Product Review: Tuesday in Love/Sweet Zeek Halal Make-up, and Unorthodox Hijabs Rogue Sports Hijab!

Assalaamu alaikum! Today's review encompasses products from THREE sister companies: Tuesday in Love, Sweet Zeek, and Unorthodox Hijabs!

Red polish with taupe accents.

Tuesday in Love originally approached me about doing a review a couple of years ago, but at that point all I knew about their nail polish was the peel-off polish, which I dislike in general. However, since then they started making water permeable polish, so I figured I would give it a go!

Water permeable nail polish is special polish that allows water to reach the nail. Normal nail polish doesn't allow it, which is why we can't wear normal nail polish if we want to make wudhu or ghusl (ritual ablution). However, a polish that allows water to touch the nail means that it does not invalidate wudhu, allowing us to wear it without having to remove it every time we pray! Alhamdulillah! Water permeable nail polish brands which have been tested by halal certification companies will have a Halal marker - if it doesn't have a halal certification (or even if it does), you can test it like I do at the end of the above video. Simply apply two coats of nail polish onto a paper towel. Place a second paper towel underneath, and then apply two drops of water to the center of the polish. Wait 5-10 seconds and then check the back side of the paper towel (and the second one) for wetness!

The polishes from Tuesday in Love I received were Cherry Bomb (red) and Truffle (nude/taupe). Both went on in a similar fashion. The brush is a normal, thin nail polish brush, and the polish has the consistency of most nail polishes. The first coat dries a soft satin, while the second coat takes on more of a traditional satin appearance and shows more shimmer. Without top coat (which I did not have), the polish chipped pretty severely for me within two days. I definitely advise buying top coat for this brand!!! (Comparatively, Orly Breathable brand, which costs less, goes on easier for me and chipped after four days with no top coat, and only after doing my whole curly hair routine.)

One coat (R) vs two coats (L)

Tuesday in Love is NOT just polish! They also have a FULL range of halal makeup products, a range of hijabs and sunglasses, and a section for gifts for men. Definitely check out their full line and see if anything perks your interest!

Sweet Zeek, comparatively, is JUST a lipstick line. The lipstick came with a cute little booklet explaining the idea behind the company (geeky younger sister secretly watches older sister apply lipstick for years, older sister goes to college and leaves younger sister lipstick and a sweet note saying she is a "zeek": someone who is so geeky, they are cool, inspiring her to start this company). All of the lipsticks long-lasting cream lipsticks, alhamdulillah, and they all come with super nerdy names! The one I received was 'Clark Kent', which is the shade of red my foster mom wouldn't let me leave the house in. 😉 The whole line appears to be reds and a couple nudes (in shaa Allah they expand soon!).

"Clark Kent"

I was a little wary trying this out. My go-to lipstick brand is Kat Von D, and I've also used Lipsense in the past, both of which go on really easily and are really long lasting. When I saw that there was some smear to the lipstick, I thought that was it. But BOY did it surprise me! While there is some smear to Sweet Zeek's lipstick, THIS STUFF STAYS ON! Even if I saw a little lipstick on my glass or straw, at the end of the night, my lipstick looked completely untouched. I even slept in it one night out of laziness and it was still there in the morning! Ma shaa Allah! I was completely blown away! At $7 a pop, I DEFINITELY suggest buying some if you like long-lasting lip color and don't mind that you need to blot it before you leave the house.

The final product I received was the "Rogue" sports hijab from Unorthodox Hijabs. The reason Tuesday in Love sent me this product from their sister company is because it has a "niqab-mode," meaning it has a section you are able to pull up to veil the face, while still being the completely breathable and moisture whicking fabric the hijab is made from. Unfortunately I don't have any photos of me in this hijab, simply because it did not fit. (I forgot to take a picture of my friend in it, but will try to do so and add it in!) My friend was able to fit it comfortably. Lesson: Do not buy this hijab if you have unusually long or thick hair! Unfortunately it did not fit me comfortably in either hijab OR niqab mode because my hair is simply just too long and takes up too much space in a bun! However, if you have a more normal amount of hair, this should be completely comfortable for you, in shaa Allah. The "Rogue" hijab only comes in one size - in shaa Allah after this perhaps they will make larger sizes for those of us with either more hair or larger heads - but multiple colors. However, Unorthodox Hijabs has two other full ranges of sports hijabs (sans niqab-mode) with ANTI-SLIP TECHNOLOGY, so check them out for your athletic needs, bi'idnillah!

