Tag Archives: hijabi life

Style

Hijab Trends: Kimono Cardigans

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Kimono cardigan

Kimono cardigans are great layering piece for modest outfits.

Modest outfits pulled together by stylish hijabi bloggers have never been hotter. One hot hijab trend for summer has been the kimono cardigan. It is lightweight and skims over areas where hijabis tend to be modest. I personally love the kimono because it allows you to layer without adding too much bulk which is especially nice for curvy hijabis. Let’s be real: curvy hijabis have to be a little more creative if we want to translate what most hijabi bloggers wear into our own closet.

Kimono cardigans are versatile. You can pair the kimono cardigan with a jumpsuit, jeans, flowy palazzo pants and even layer on top of maxi dresses. It adds a layer of texture and interest to an outfit. For more of a fitted look, you can add a belt like the image above. Lengths of kimono cardigans vary, but I personally prefer longer ones since I am a petite hijabi. When I wear longer cardigans, it tends to lengthen my whole body versus cutting the visual lines and making me look too squat. I love that the kimono cardigan can work for any body shape.

It is also a great piece for a hijabi in any age group. When I was rocking my kimono cardigan, my mother in law loved it so much. So I surprised her with her own kimono and she rocks it all the time now alhamdulillah. Since the kimono is more of a trendy piece, I tend to stick to more affordable options.

Here are my top affordable picks for a kimono cardigan:

Urban Outfitters Floral Kimono

Forever 21 Eyelash Lace Kimono

Forever 21 Long Floral Lace Kimono

Zara Flowing Kimono Jacket

Are you rocking the kimono this summer? What are your favorite kimono cardigans? Let me know in the comments below:

Islam, Life, Parenting

Ramadan Decorating Ideas and Printables

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Eid Printables

ModernEid’s 2015 Printables make it easy to decorate for Eid.

One of the amazing parts of Ramadan as a Muslim parent is getting the chance to introduce the magic of it with your children. One of the ways to bring that magic to your child’s life is to welcome Ramadan to your home by decorating it with Ramadan decorations and crafts. Here are some tips to make decorating your home for Ramadan fun, easy and not too messy.

Printables

I admit it. I am a Muslim mom who loves shortcuts that look fancy. Who doesn’t? I have a newborn and a toddler, but I still want my home to look cute and ready for Eid and Ramadan. What is the best way to do it? Using printables. With the click of a mouse, you too can make a Ramadan decorated room worthy of Pinterest. Here are my favorite printables:

ModernEid Printables

Sakina Design Ramadan Printables

In My Studio Ramadan Banner Printable

DIY

Since my oldest child is now 4, I decided we could make a banner together so that she could have fun too. However, the perfectionist in me wanted the banner to look cute too. So I did an easy DIY banner with this kit from Target. To make it even easier, I added these stick on letters from Target to spell out “Ramadan Kareem.” She loved it! She got to play with stickers and I got to create a cute Ramadan banner. It was a win for all of us.

We also did crescent moon and star cut outs and doused them with glue and glitter. Let me just add that I now know why adults call glitter evil. It is terribly messy and is hard to get out! However, my daughter loved the activity and if it makes her excited about Ramadan, it is worth the mess and memories.

Lights

Oh Christmas, you aren’t the only holiday where people want to put up lights. Long ago, I used to stock up the day after Christmas on lights so that I could string them all over my house when it was time for weddings, Ramadan and Eid. This season, it seems that retailers are catching on about Ramadan and there was an abundance of lights to be purchased in the patio section of my local Target (oh Target, how I love thee). Some Muslim moms even found gold and silver battery operated lights in the Dollar Section of Target! Seriously, how are you not running to Target now?

I was not one of those lucky thrifty moms and I selected a super cute gold themed string of lights by Lilly Pulitzer from Target for Ramadan (I promise, this post was not sponsored by Target, I just happen to shop there a LOT).

How are you welcoming Ramadan this year? Do you have any decorating ideas that you would love to share? Please let us know in the comments below!

Style

Hijabi Obsession: Haute Hijab’s Elizabeth Gown

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Haute Hijab Elizabeth Gown

Haute Hijab CEO Melanie shines in the new Elizabeth gown.

Salaams my lovelies! I feel like it has been ages since I blogged about hijab fashion or hijab style trends. I recently wrote a post about my hijabi obsession with tulle skirts, and when I did, I emailed Melanie from Haute Hijab because I was curious when Haute Hijab would be offering up their own version of a tulle skirt. Melanie does have a tulle skirt in the works, but she made sure to excite us along the way with a new gown launch TODAY!

