Narratives @najahnasseri.org

With all the fuss about the politics of the Muslim woman’s veil, I’m pleased to see that in one corner of the globe, someone woke up to the economics of it all.

Hijab Chic – How Retailers are Marketing to Fashion-Conscious Muslim Women

“Full coverage,” not your typical fashion show prerequisite, was the theme at a “fashion seminar” recently hosted by Nordstrom at the tony Tysons Corner Center mall in McLean, Va. The show, called “Interpreting Hot Trends for Veiled and Conservative Women,” was perhaps the first high-fashion hijab event sponsored by corporate America. The target: well-heeled Muslim women living in the suburbs of Northern Virginia, where mansions and mosques are filled with rich Muslim immigrants, an increasing number of whom shop at Tysons Corner.

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I’ve settled into a very comfortable spot – fashionwise that is. Being a mother of a 9-month old eliminates lots of things from my wardrobe. Anything shiny, dangly, or sharp. For now, my engagement solitaire and several favourite brooches are safely tucked away. Fabrics that won’t survive an encounter with sharp little fingers too have been stored in the deep recesses of my wardrobe.

Being limited also means that one has to be creative, and for the longest time, I went out with the same ensemble – brown and black tops with jeans, and matching shayla or Tie Rack scarves. This left me with loads of pent-up shopping angst, which was quickly diverted to shoes.

I’ve always been in awe of those Arab girls that parade around KL every holiday season. The Diane von Furstenberg dresses over jeans look seem very practical to me right now, especially since Idris has learned how to throw really violent tantrums. Have to call Embak Woro about those dresses…

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Links:

1. Arabesque
2. Shukr
3. Like those tudungs my sisters were selling before raya? More here.