Jazakum Allahu kheiran everyone! Today's blog review was as short as I expected the video to be (it wasn't). In shaa Allah it was helpful!

Sajida.

Product Review: Asiyah_Umm_Ammar Haul with Qibtiyyah Niqab!

Assalaamu alaikum! Today we are doing a multi-item haul from @Asiyah_Umm_Ammar on Instagram! Please welcome the lovely Alyssa, who will be helping with future videos as well, in shaa Allah.

Brown and pink satin-front underscarves and pink medical mask style niqab. 

So, to start off, @asiyah_umm_ammar is amazing and so sweet! She is based in the UK and ships worldwide. Her main advertisement for her store is that she sells Qibtiyyah niqabs! For those who don't know, Qibtiyyah is a Malaysian brand that is absolutely stunning. I've wanted one for a while, but haven't figured out how to get my hands on one (until now!). As far as I know, Asiyah is the only seller of Qibtiyyah niqabs in the West! I have NEVER before seen anyone selling them. Ma shaa Allah. So lets give her some business, akhiwat!

Asiyah, again, being so sweet, was in between shipments and said she could send me two half niqabs right away, but ended up waiting a week so she could gather a few more items for the package! So instead of just receiving the two gorgeous half niqabs, we also received four underscarves, a medical mask style niqab, a pair of gloves, and a pair of "wudhu socks".

Blue lace cap style underscarf. 

 The underscarves are SUPER comfortable. Alyssa, who is deaf, wears hearing aids. We've run into issues with various underscarves and jilabib where they cause rustling sounds and feedback (electrical ringing) with her hearing aids. Alhamdulillah, the satin-front cap style underscarves are feedback free! She loves them. The way they are made, you are meant to be able to fit your bun underneath the underscarf, but due to the sheer volume of hair I have, I'm unable to do so. However, they fit Alyssa's, medium-length hair perfectly. We received three satin-front ones in pink, brown, and green, and one blue lace one (same style). We also received a pink winter medical mask style niqab, popular in Malaysia. I have one in white that is in a thinner fabric. The pink one is very warm but very comfortable on my ears, much moreso than my white one.

Pink satin underscarf with medical mask niqab.

The colors we received worked out really well for Alyssa and I. Both of us tend to wear a lot of black and have limited selections of colors we prefer to wear. While I prefer pinks, purples, burgundy, and only two specific shades of blue (the bright blue of the underscarf is one!), she prefers greens, blues, and neutrals. As such, it was easy for us to split this haul and now she has her own personal niqab to wear when we go to the masjid!

The niqabs we received were both half niqabs which had ties rather than elastic (which is how my other half niqabs are). We received one black one with rhinestones, which I was super excited to receive, as well as a green one.

The black one is Coperto Malaysia brand. I've wanted a half niqab with rhinestones or glitter for SO LONG. I see them in a lot of pictures of sisters in Malaysia, and they are just so beautiful and elegant. However, like many Malaysian styles, it's difficult for me to find them online, which was why I was so excited Asiyah wanted to send me one! The fabric is thicker than I had anticipated, being a georgette rather than a crepe material, but it's still quite comfortable to wear since I don't generally have issues breathing with niqab. I'm really happy the niqab is comfortable! I was concerned that I just couldn't wear any half niqabs, as the two I already owned had elastic straps rather than ties. Due to my Jew nose (yes, I'm allowed to say this, I'm a Jew!), some things just don't fit well. As you can see in the picture above, the medical mask style niqab sits a little funny. With elastic half niqabs, the fabric ends up digging into the bridge of my nose, causing some pain after a while and also a big red line across my nose! This is because the elastic creates tension and continues to pull the fabric against the nose. In addition to my Jew nose (which I do love, I just don't love the pain it puts me in at times 😅), I broke my nose a year ago, so pressure can still cause some headaches. Alhamdulillah with tied half niqabs, this does not happen with me. I think this is because I can set exactly how tight the niqab is, allowing it to rest on the nose, without additional tension due to stretch. So, now I have a beautiful half niqab that does not cause me pain (unless I get a slight headache due to the break)!

