Hats with Hijab: OPNO and her girls love it

Y [other Y] called me a hippy, and refused to be seen with OPNO, but I love hats with hijab. On the weekend the girls and OPNO all donned one of Y's fedoras for our adventure trek out to Nakhl (yes, with our abayas) and we totally looked so cool. Mainly because at the beach we were wearing our burkinis (Islamic swimsuits) and the caps from those make women look like giant floral teletubbies, so throwing on the hat and par of sunglasses, made us look insta- french riviera. And even going out into the more conservative interior and stopping for mendhi, no one seemed to think we were that odd. In a group, it looked cool.KH [to OPNO]: I remember when you used to wear hats.

OPNO [over a year ago]: Uh huh. I was famous for wearing a hat? That, AND having NO hair. [KH does not change expression] Hats: That's what we do in my city. Ladies still wear hats to church on sundays. We idolized Scarlet O'Hara.

KH [who has NO IDEA who Scarlet O'Hara might be]: I liked that. It was something special about you.

OPNO: And now I look just like everybody else?

KH: [honest] You look... less like you.

OPNO: Fashion advice from KH, who thinks flip flops are stylin' and that you can buy Prada in Seeb. [LOLs].

But OPNO now realizes KH was right. There are parts of her culture that made her part of who she is, and she shouldn't give that up.To the expats out there, do you like the scarf with hijab look?

SPORT IN OMAN: Surfs Up

Looking at the calm, almost glass-like surface of Oman's coastal waters, it is hard to envision a thriving surf culture.I mean, besides the idiots that surfed out hurricane (Gonu) in Masirah Island surf, ha ha ha.

Well, for a Westcoast girl like me (California, a theme song running through the brain), I sought out the Empty Quarter sand-dunes as a tween with the help of a Jordanian and we "surfed" down the waves of gold/red sand. It was absolutely miserable hiking to the top of those things in the heat for a short thrill but still... it was something to do.
And while the waves kind of suck here Oman (by my terribly suicidal standards), surfing is still possible in Salalah in season, and Masirah, and a few other places. This site documents surf conditions and wave heights if you are at all interested: http://magicseaweed.com/Oman-Surfing/207/

If anyone else in Oman surfs and knows where to buy boards and equipment here (or UAE) and has any great spots, let me know here, via the comments box. Jazaks (thanks).

And a common question from expats, HOW INDEED does an Omani girl intend to surf in THAT GET-up?????? Answered via this blog: http://ilovehishmatheblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/dreaded-swimsuit-season-ahhhhhhhhhh.html
And yes, one DOES get alot of stares at the Oman Dive Center when they come dressed as I tend to dress;). But alot of smile too. :)

Shopping for face veils in Oman: I need tips

I just bought myself a present, a. because it was such a good price, and b. because there was a reason. A new abaya, like the one above. Very affordable, very chic, and plain black. The drape is amazing.

BL I found a tailor!!!! He is now my tailor. One for abayaat, one for Omani traditional clothes. I still need to find my fabric guy, but one day, one day.So if you want any style, send me your pic and measurements and I'll see the price for you and send to you.... Same to you my FIG&Olive girl.

I also found Salalah style niqabs (stringed [nose string] or stringless) for 700 baiza. The salalah style has wider, stiffer headband and a short face veil, falling just pass the chin like in the pics below, and may be ornamented with a further sheerer or longer veil behind it. I was wondering if you munaqabat girls in Oman knew places to get good quality niqabs and different styles. The ones I own are very basic, like the first pic, and the ones below:
I own this one [but better quality]: Emirati gashwa (UAE) [but is there anywhere IN Oman to purchase the same??? and how much].Yes, I have my birqa. LOL, I get teased by my Muscati girls because I know some Bedu families well enough to know how to sew these. I have never bought one so no, I don't know how much they are worth. Classic elastic half niqab (purchased in UAE and online). Very cheap, and I only like to wear them under gashwa because I don't believe in showing the eyebrows when wearing niqab.
Stringless flip niqab (they sell for 5.8 OMR in Al Motihajiba in City Center Muwalla but the headbands are too stiff for my liking. Does anyone know where they sell softer good quality ones (not too pricey).????
Soft headband longer niqab (with or without string) do you know where to find good quality, soft fabric ones with softer headbands? Oman has a trend for a very stiff band while Saudia and UAE have a trend for softer.
Longer style flip niqab with string (my fave for personal ease and comfort). I bought in UAE but haven't found a good quality soft version yet in Oman. Do any of you ladies who have tailors that make niqabs for you or where do you buy them and get different styles?

I've seen niqabs with the flip edges with coloured piping trim. I loved it. Who does that? My tailor doesn't. Let me know:)

I know this style below (worn VERY wrong) is Saudi and I love it: I am going to start wearing niqab again fulltime. Is a good thing for me, and I do so out of a love an Islamic reason to do so, and is easy to do so in my current situation.

So help me out if you can ladies. My thanks to you.

BTW, I personally find the veil very comfy and actually cooler to wear walking out on a very hot day in Oman. Really. And I have no troubles eating so long as it is a dark colour (black-green-navy-brown-berry ect). Anyways, this is a VERY random and uninformed post.

I would appreciate your feedback.

Style Issue: Hijab and Harem Pants

I am an abaya girl. I LOVE abaya/jilbab, modest/loose fitting clothing [in public]. And I am adverse for Islamic reasons to skinny jeans being worn by Muslim women in public (I am a prude, lol, SO what;p!!!!!) so I am ACTUALLY very relieved about Harem pants being a trend. While it CAN be horrible, some women make it work. I will never wear it out myself and call it "hijab" but for young girls, I am so happy to see it instead of skinnies: I know Ange from her wonderful Muslim woman's fashion blog Hegab Rehab will object of course, quoting the following attrocities as reasons not to tote the look:
To not make it look completely horrifying, pair gladiator sandals, and a loose flowy (but not cocoon shaped or bulbous) top that matches your headscarf colour.

WTH do they HAVE UNDER THERE?!!!!!: the lump under the headscarf explained

In answer to the following question:

"What On Earth..

..is under there? "-posted by STYLISH MUSLIMAH.

I give you the answer: Gulf girls call it "Qamboo3a" or "Kammasha". It a giant poufy clawed hair clip with a feathered or fabric pouf shaped like a flower glued on either side. It comes in small, medium, large and EXRTA LARGE and every colour and print imaginable. I DO wear one at times, but try to style my hair around it and so it isn't a bump and I do so for the purposes of making an updo not to style my scarf lol (like lower down on my head, not on the crown). Unlike the girls pictured above.

and Nadia from Dhofari Gucci did a post on it called My Second Head . And size demo taken from this post http://muhajabat.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/better-pictures-of-the-hair-flowers/ from this blog http://muhajabat.wordpress.com/.

Outside of Muscat, women usually wear bright colours in Oman

Girls from the Dakilyah Region, willayats Misfah & Izki.