Melanie from Haute Hijab outdid herself and designed a killer gown made of tulle. Based on the color you select, the gown is lined with either lace and tulle, or polka dot tulle. With long sleeves, a gathered waistline, and a back button placket, the Elizabeth gown exudes an old world elegance and opulence that recalls a more a glamorous era. The gown comes in a cream/gold lace option, a plum lace, and a stunningly chic navy polka dot tulle version. I am personally in LOVE with the cream/gold lace gown and think it would make the perfect dress for a hijabi who wants to wear something for her engagement, nikkah, or even her wedding dress.

The design is also versatile because it allows you to wear your hijab with the dress in two ways thanks to the banded collar. The banded collar allows you to tuck your hijab in if you wish. Again perfect for any hijabi who wants to incorporate a romantic veil for a wedding!

Curvier hijabis will love this new gown from Haute Hijab because it is forgiving on the waistline. Thanks to the gathered skirt, it allows you to have more of a forgiving hourglass shape versus looking like you are wearing something too tight or something that looks more like a potato sack. That is always a plus for me! And since its Haute Hijab, you know that every dart, seam, and stitch is not going to budge. Haute Hijab pieces always last the longest in my closet.

My favorite part about the Elizabeth gown is the movement you get when you walk in it. Personally, when I walk with longer dresses, I end up dragging it underfoot and that is really not too elegant. However, with the Elizabeth gown, it sways and allows you to move with the grace befitting royalty. (I actually kept conjuring up images of Kate Middleton wearing the dress since we know she loves her dresses and she also loves polka dots!). Check the video below to see just how regal the dress is when you walk in it:

What do you think? Are you as obsessed as I am?

Islam, Style

Online Shopping Review: B. Hijaby

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Hijaby B. Hijabs

B. Hijaby Hijabs are eclectic and beautiful. Perfect for the hijabi who wants to stand out!

Shopping online for hijabs and modest clothing is always nerve wracking. I always wonder if I will still like the items I order when I actually get them, or if shopping for hijabs online is worth it when there are so many hijab options at easily accessible stores such as Target, H&M, and Forever 21. Then I actually get the package and I think to myself, “Why do I doubt the power of shopping at Muslim owned businesses?”
One thing that I noticed with shopping online for my hijabs or modest clothing is that there is always a personal touch when it comes to what you order. These businesses take time to pack your items nicely and send you a personal note, or slip in just a few extras like hijab pins.

One such online hijab destination is B. Hijaby. The owner of the company, Asima Bhatty strives to provide hijabis an eclectic mix of hijabs that you can’t find anywhere else. In fact, she just launched a new collection of hijabs that you need to check out! Her hijabs go beyond the average hijab. B. Hijaby hijabs are wider than most hijabs; which allows you to create intricate folds, create cool turbans, or just give you more coverage in the front. Let’s be real, we can appreciate coverage in the front when possible!

A distinguishing factor of the hijabs from B. Hijaby is that the patterns on the hijabs are unique and regularly replenish their stock. You can be rest assured that when you wear a hijab from B. Hijaby, that your hijab will not be gracing another hijabi at your local masjid (that is until you share your shopping secret with them!). I actually had an instance where I wore a hijab from Target and my husband could not find me because there were 4 other women wearing the same hijab!

B. Hijaby prints range from elegant ombre prints all the way to eye catching animal print hijabs in fun summer colors. B. Hijaby has the prettiest floral hijabs I have seen. Here is a rundown of the shopping experience:

Online Browsing: B. Hijaby is sold through a Facebook page, so browsing is a bit more challenging than a traditional website. That being said, it is easy to look through all the albums to see all of the hijabs and prints since all of the prints are true to the image. Since they are planning to launch a website, I expect shopping and browsing for hijabs online for this brand will be easier in the near future iA. Also, did I mention the scarves are so affordable? I can see myself buying a ton of hijabs.

Buying Experience: Since this time, the scarves were gifted, I am not able to share how the buying experience was. I will definitely be shopping here though and when I do, I will comment on how the ordering experience was!

Shipping: Shipping is fast and easy. Since B. Hijaby is located in the U.S. you are sure to get your package shipped fast. Expect 3-5 days for delivery. All in all, I highly recommend this hijab shopping destination.