Alyssa, lucky girl that she is, received a Qibtiyyah niqab! It is sooooo soft! Seriously I have never felt a niqab so soft! It's a nice forest green, and the green satin-front underscarf matches with it very well (and the brown compliments it), which is perfect for her since green is one of her favorite colors. The niqab is extremely light weight! It also has ties rather than elastic. The combination of the ties and the light fabric work really well for her as the niqab doesn't put excess pressure on her ears so it doesn't cause migraines. Both of our half niqabs are able to be easily flipped up or pulled down, as well. I feel like I can't write much for this niqab, but only because it's just that good. I can't wait to have a Qibtiyyah brand niqab of my own, in shaa Allah! Seriously guys, they are so luxuriously soft! If you live in the West and want one, alhamdulillah now I a place to recommend you to!

Finally, Asiyah also sent us a pair of touchscreen gloves and a pair of wudhu socks. The touchscreen gloves are elbow-length and white. I wasn't expecting them to work, to be honest, because I'm used to touch screen gloves needing to have special metallic material to work, or to need to be sheer, mesh-like fabric in order to have actual skin contact with the phone. These are an
opaque cotton, very lightweight and very comfortable. Honestly these are the coolest and most comfortable long gloves I own - the other long pairs I have are generally very warm so I can't wear them long unless it's winter. And they work! I was shocked. I think the fabric is what does it, but to be honest I couldn't tell you how this cotton works as touchscreen while other cotton gloves I've used are very difficult to use with my phone. Since I don't wear white, I'll likely be dying these so I can continue to wear them, biidhnillah!

Wudhu socks are socks which do not have to be removed in order to perform wudhu, or ablution! I've only seen these in Malaysian stores like Hijup, presumably because the madhab primarily seen in Malaysia says the feet are awrah and should remain covered. So, these socks make things easier for the Muslimah on the go, in that you can slip the foot outside of the sock without removing the sock, perform wudhu, and then slip the foot back in! Ma shaa Allah it makes things so easy. Alyssa really loved them when she used them and was exclaiming about how awesome they were!

As you can see, the socks feature a folded portion over the toes that can be moved so you can slide the foot out easily. To put them back on, pull the sock back over the foot, readjust the folded portion so it covers the front of the foot, and you are good to go! I've seen these in other colors and as tights as well, so these are a really handy invention!

To check out Asiyah's stuff, head over to her Instagram @asiyah_umm_ammar! She is able to be reached via whatsapp as well, and ships worldwide! It's so hard to find Malaysian goods in the West, so alhamdulillah I've found this wonderful sister! I'm not sure how she does it, but I'm so grateful she is allowing sisters all over to try these beautiful products that they may otherwise not be able to try. In shaa Allah you'll be seeing more from her in the future on my blog!

Jazakum Allahu kheiran everyone! Below are pictures of Alyssa and I in our niqabs and satin underscarves.

Sajida.

Review/Tutorial: Iranian Prayer Chador!

Assalaamu alaikum!

So, generally when it comes to clothing from specific regions, you know I like to do Get Ready With Me videos. However, I felt like that couldn't really be done when it came to chador, so, here we are.

I was sent a prayer chador from the Imam Reza Shrine. They are super awesome and love to send me books and other things, Allahumma barik lahum!

Traditional chador is a semi-circle sheet of cloth. Traditionally, prayer chador appear to generally be white. In the Varzaneh Provence, this is because white is considered to ward off evil, thus it is useful in prayer. Outside of prayer, and outside of the home, chador can be any color, but appears to primarily be black, and tend to be shorter for ease of walking.

Sisters in Varzaneh Provence praying.

Due to the method of prayer for Shia Muslims, with the arms down at the sides or front, praying with a large sheet as a covering is much easier than if one folds the arms as Sunni Muslims do. When I pray using the chador, I tuck one end under an arm in order to help keep it in place. I also recommend wearing at least an underscarf underneath in order to keep the chador from shifting while you pray, and therefor exposing your hair.

We can see general mode of wearing chador may expose some hair.

Sisters walking in traditional chador.

While out, one generally wraps the chador in such a way that it does not come apart while walking. This is similar to the hayek of Algeria (and Tunesia, by another name), but one does not necessarily tie a knot or pin the chador as one would a hayek. I learned how to wrap chador here and adapted it by wrapping it the opposite way, so that my right arm is free rather than my left. However, this leaves maybe one hand free to carry bags or items, and thus the chador has evolved with the younger generation in order to adapt to our busy lives and needs.

