailer who gives us another gorgeous option for Rayyan's orange scarf.

Al Muhajaba El Aniqa Orange and Red Striped Shayla US $9.99

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Rayyan's Second Outfit - Pastel Blue Top

This outfit features a very pale pastel blue top which has full length sleeves, just above knee length, straight bottom seam, seamed facing and covered front fastenings (probably a zip). This shirt is quite tight fitting and I would have chosen to wear a larger size so that it was less form fitting especially considering it features visible seams over the bust. This shirt is worn over a long sleeved khaki tee but should not be necessary with the shirt options below as they are opaque and long sleeved.

The color of the shirt is very pale and hard to match exactly and as the shirt is to be worn over trousers it needs to be long. Some Muslim clothing stores sold shirts in suitable colors but they are either out of stock or too short to be worn with pants. Here are the options I found:

Shukr's Cotton Light Work Shirt in Oceania US $49.95 is a different blue but has the unfussy shirt style of Rayyan's shirt

For a closer color match have a look at

Shukr's Laced Tunic in Paster Blue US $48.95 but you'll have to sacrifice the clean lines of the original for this more ethnic design

This top has contrasting embroidery so is quite different from the original shirt we are copying but it is a close color match to Rayyan's and is cheaper

It is Desert Store's Tunic 06 US $34.99 and although the contrasting embroidery is quite distinct from the color of the shirt it would go nicely with the khaki pants Rayyan wears

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Rayyan's First Outfit - Skirt


Rayyan's skirt in this episode is a deep burgundy color, ankle length, straight cut and appears to have a slight ruffle. The skirt looks to be made of an lined, sheer fabric with a crinkled texture. Here are a few options:

Shukr's Souk Skirt US $49.95 in Hibiscus


Shukr's A-Line Flare Skirt US $49.95 in Hibiscus if you prefer an unruffled skirt

a textured Indian option
al-Mujalba Sequence Tiered Skirt US $20.00 in Burgundy

a romantic silk skirt
Artizara Silk Dupioni Iridescent Skirt US $37.49 in Burgundy

Shukr has other skirt styles in burgundy which they refer to as Hibiscus, have a look Shukr Hibiscus Clothing

Friday, July 13, 2007

Rayyan's First Outfit - Scarf


As you can see this is a very pretty scarf and is key to tying this outfit together. The scarf''s lighter color matches the long sleeve tee and the underscarf Rayyan is wearing. The darker color is similar to the skirt Rayyan is wearing and this will be the feature of the next post.

The thing about scarves is that they are all so different! It would take forever to find the exact same scarf as this as it features two colors, a striped patterned and a quick color transition. I'm sure its out there somewhere but it may be listed as a hijab, a shal, a shayla, a khimar or just a scarf. Also to look at a photo from a scarf it is hard for me to tell what it is made from. For these reasons its really hard to find the exact same scarf so a range of similar scarf options will be shown.

I will not be showing where to buy matching underscarves as they are one of the things that all hijab shops sell in a wide range of colors. Also some people never wear them, wear al amiras instead or wear unmatching ones under opaque scarves. What you wear under your scarf is a very personal decision, wear what you find comfortable. If your hunting for a particular color underscarf to go under a sheer scarf or to layer with The Canadian Muslim's 100% Cotton Undertube is a good place to start.

My advice is that you put your whole outfit together, then choose the scarf that goes with the outfit. Then chose an appropriate underscarf if you want to show it as Rayyan does in this outfit. If you choose a two-toned scarf match the lighter color to the long sleeve tee if you are layering and the underscarf. Then match the darker color to your skirt. If you one colored scarf make sure it goes with all the clothing you are wearing and match the underscarf to the long sleeve tee.

A Shukr Hijab Two Moons Wrap in Crimson, Peach, Rose or Blush US $9.95 Crimson is pictured, follow the link to look at the other color options.


This is the peach color of the Two Moons Wrap in Peach US $9.95 which would go well with the Columbia Halifax Shirt 3/4 Sleeves in Sea Coral US $32.95
This is a very pretty but pricer scarf Mona-Sheer Silk Chiffon Long Scarf with Feather Trim-Copper/Peach US $74 This scarf matches Rayyan's scarf best as it is sheer, has a similar color transition and is tassled. This is sold as a dress scarf but is appropriate to be worn as a hijab as it is 21" by 60". Just make sure you wrap it twice around areas that are not colored by your underscarf so that it is opaqe. Alternatively buy an Al-Amira in suitable colors to wear underneath.

This Canadian Muslim Scarf Cute Pink n' Yellow Tie Dye Sequined Striped Shayla is so pretty. Its quite different from Rayyan's scarf from the episode but it would go really well with if you choose a pinker or yellow top. The hot pink underscarf looks great here and if you chose this scarf I would advise you wore a hot pink tee too. A great thing about the Canadian Muslim is that she always advises what underscarf and pin to match with her scarves and what underscarf, pin and scarf to match her clothing! Look at the items under the "Like this photo?", "Add the accessories!" arrow.

For an Al-Amira option try the eJilbab Orange Al-Ameera
This is a lovely pale coral, not really orange at all. It would go great with the Columbia Halifax Shirt 3/4 Sleeves in Sea Coral US $32.95 or as an underscarf under any of the other scarves. If this scarf is true to its picture it almost exactly matches the underscarf Rayyan is wearing.
My eJilbab Al-Ameera has a lovely feeling against the skin and although it totally secure it is in no way tight as some underscarves can be.


Another option is to layer scarves of matching colors from ones you already own. Play around with scarves once you've bought the clothing. Scarves are so much fun!

Rayyan's First Outfit - Scarf Pin

The headscarf pin used here is two silver balls suspended from one silver pin. (It may be two pins, but the way the balls move suggests they are attached.) The pins sparkle when Rayyan moves but I'm not sure if they are very shiny ball or have crystal embellishment. I have never seen this style before, let's see if we can find something to copy it with. If you would like an identical pin you could make it yourself at your local bead store or commission someone else. The alternative is to tie your hijab in such a way that it does not require a stick pin to stay in place or use your own outfit appropriate pin.


Here's a pin you could use, Everything Islamic Rhinestone Crystal Ball Hijab Pin £3.20 Use silver pins two to copy the style exactly or try pink if it matches the pink you are wearing.

Or try this one if what you like is the double embellishment
It's a Pin Thing Czech Glass Crystal Drop Hijab Pin in Pink £2.99


Thursday, July 12, 2007