Islam, Life

America Is Beautiful Coca Cola Ad

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Coca Cola Hijabi

New Coca Cola Ad Features a Hijabi

Unless you have been living underneath a rock, I am sure that you have seen the latest Coca Cola commercial that aired during SuperBowl Sunday that featured a diverse group of Americans including a woman who wore a headscarf while singing the classic American song “America The Beautiful.” As an American who does indeed wear a headscarf (also known as a hijab), I almost had tears in my eyes. Why is that? I think it is the first time ever that I have seen a hijabi (woman who wears a headscarf) in a way that does not illustrate her as something “other” or “oppressed.” In fact, I teared up because for the first time, I felt like a commercial was able to capture me as I am: an American. I am not an oppressed foreign woman with no voice of my own. I am a woman who was born and raised in the United States. I am educated and I have the same sentiment for my country as everyone else does.

In fact, I am surprised it has not come sooner. It is sad that it takes market segmentation for companies to realize that there should be more inclusion. Why can’t popular culture be the first to embrace hijabis? Why did it have to be corporate need for profits among immigrants to make the shift? However I am not going to complain because in the end while Coca Cola was inclusive in order to resonate with my demographic to sell soda, it has also blazed the trail for other hijabis to enter the public popular culture sphere. We are women who want to dress modestly, but we also want to be heard and included in the public dialogue. Especially about ourselves. For so long, Americans have had a dialogue about Muslim women without asking Muslim women to participate. That was not only paternalistic, but it was also misleading to the American public. Muslim women in America are here, and we do want a say in what is portrayed about who we are in the media. So thank you Coca Cola for opening that Pandora’s Box. For while it may have brought out the ugly racists and bigots, it has also brought out one last thing: Hope.

Beauty, Islam, Style

Online Shopping Review: Simply Zeena

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Simply Zeena

Simply Zeena Winter 2014

Salaams my lovelies! I hope you are doing well inshallah and that you are having a nice Friday! I typically do a Follow Friday post, but today, I wanted to make it a Fashion Friday post because I am just over the moon in love with a modest fashion clothing line that I am sure that you will love too. Have you heard of Simply Zeena? For some reason, I had heard of the line, but I never had the time to really browse and shop their site online. Another one of the challenges of online shopping is that you just don’t know how something will drape or look on you unless you try it in person. I was lucky enough to have the chance to meet the ladies of Simply Zeena at the Fashion Fighting Famine San Francisco show and see their Winter 2014 collection in person.

The Simply Zeena 2014 Winter Collection is an array of extremely wearable and flattering pieces that can work for anyone looking for a modest wardrobe that is polished and chic. As a working hijabi mom, I need quick pieces like the ones in this collection to put on and go yet still look polished. I love that the materials are wrinkle resistant because who really has the time to iron? Not me! But I also still want to look elegant and professional and Simply Zeena allows me to look my best. I personally bought the purple hoodie and the Audrey which is a classic top in the making. When I wore the Audrey, I felt as elegant as the iconic Audrey Hepburn. I paired it with slim fit black pants, ballet flats and I know I got a ton of compliments from Muslims and non Muslims alike. A mom at Trader Joe’s actually stopped me and asked, “Where did you get that cute top?” I was so happy to share my fashion secret with her and with you. Simply Zeena has clothing for anything you may need. They even sell modest active wear and swim wear. I was super excited to see that.

Online Browsing: Their site is super easy to navigate to find what you need and more. They have a super easy to locate top navigation bar that can take you directly to clothing that are Basics, Activewear (as a gym buff, I LOVE that they have modest activewear), and other categories that make sense for easy shopping.

While Simply Zeena is an online shopping destination, I can’t really give you the good details on how fast shipping is, or the buying experience, etc. However, that gives me a great excuse to go and buy more online. I will let you know how my next pieces come and how the true online shopping experience is. In the meantime, if you have bought from Simply Zeena, what did you think? Share your comments below!

Life

Giving Back: Fashion Fighting Famine SF

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20140112-235128.jpgOne of the main reasons that I started blogging about modest fashion was because I wanted it to be something more meaningful than fashion as know it. I wanted it to be more inclusive of all shapes, colors, and sizes. I wanted it to inspire and empower us as Muslim women. I wanted it to give back something to our greater community.