Chador with holes for hands. 

Cue new chador and "chador arabi", which have arm holes and sleeves, respectively! These new styles allow greater freedom for holding items and juggling purses, back packs, shopping bags, and whatever else one might need to carry.

These can be found open, like traditional chador, and closed as well (I believe). This makes things so much easier for young sisters in school, and for moms on the go, alhamdulillah! In fact, some have started making prayer chador in similar styles, as shown below.

"Chador Arabi" marketed for wives and mothers.

Child in chador Arabi/sleeved chador.

Shia sisters only raise their hands for takbeer and duaa. 

I wanted also to touch base on how chador is generally worn. While I wear niqab, and you can see it in many surrounding countries, niqab is not typically worn in Iran. The few times I've seen it worn were either by exceptionally religious sisters (I don't know if they are Shia or Sunni, but regardless) who also wear gloves, or on the Day of 'Ashura, while mourning the death of Hussein, radhi'Allahu 'anhu, as I mentioned in my previous post on my niqab. Primarily chador is worn with hijab and modest dress, but the front of the hair can often be seen and this is considered ok, as far as I am aware, or at the very least it is extremely common. According to my friend in Iran, sisters, especially young sisters, who wear chador, are typically pretty religious, so at the very least it is not done with blatant disregard to the Shia interpretation of Fiqh. (Again, I am not well-versed when it comes to Fiqh and Sharia of Shia Islam. This is just my best guess/understanding.).

So, here is all I know on chador! In shaa Allah it was informative and you enjoyed it.

Jazakum Allahu kheiran,

Sajida.

Sister in typical dress with Chador. 

Product Review: Mesh Screen Niqab by Black Crows Boutique!

Assalaamu alaikum everyone! It's been a while, and bi'idnillahi I have LOTS of exciting reviews and collabs coming up shortly!

Our first collaborative review of the new year is with Black Crows Boutique, who gave me EXCLUSIVE access to one of their new designs before they launched their new line, TODAY, on World Hijab Day! Ma shaa Allah what an amazing coincidence! Truly beautiful is the Qadr of Allah al-Alim 'azza w jal! 😊

I received this niqab a few weeks ago and have been wearing it basically every time I leave the house, other than after I had to wash it because my friend kissed my cheek and got chapstick on my niqab (haha!). It's incredibly comfortable, and, REVERSIBLE! Yes this is one of the awesome things about this niqab! Most of my niqabs are meant to be worn a specific direction, but this one appears to be able to be worn either way. The seam work is so beautiful and clean that there is really no visible difference between both sides. What's really nice about this screen niqab is that the screen is actually sewn into the niqab, rather than being a removable screen. This means no having to adjust the screen and no concern with the screen sitting oddly once you flip down your niqab, etc.

The niqab has a nice, thick panel where most niqabs have space for the eye hole. This is because the screen is sewn between a double layer of fabric, making the niqab reversible. It's a nice diamond-eyed shape which reminds me of the screens on Afghan burqas, though obviously this screen is smaller. The niqab itself actually really reminds me of a picture of an Iranian Shi'ite woman during Ashura, wearing a niqab while mourning the death of Hussein, radhi'Allahu 'anhu. It was really moving for me to put on this niqab and immediately have it bring to mind this beautiful image.

The original version of this niqab had a wider mesh, more similar to fishnet pattern. While I wish the niqab still had this type of mesh pattern, I understand that this smaller mesh is preferable to most people. The finer mesh means it is easier for the wearer to see through as the shape of the mesh doesn't draw your eyes' attention. The finer mesh also is really good for light sensitivity, as I've stated in other reviews - on partly cloudy days I don't need to wear sunglasses if I am wearing a niqab with a mesh eye veil.

The niqab is made from the same sort of material used by Sunnah Style and other major brands. I believe they use Korean crepe. This fabric is very soft and comfortable, which makes it perfect for daily wear. The ties on the niqab are nice and thick and long, which makes tying it extremely easy. What is also great about how they sewed in the mesh screen is that it doesn't matter if you tie above your bun or below, it doesn't change the eye shape of the niqab, which is especially useful when it comes to eye veils.

