How to wear a scarf- Hijablicious collaborates with Olga Hoffman

Photo: Coutesy of Olga Hoffman

Last week I had a meeting with renowned Photographer Olga Hoffman. It was a fantastic meeting where she told me about a new project she was in the process of developing and working on. The project entitled 'how to wear a headscarf' would explore the diversity and journey of women of different faiths and background and the purpose of the scarf in their lives, ultimately exploring how they wear it to represent their own lives and cultures/religion even as a political symbol or even a fashion accessory. You can read more about the project and our meeting here.


Olga discussed with me in particular how she came about with the idea after having read an article about the controversy about the Muslim headscarf 'Hijab'. The project will depict the headscarf on various women through the art of photography and will give a different insight into what is probably one of the most controversial and talked about pieces of clothing in the modern era.


The project will be shown in an exhibition taking place in October 2011 in London and will be open to the public. It was great speaking with Olga, she is so enthusiastic about her work and has an energy and flair that is very apparent. She has worked with a variety of well established fashion houses such as Instyle and Vogue but to name a few.


Hijablicious will be working in collaboration with Olga on the project, in particular to advise on the detail of the Hijab particularly from a Muslim perspective as well as styling the shoot, casting models and working on set to ensure the depiction of the women is as accurate as possible. I will also be working with Olga to conduct research for the type of Hijab we will be using and sourcing garments and clothing to represent a variety of religions and cultures.


I feel really excited about this project as I feel that it is such a profound yet simple idea, similarly it is one that addresses so many questions about the symbolism and meaning of a scarf, not just Muslim women but women from all cultures and backgrounds. I’m very optimistic that our collaboration will be very fruitful and the result will be fantastic.

Watch this space for updates, details and developments

SixteenR - The new word on everyones lips

I love accessories which are unique and seem to have a personal touch to them, is it just me or does it make wearing the item a bit more special? Even when I buy things from shops I never wear them straight away until they are out of season or trend as seeing other people wearing the same item doesn't seem to have the same feeling to it. Its very rare to find concept scarves and this review will explore a new revolution is scarves that will never go out of fashion.

Tagore Black Pashmina

I came across an amazing website called SixteenR a few months ago and I was wowed. I love the edgy, unique and ultra suave range of hijabs and accessories that the brand has to offer. In addition the marketing and branding of the scarves has something very modern yet chic to it, one thing that is very apparent is that it definitely ticks the fashion stakes which are very in demand of fashion conscious women who wants their scarves to complement their lifestyles.

Below are some of my favourite scarves courtesy of the website, reading on you will find some of the scarves from the range which I have personally used and fashioned during a recent fashion show, seeing the hijab in action gives you a idea of how they do look on:

Electric Blue Muslin

Printed off White Pashmina

Two Tone Chiffion

When I received the scarves the first thing that I noticed was the attention to detail, I firmly believe you can tell the quality and care that has been put into a product from the way it has been presented, these scarves were individually wrapped in tissue and each scarf has its own individual label, they were presented with a business card and the softness of the scarves is apparent at first touch.

The first scarf I received was the 'Magenta Volks Pashmina' , this scarf is noticeable from afar! It is such an edgy and unique scarf and I instantly fell in love with the street and urban style printing that was on it. There are far too many choices of pashminas available on the market and finding something unique is very appealing. This scarf can be worn both on its own, as an accompaniment to an outfit (draped around the shoulders) or even layered with another scarf. I used this on my model to accentuate another scarf and for the printing and design to be clearly visible as it is very edgy:

Magenta Volks Pashmina

 

The second scarf I received was the Two tone chiffon scarf, this has a striking two tone red and orange glow to it which is ideal as it can compliment outfits of both colours or can be used on a more subtle outfit to stand out. This scarf is very soft in texture and frames the face very well. It is square however the dimensions are very generous and I loved how it can be layered so easily. i styled this with a jilbab however I wanted to give the jilbab a more dressed up look and this scarf was perfect in doing that:

Two Tone Chiffon

 All in all the scarves are a worthwhile investment for your wardrobe, the offer an effortless and versatile touch to the emerging scarves market and i can certainly see that with a more varied range and even a possibility of printed chiffon scarves they certainly will be taking the Hijab market by storm.

Don't forget to have a browse of their blog and join them of facebook and twitter :

Online Store: http://www.sixteenr.com
Blog: http://sixteenr.wordpress.com
FB: http://www.facebook.com/shop16R
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sixteenR

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.

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 21^st 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 ©)

Hijablicious meets Jawaher

Jawaher is a new initiative from SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, which celebrates the elegance and glamour of Arabian women today. I was invited by Jawaher to preview the newly launched collection and to see for myself the fusion of Swarovski crystals when coupled with Middle Eastern Attire.


