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Thursday, 18 November 2010

HijabFashion Shop



I came across this new online Hijab store a few months ago, I was impressed with the selection of scarves they had, some of the designs were different from other stores. I was sent some products to review from the store. I was quite excited about this as I had been asked to style a fashion show to raise money for the flood relief in Pakistan and decided to use the Hijabs and accessories in actions so readers can not only see the designs but also ways in which they can be worn.

The scarf I was sent was from the shops fancy Hijab selection, the 'Bow Tie' in a Plum colour




I teamed the Hijab with a Purple 'Grape' Jilbab from Islamic Design House. The Jilbab is very lightweight and is from their sporty range. What was great about the combination is that it can be worn with a pair of heels to achieve a formal, evening look or equally teamed up with a pair of causal shoes or trainers it can be turned into a sporty casual outfit. The Hijab adds a touch of glamour but not too much. Here was the look put together:





I used two different coloured underscarves under the hijab, these are also available from the HijabFashion store, I placed the purple one first and then the light pink one to contrast with the colours in the hijab. The underscarves are of good quality and stretch to define the shape of your head well. The scarf itself is also made of a good lightweight fabric which is layered towards the end. It has pink piping and small bows which really gives it a feminine look about it. The only reservation I had about the scarves was the width, the width very narrow and is not generous enough to give sufficient coverage at the back, hence teamed with another scarf it looks better.




I used the extendable arm sleeves I was sent to add a bit of definition to the outfit. I turned up the sleeves of the Jilbab and added the contrasting plum colour to contrast with the hijab. The sleeves are very generous in length and can easily come above the elbow just stopping before the underarm. I am 5'6 and they come up very long.


Overall I found the products very competitively priced, of good quality and the attention to detail is apparent. As with every lady who wear hijab the width of scarves  is always an issue hence this could be improved.

Monday, 1 November 2010

Taking the Silk Route



What comes to mind when you think about silk? Softness in the texture, the feeling of its smoothness and the appeal of its elegance and shine? Do we actually know where silk comes from, how sts prepared and the work that goes on into producing some of the worlds most finest and beautiful garments from this precious cloth?

This week I gained a much deeper and view of silk and its history. I was sent a selection of scarves to review from Demure Look. Previous to this I had always had a fondness for silk and always found it a very feminine and striking cloth especially when it was adorned as a dress or scarf. When I received the scarves from Demure Look, the quality and finish of the scarves really appealed to me. Previous to this I had no idea about the effort and work that went into producing some elegant scarves and needless to say this took me on a journey to find out more about the history of silk.

First I turned to Surreya, the founder of Demure Look and asked her for a better understanding of the scarves she produced and the ethos behind the company. She explained to me that Demure Look was born from a passion for naturally produced scarves, especially silk scarves.  All over the world people think of silk as an expensive fabric that is the ultimate in luxury, however Demure look wanted to also bring to the fashion world the understanding that the wearing of silk can also benefit your health too. As a professional who enjoys scarves and accessories, Surreya wanted to share her knowledge of the finest and natural materials with the most elegant designs with fashion and ethically conscious women all over the world. As the main material of her products is silk she has opened a section on the Demure Look website enlisting the 'benefits of silk’ where detailed information about silk and its health benefits can be found on the website.With the increasing desire of customers wanting to purchase more naturally produced scarves made from finer fabrics, Surreya identified that this was something she would like to bring to them to the fashion market.

 Surreya also explains that all ladies who wear hijabs wear them in different styles suited to their lifestyles and identity and she found this a great inspiration when she and her team began sourcing our products, this led her to include designs and shapes that will cater different tastes as well as cultures.  Demur Look is a small company aiming to grow each day. They source their products from different parts of the world searching for the finest materials and unique designs.

I have always been fascinated to learn about people’s background and why they do what they do as I think it adds an extra value to an item and gives a consumer a deeper understanding of the design and creativity that has gone into a company and its products. When asked about the start up of Demure Look, Surreya tells me ‘I have worked as an interpreter and translator for over ten years. I was also doing some voluntary consultation work for a textile company. During this period I have developed a great interest into textile materials and learned great deal about how they can benefit my lifestyle. When I decided to share my knowledge with other people I wanted to that with something that I enjoy as well; hijab and accessories.’
 


When asked what we can expect in the future, Surreya tells me that Demure Look will continue to deliver the finest materials and designs from all over the world and grow their product lines by adding bags and other accessories in near future. ‘We had great response towards the products from people all over the world. Ladies like the designs and give their input with their comments. We also had positive feedback about our mission.’


Textured Silk Mix Scarf –Purple


This is a rectangle scarf made from a silk mixture. It’s extremely soft and silky and oozes with a beautiful shine which makes it very glamorous. I have used this on the model teamed up with simple head accessories as the scarf needs little introduction, it speaks for itself. The scarf would look best worn for a wedding or a special occasion and I can imagine it being worn with a long ball gown, its perfect for special occasions.

Chinese Flower Pattern Scarf



This scarf has an extremely beautiful pattern to it, it’s like an exploration of Chinese art laid out on one scarf, the intricate detailing and the fine print of the red, white and black pattern on the silk makes it stand out from afar. The scarf is larger than normal square scarf and the Silkiness gives it a very elegant and soft touch. I have teamed this scarf with another scarf and used it as a neck scarf on the model however it can equally be worn on the head. It would look very glamorous and sophisticated teamed up with a suit or a dress for meetings and work.


All hijab’s reviewed have been styled courtesy of Hijablicious

GIVEAWAY AND DISCOUNT!

 
Hijablicious have teamed up with Demure Look for offer a fantastic discount of 15% of their scarves; just enter ‘DEMURELOOK’ to at the checkout!  http://www.demurelook.com/

Also one lucky reader has the chance to win a Thai silk scarf! All you have to do is sign up to the Demure Look newsletter on their website and mail me telling me which scarf youf you like best.  Closing date is the 21st November. Entries to samia@hijablicious.com

(Please note the opinions and thoughts expressed are my own) 

 

Below is an exerpt of Hijablicious's review in the Muslim Weekly

Author- Samia Khan (All rights reserved -Subject to copyright ©)