The one major downside to this niqab, I would say, is that it cannot be worn with glasses, at least not with them on the outside of the niqab. Perhaps some would be able to, but I found the sensation of the mesh pressing against my eyelashes to be very bothersome, and since I don't need sunglasses generally while wearing this niqab, I just left them off, while flipping the niqab up in the car to put on sunglasses (car lights are especially bothersome to my light sensitivity).

Black Crows Boutique is giving all of my followers a special discount on their new line! Use the code DISC10 for a 10% discount on your purchase! They make screen niqabs, "make-up" or flap niqabs (for which I've seen really good reviews!), khimur, jilabib, etc. So check them out on Instagram @blackcrowsboutique or Facebook, and also their website once it is open! 
I hope everyone had a wonderful Jummah and World Hijab Day! It is also Freedom Day and Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Day, so here is a picture of me in this lovely niqab and a red hijab in honor of CHD awareness. 💗

EDIT: Website is now open and the entire line is ALL SUPER AFFORDABLE! Alhamdulillah ir-Rabbi il-3alamin!

Jazakum Allahu kheiran,
Sajida.

Product Review: Afghan Burqa!

Photo by Olivier Matyhys

Assalaamu alaikum! In this long-awaited post, I'll be discussing the iconic "Afghan Burqa" and giving information about its reception in the Midwest United States where I live, as well as where one can purchase a burqa!

First let's talk a bit about the burqa itself. Also called "chadri" or "chadari" in Afghanistan and "topi" in Pakistan (topi is the word for hat, thus referring to the top of the garment which is made of a traditional topi hat), the burqa is also closely related to the "paranja," another full-body covering from outside Afghanistan. The composition of the burqa is a long overgarment, generally made of pleated material, combined with a niqab or face veil that also has a grill covering the eyes. It is held together in the front of the body when walking. Most people think of the blue burqa, as this is the most common color, but other colors are used in various places. For instance, white is more common in northern Afghanistan and in Pakistan, from my understanding, while another city sees many burgundy colored burqas and another a golden or mustard yellow. The easiest way to wear it, in my opinion, is with the hair down or braided, as this allows the hat to settle on the head. However, (and this is shown below), you can wear a bun with it though it may look a little weird, in my opinion.

One of the big things that makes the burqa so controversial is the idea that it is a symbol of oppression. While women in Afghanistan were forced to wear burqa during the Taliban regime, the burqa itself existed well before that and continues to be worn - by choice - by many women today, in Afghanistan, some in Pakistan, and even in India. While it causes a lot of tension within the United States, there are sisters who wear burqa here, and there is a US based store which sells burqa online. My own experiences wearing the "Afghan burqa" have been largely positive, alhamdulillah. I live in St. Louis, which is largely diverse, but the way the city is structured is extremely segregated and I have received verbal attacks (and one physical) within my city while wearing niqab, and I know it is worse in more rural and less racially diverse areas. However, while my recent post on Afghan fashion received a few comments which were negative, in person I have only ever received compliments on my burqas, and several people have commented on how beautiful the colors of both of them are, as well as saying I looked beautiful or cute wearing it. Ma shaa Allah, that made me feel so much better about it and while I sometimes still experience anxiety, all-in-all I'm very comfortable wearing it and it's so much easier than finding all of my various pieces! And cooler as well, as you do not need to wear hijab underneath it unless you plan to lift it for some reason. Recently I have done, and still have to do, some photoshoots in the burqa, and the only times I make sure to leave it at home are if I am going to the VA (veterans hospital) or if I am out with one of the people in our home, who has PTSD surrounding the Afghan burqa but has gotten comfortable around me in any other form of full-coverage Islamic dress.

One of the shots from my recent photoshoot.

I have two different burqas. The first one I received is purple. After having tons of difficulty attempting to get a regular blue one (thanks postal service...), I ordered a bright purple one on eBay. The listing for this specific burqa ranges from about $30 + shipping (Zarina's, in select colors), to $52 + shipping (eBay), to $70 + shipping (from Germany). However, I have seen them for up to $100 + shipping if I remember correctly. The difficulty is places where you can buy burqa online tend to either have limited availability or they close temporarily and come back when they have more stock or are no longer being suppressed by the government... (long story but my Afghan fashion video post was censored and blocked on Instagram so only the picture could show. This is only the next thing in a line of things recently... but as I said, long story.) So availability can be sporadic.

