Assalaamu alaikum! It's been a while since I've been able to post an actual blog post, but if you are reading this and want to see things I have posted, head over to my YouTube where you'll find tutorials and reviews that I couldn't easily do blog posts on.
Today's look is Bedouin inspired. To hear a bit more about the company from which I received many of the pieces in this look, hop on over to my video bundle review for The Desert Boutique!
The abaya I'm wearing in the photo is actually from Bangladesh. It was a gift from my Muslim family, ma shaa Allah, and while it's not Kuwaiti like the other pieces in this look, the style itself with the thin sleeves is what Mia over at The Desert Boutique described as being worn under the overhead khimar in the picture. The trim also was similar enough to the scarf that I felt it was a good choice! And comfy.
The overhead abaya/khimar is closed-front and comes with an elastic band to help keep it on the head. However, the sides are partially open and the fabric is sheer, so one should at least wear long sleeves and pants under it for modesty purposes. The abaya likely goes to about knee-length on average-sized persons when worn as an overhead, but it can also be worn on the shoulders which will make the length in the front, slightly, and in the back, considerably, longer. It is light-weight, alhamdulillah, which works very well for sisters who are disabled and need less weight but still wish to be more fully covered. Mia has assured me that this khimar is VERY MUCH in style in Kuwait, especially with Bedouin sisters! It can be purchased here.
I have fallen in love with this beautiful face-covering! Traditionally called a burqa in Kuwait, this niqab is very light weight and does not put any pressure on the nose when the worn the way I show in the video! This is great for me as my nose is STILL broken, so it falling from the forehead is much better and I can cover my face longer than with other niqabs while still not having my eyes covered as well.
Mia over at The Desert Boutique and I did some digging as to why this particular face-covering is called burqa instead of niqab, and what connection it has to the burqa in the UAE, the batoola, which is a stiff embroidered mask, and to the burqa in Afghanistan which most think of when they hear the word, which is also known in Afghanistan and Pakistan as the topi. It turns out that burqa simply means "face-covering" or "veil" in Arabic, and this is why it's been used in other areas for varying traditional items! Niqab also means "veil" in Arabic, but has been traditionally used for specific face coverings which are generally tied around the head and cover the face but not the eyes.
I thought this niqab was absolutely beautiful seeing it online - the double layer and the laced scallops give it just that little bit "extra" to fit wonderfully into my style. To purchase this gorgeous traditional piece (which apparently is falling out of use and is now only worn by Bedouin sisters), head over here.
This scarf has absolutely lovely detailing, and Mia chose it to send after I asked about the traditional children's covering called the bukhnag, found here. The bukhnag is only worn by young girls and toddlers, but similarly beautiful gold embroidery is done on some traditional pieces such as this scarf! The scarf itself is a slightly wide but short rectangular scarf, which is fine as the scarf can be quite warm, especially when worn underneath the overhead khimar listed above. This type of peace is no longer in use other than in folkloric shows or plays. Unfortunately, I don't see this currently listed in the store, but perhaps Mia has not posted the listing yet. Check out her scarf and hijab section here, and perhaps email Mia inquiring about this piece and pieces like it via email.
The headpiece I wore actually isn't a headpiece at all! Like many of my hijab/niqab jewelry, it is a necklace re-purposed and pinned onto my scarf! The necklace is from Charming Charlie's.
If you have any questions or any requests, please feel free to comment below, comment on my videos, or shoot me an email! In shaa Allah this will be the first in a series on traditional and cultural hijab-wear.
Jazakum Allahu kheiran!
Sajida.