That is why I am so eternally grateful to have had the chance to volunteer with Fashion Fighting Famine for their San Francisco show because that is exactly what they stand for. Not only does the organization raise money for local charities within our communities, it does it while inspiring generations of women that modest fashion can be beautiful inside and out.

From the executive members of the organization, all the way to the models, there was a collaborative spirit throughout. If someone needed help unloading a car, there were helping hands. If someone fainted, there was a sister to pick her back up. If there was work to be done, sisters would pitch in. As someone who has seen tradition fashion shows from the behind the scenes, there was no diva behavior at FFFSF and I truly believe it is because the beauty of the Adab (etiquette of Islam) of the Prophet (saws).

Seeing this beauty behind the scenes gave me my own courage to face the crowd and be able to MC the show. What a wonderful experience that was! To see a crowd of beautiful women of all ages smiling back at me made me realize that Allah (swt) made us all beautiful alh.

By the grace and mercy of God, I felt like after the first few minutes of being nervous that all my fears went away and I was able to not only enjoy the show, but feel honored to help a wonderful charity like the North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused.

So often, the Muslim community ignores domestic violence as an issue. Thanks to the amazing volunteers and the guests of this fashion show, we are able to give these voiceless women a voice in our community.

I sincerely hope that all of my readers reflect on how just one person can make a huge impact by way of example of this show. Anum, one of the executive members of Fashion Fighting Famine, pushed the group to have a second show based in San Francisco. Thanks to her, she motivated hundreds of women to travel from Dubai, LA, and all over to help our community! So never feel defeated to give back my readers. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.

PS: Major thank you to Rahat for glamming me up. And thank to all of you awesome ladies for showing up to the show!

Beauty, Islam, Style

Follow Friday: Saman Munir

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Saman

Saman Munir is a Canadian vlogger who teaches hijabis to be beautiful inside and out.

Salaams my lovelies! Jumah mubarak to you all. It is Friday, which means another Follow Friday post. Today, I want to feature Saman Munir from Saman’s Makeuphijabs YouTube channel. Not only is she beautiful to look at, she is also a hijabi fashion vlogger who teaches her fellow hijabis how to not only look their best, but feel their best too. This hijabi fashionista is also a full time mommy and part time hijab stylish and makeup artist. If you have a chance, check out her Instagram account @makeuphijabs for the most beautiful hijabi style inspiration. She has an eye for putting together colorful yet feminine outfits that anyone can try. I call her style accessible elegance.

What I love the most about Saman Munir is her ability to connect with her viewers in her YouTube videos. While her chiseled features makes her beauty especially striking, she shares personal stories of her own struggles such as being considered the ugly duckling in her family, or her weight gain/loss journey that allow her viewers to be able to relate to her. In the end we are all the same like most hijabi vloggers, but Saman Munir has this uncanny ability to make viewers feel like she is a hijabi next door that they can have chai with and ask beauty/hijab advice.

Her online tutorials are especially helpful. If you ever need help with styling a difficult yet beautiful hijab like the Neva hijab, make sure to check out her fool proof tutorials. Her makeup tips are also easy to follow and she uses tools that most women possess (which is helpful since Sephora is like a sticky fly trap for me). I really love that her looks are never too extreme and that they always look pretty. On top of having a YouTube Channel and an amazing Instagram account, Saman Munir also sells hijabs and accessories online too. What a Wonder Woman mashallah!

Make sure to check out Saman Munir and let me know what you think!

Yummy Treats

Hijabi Eats: The Cronut

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Cronut

The cronut is a delectable cross between a croissant and a doughnut.

Salaams my lovelies! I hope you are having an amazing week inshallah. So I know that I claim Hijabi Life is a Muslim lifestyle blog, but I feel like a bulk of my posts are very beauty/fashion/life driven and that I have not devoted nearly as much time to halal eats for you. So to remedy that, I wanted to introduce you to the latest dessert craze: the cronut. It sounds like a science fiction/Greek myth character, but I assure you that this pastry is a lot more delicious than the name. It is literally a hybrid of a croissant and a doughnut. You get the flaky layers of a croissant melded with the deep fried goodness of a doughnut. How can you not love this? As for me, I curse this invention because I was being so good with my sugar intake.

However, I do think that once you try one, it’s hard to binge on it. Plus, Ramadan is right around the corner, so I am sure that we will all be able to keep ourselves in check soon enough iA! Stay tuned for my own version of an at home cronut soon. I am in the process of trial and error, but once I get the recipe down pat, you will be the first to hear all about it!