My purple burqa

The purple burqa I have was, alhamdulillah, found on eBay for only $12 plus shipping! It had been used, with only one tiny hole barely visible. So I purchased it very quickly (actually I believe it was being auctioned but no one was really opposing my offer). Alhamdulillah this is one of the great things about eBay. Currently there is a golden yellow one in the same style, but with defects, for only $6 + shipping.

While this burqa comes in fun and bright colors, the fabric itself is cheap. I don't mind it too much, mostly as I love the color, and it's very light weight and breathable, surprisingly. However, it's shocking to receive this fabric, which is almost like that of a Halloween costume, on something that normally would run you about $100 full price. On me, the burqa is about the right size, but as I've said probably five million times before, I'm the size of a 12-14 year old girl. So while the burqa is plenty loose on me, it does not fit my co-wife well at all, and she is average size. So these are things one should take into account if you want to purchase this style for the lighter fabric or fun colors.

The blue burqa I received is traditional, and what a woman in Afghanistan would actually wear. The detailing on it is extremely beautiful, the fabric is more plentiful and heavy, and it is really well made. While for most people the extra weight of the fabric may not be an issue, it was something that I had to get used to due to my disabled status, as my muscles are weaker than the average person. The burqa itself is very full on me and my co-wife could easily wear it. It also drags the floor on me, so in order to keep myself from tripping while wearing it, I have had to wear high heels once. Alhamdulillah I'm more stable and can wear heels, even if long clothing such as abaya or burqa is still a big tripping hazard for me some days.

Burqa length on me

With heels, it's fine!

When I ordered the blue burqa from @naaz_boutique, they told me it is a one-size item. However, when my friend Ayshea attempted to get me one, her family asked for my height so they could get me the proper size. So I'm not sure if it's just easier to purchase one that isn't sized, or perhaps, Ayshea's aunt was going to hem the burqa for me (I know she sews and was fixing a niqab fo Ayshea). Regardless, this one on me is very long while the purple one goes just above the floor, and I am aware other sizes DO exist, as little girls wear burqa to practice wearing it for when they grow up.

HOW ADORABLE IS THIS?!

One shipper sells them for $46, when he is open.

So how much did I pay for my really well-made, gorgeous color (and I don't even like blue!), traditional burqa? $30 + shipping! Isn't that a crazy difference?!

If you want another color but are ok with the color being more muted, you can also purchase burqas which look similarly well-made on eBay for anywhere from $46 + shipping to $66 + shipping. Most of the ones on eBay are sold via Pakistan, which appears to have a variant style of burqa/topi that does not have pleated material. The one store I've found that sells Afghan burqa (with pleats) in multiple colors is fastshipper2004 (child burqa above), and he appears and disappears from eBay, so you have to either look for his shop periodically or search 'afghan burqa,' 'burqa topi,' or 'afghanistan burqa' to find him whenever he shows up. His burqas are about $46 plus shipping and available in other colors such as purple or forest green but they are authentic, traditional burqas and appear well-made.

fastshipper2004 purple burqa (with a bun)

Burqa links:

"Tourist" shiny burqa:
- Zarina's (limited colors) starting at $29 (plus camo and US flag chadari for higher price)
- DesertDressOfficial starting at $52 on eBay (plus shipping from UK)
- Kabul Art Gallery at $70 plus shipping (website is in German. Click 'Textilien' on the left to get to clothing.)

Traditional burqa:
- @naaz_boutique for $30 plus shipping (blue only)
- choice2buy.1947 starting at $46 plus shipping (currently only in white or brown)
- pakbestcollection starting at $50 on eBay, plus shipping (other colors such as white, tan, grey, yellow, and black)
- shereh-43 starting at $66 on eBay, plus shipping. (search 'burqa topi'. Hard for me to find a link to give you guys for all of burqa options in their store).

Ok akhiwat! In shaa Allah this has helped you all immensely! If you have further questions or comments, please let me know and I will do my best to help, bi'idhnillah.

Jazakum Allahu kheiran,
Sajida.

#GRWM: Afghan Style! ~ PLUS ~ Product Review - @Naaz_Boutique

Two women in shalwar and burqa.

Assalaamu alaikum! Today's video and blog is both a brief survey of some prominent styles of Afghanistan, as well as a review of the Kucchi dress and jewelry sent to me by @Naaz_Boutique of Instagram!

Woman in Kucchi dress

Styles in Afghanistan are similar to styles in other parts of South Asia - shalwar kameez, anarkali-type dresses, long tunics with leggings or jeans for the younger crowd. But the more elaborate traditional clothing from Afghanistan is unique, especially those from Kucchi and Pashtun culture. The dresses are elaborate and voluminous, flaring out in ways which almost defy physics. Of course, Pakistani-style traditional clothing, with their long and slim silhouette, are also prevalent, especially in northern Afghanistan toward the Pakistani border.

I've been planning this video for some time, and spoke with my friend Ayshea about her family. Ayshea is Pashtun and has family in Afghanistan, all of whom wear burqa outside of the home. She said they wear jeans or shalwar kameez, and Ayshea herself wears shalwar suits primarily, even in the UK. While "back home" in Afghanistan, Ayshea wears niqab and prefers a wrapped style like mine in the video, as opposed to a one-piece niqab or a burqa. This kind of casual, everyday look is what I was trying to depict in my original outfit, which is something seen all across South Asia.

Photo by Steve McCurry

The iconic blue burqa, a symbol in the West of all that is Afghanistan, obviously had to make an appearance in my video! As I'll explain in a subsequent post (which I will link here), burqas actually come in a variety of colors, though blue is the most common. But I'll get into all of that in my burqa review!

So now onto the review!

When @Naaz_Boutique agreed to work with me, I was ecstatic! I had been wanting to do this video for a while, but was having difficulty compiling all of the pieces needed. Not to mention I had been drooling over Kucchi dresses on other venues which I could never afford. Alhamdulillah, @Naaz_Boutique is extremely affordable. Total, I spent about $250. Yes, that is still quite a bit of money. But it should be noted this purchased my Kucchi/Pashtun outfit (anarkali/dress, shalwar, and dupatta), the blue burqa, a jewelry set, and two Kucchi bracelets/bangles, plus shipping, which was extremely fast! I placed my order August 5th, my package was mailed on August 13th, and it arrived August 20, the day before Eid al-Adha. Alhamdulillah, they use DHL which is not only extremely fast and affordable, but is also very easy to track on your own.

The pants seemed pretty ridiculous.

When I received my package I immediately tried everything on, in part due to my extreme excitement, and in part due to the fact that any alterations needed to be made quickly so I could wear the outfit for Eid prayers in the morning! When I tried on the pants I was shocked - there was so much extra fabric and I was trying to figure out how I would need to alter the pants in order to make up for the extra 40" total of fabric. Alhamdulillah, I noticed that there was an opening in the center of the pants; it appears that there was meant to be elastic or drawstring in the waist of the pants which didn't make it into the pants themselves. Luckily this was an easy fix once my co-wife told me the trick of attaching a safety pin to the elastic or drawstring in order to help it go through the pants easily.

This helped me easily get elastic into the waist of the pants. 

Once through, I was able to secure the elastic by tying a double knot. Now the pants fit wonderfully in the waist and can expand if needed!

The other issue I had with the pants was the bottom cuffs. The cuffs came with buttons on the inside of the legs. However, the cuffs were large and the buttons only left gaps which showed my legs, something I wasn't comfortable with. Luckily this is also a super easy fix. Buttons were easily removed using scissors, as were the button ribbons. Then I used what my co-wife calls the "Build-a-Bear stitch" to close the cuffs at their seams. This is also called a ladder stitch and is used to close seams without being seen. 

Pants before buttons and ribbons were removed. 

Ladder stitch in progress. 

This worked out really well for me! Upon closing the seams of the pants cuffs, they became just the right size for me to slip on and off. They were still a little loose, so they slip down at times, but not so much that it's overly cumbersome to wear them, nor that it is especially dangerous or a safety hazard. They are easy to tug back up if they slip too far, and wearing shoes typically keeps them from slipping below the heel at all. After this, the only other issue with the shalwar was that they had an ink spot, likely sustained during packaging. It is minor and covered by the dress.

The buttons I ended up moving to the sleeves, which were also too large. They, too, had the ribbons but they had no buttons for closure. So I measured the cuffs around my arm to see where I needed to place the buttons and sewed them on by hand. This gave a less bulky silhouette on my arm and kept the sleeves from slipping over my hands. The Kucchi cuffs/bangles I was sent were perfect to keep the sleeves further in place so I didn't have to worry about them during prayer. The rest of the dress fit beautifully, even after concern by Waheedullah that I had perhaps given him incorrect measurements (to help with this, when ordering, use cm instead of inches; I forget, but the rest of the world does use the metric system, so we need to try and remember this when ordering from other countries, in shaa Allah). 

The cuffs themselves were something I had been wanting for a long time. I've always found Kucchi and other similar bracelets beautiful and I love that they are large and solid rather than small jingly bracelets (mine still jingle due to the dangly-bits on the pins - yes I know, my words are so scientific 😂). They are large on me, in that I can actually slip them on and off over my hands. However, to put them on for most people, you would remove the pin from the bangle, open it, close it around your arm, and replace the pin. This is how I put them on over the sleeves of my anarkali. 

Waheedullah also sent for me a jewelry set which included a necklace, headpiece, and two earrings. Unfortunately, one of the earrings apparently fell out of the package during travel, as at some point the package sustained a small hole. That's ok though, since I wear niqab it's generally difficult to see any earrings I wear anyway. 

The jewelry itself is extremely delicate, and I unfortunately had several gems fall out almost immediately. However, I feel these could be easily replaced with some hot glue or other adhesive. The necklace and headpiece were secured using what I consider earring hooks rather than a clasp. In order to close the necklace more comfortably, I removed one of the hooks in order to allow me to use the hook as a clasp with one of the rings in the back (I'm sorry, I don't have a picture of this and it's hard to explain. If I take a picture tomorrow I will insert it, in shaa Allah). 

Overall, I am in love with this outfit! I can't wait until my photoshoot next week, which will feature this gorgeous piece. Alhamdulillah I received this the day before Eid so I had an occasion to wear it (though I have been assured that this also counts as everyday, casual clothing! However, since I work from home now I have been living in jeans and t-shirts rather than my normal, "my casual is business casual" look). In shaa Allah I can't wait to wear it for many more occasions.

To check out what @Naaz_Boutique has to offer, head over to their Instagram here!

Is there another culture's clothing you would like to see? Let me know!

Jazakum Allahu kheiran, 

Sajida. 

Eid selfie where you can mostly see the jewelry.

#GRWM: Yemeni Style!

Examples of both featured styles from Yemen. 

Assalaamu alaikum!
Today we are looking at a couple of styles from Yemen.

Yemen has a beautiful culture of niqab, ma shaa Allah. Jewish or Muslim, women tend to wear niqab in Yemen! Both styles I featured in the video today can be seen in modern day Yemen, from my understanding, as shown by the photo above (which also shows what I understand to be a rare sight in Yemen - a woman without niqab). 

Sisters in black niqab, abayat, and khimur.

The first style I showed is more modern and is kind of a Yemeni take on imported Saudi styles, as far as I can tell and understand. It consists of a black abaya or dress, a long black khimar, and black niqab, usually multi-layered. In my masjid, we have some Yemeni sisters who come out for Ramadan and Eid from time to time, and they generally wear a variation of this dress, with or without niqab. Many sisters did not wear niqab due to concern from their husbands about wearing niqab in the West drawing more attention to themselves. However, these same sisters did wear niqab back in Yemen as it is the norm. In Yemen, while they have one-layer niqabs, many in this particular style of dress wear multi-layer niqabs. Yemeni niqabs are particular in that the subsequent veil layers are sheer. 

Yemeni sheer niqab.

The second outfit I featured has more color and some Bedouin/tribal type aspects. While still including niqab, sisters use a colorful shawl-type covering worn over the head and clutched or pinned beneath the chin. Sisters may still wear black abaya underneath, and niqab can be single layer and opaque or sheer. The niqab I am wearing in the video is from Yemen and can be purchased at The Desert Boutique. If niqabs don't have embellishments, some sisters will wear Bedouin jewelry and headpieces, especially for weddings. Yemeni wedding attire is a WHOLE other category in and of itself, so I won't get into it here. Suffice to say, it's just as beautiful as these simple styles while being WAY more ornate. 

Sheer and opaque niqabs

In the second style, more sisters feel comfortable wearing kohl, which is seen a less in the all-black outfits. For this reason, I included it in the second outfit but not in the first. 

Yemeni sister in kohl and an embellished niqab. 

I hope you have enjoyed this brief view into the rich and beautiful niqab culture of Yemen! Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for future videos!

Jazakum Allahu kheiran!

Sajida.