Jawaher highlights the fashion connoisseur in the Middle East with pieces that have been created by world-renowned designers using crystal as a creative material to show a light fuelled allure. The designers, including Allessanra Rich, Sohad Acouri, Zaid Anton and more, have all sought out to create items to reflect the kind of glamorous lifestyle we all aspire to have, while still keeping with Middle Eastern tradition.

The launch was no small affair, upon arrival I was given the opportunity to preview the Autumn/Winter Swarovski Jewelry collection which was spellbinding. The Chrystal based Jewelry was presented with Middle Eastern influences and the attention to detail and sparkle was visible from afar, it was like being in accessories heaven! Swarovski Element no longer just produce traditional pieces they once did, but have now branched out into Middle Eastern and Asian influenced designs which can be worn with almost any outfit.

 Sohad Acouri, a renowned designer from Lebanon had designed a silver belt made from divine rocks and cosmic silver stone crystals, fixed with beads this was just spellbinding to say the least.
In addition the renowned Elizabeth Emmanuel, who designed princess Diana’s wedding dress, was also at the preview event as was Diego Dolcini, the Italian luxury shoe  who has designed for Gucci amongst others.

The main part of the evening and the most awe inspiring was most certainly the Fashion Show. Needless to say Jawaher outdid themselves beyond my expectations. The attention to detail on almost every part of the Abayas and the intricate patterns and Crystals which were not only adorned onto some of the pieces but also in some cases woven and embellished within the garment, left every woman spellbound in the audience. The simplicity of the flow of the Abaya’s as well as the elegance which oozed from the detail kept everyone talking, no one could decide which one appealed more, as with each garment that came onto the catwalk, it seemed to outdo the previous piece even more, I was in true Abaya heaven!

I left the event adamant to relook at my Abayah collection, inspired by the simplicity and elegance of the most beautiful and traditional of Muslim garments, a woman can not have enough, that’s for sure. Now to save up for an exclusive Jawaher piece!

From October 20 - November 1, the Jawaher collection will be on public display in London at the SWAROVSKI CRYSTALLIZED™ lounge at 24 Great Marlborough St, London, opposite Liberty.
More pictures can be found on the Hijablicious Facebook fanpage, these are just a few previews!
 
 
 

 
 

All pictures are exclusive property of Hijablicious and subject to copyright.©

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

Accessories storage soltutions

One of the common questions I get from readers is regarding hijab and accessories storage solutions. I get asked whether I can suggest tips on what the best way is to store them and what I use personally.

It really depends of the type of accessories you have, what accessories you use and the kind of storage you would find easy to use on a daily basis.

I'm a MASSIVE accessories fan!! I can't get enough of them, I love pins, brooches, flowers, bands etc you name it, I've been collecting them for years now and my true love lies with vintage brooches, which I love collecting.

Since I began Hijab Styling sessions and dressing people for events I realised I needed some form of storage which I could easily transport with me to venues and events.

Another on of my obsessions is shoes!! And I was completley overwheled when I was given the most amazing Art Decor stlye draw storage box set as a present which was perfect! Ive posted some pcitures below of how I store my hijab accessories which fits perfectly on my dressing table and I can take out and about with me.

The storage solution allows you to seperate everyday brooches, occasion brooches, pins, band, jewelled headpieces and flower and father ornaments for the scarf, you can access them easily and also clean them without much fuss.

I will soon post up a similar post for how to store hijab's for all those who have asked me Insh'allah.

Fashion with a conscience!

How many of us consider where our scarves are from or where a portion of the profits from sales of the clothing we buy goes? Many of us buy clothing and scarves without giving a second thought to how our money is being invested or spent. There are many charities available where we can donate our money for very worthy causes however there are very few clothing companies which have an affiliation to certain causes to who they pledge some of their profits.

A few months previously I came across Haya having seen the group on facebook. I was intrigued by the individuality of the scarves which were being sold and the vibrancy in the colours and patterns available. There are many hijab stores emerging on the market however it’s hard to find contemporary and unique designs, hence why Haya caught my eye. Its founder Shirin tells me more about Haya, launched in June 2010 and the message behind it.

Shirin explains that she begun wearing the hijab last year and struggled to find scarves that were in-line with the fashion today and that were made of good quality fabric. She purchased most her scarves from her various travels and that’s when the idea of launching Haya formed from. She envisaged creating a Hijab line which provided women access to scarves from all over the globe! Her aim is to inspire women to express their individuality through Haya scarves.

It is obvious through speaking to Shirin that her vibrant background and travels are the primary inspiration behind Haya. She goes on to tell me that ‘I’m lucky to call several countries/regions home - the Middle East, Canada and the UK!. I lived in Canada for eight years and it’s a special place for me. I moved to the UK after getting married and have added London to my ever-growing list of places to call home’. All these experiences and countries have encouraged her to keep an eye on fashion trends and experiment with colour, textures and styles of hijab.

Just as importantly as her scarf range is her desire and vision to give back to those in need through supporting local charities and campaigns. Shirin has always wanted to blend her passion for scarves with raising funds for charity. Her chosen charity Restless Beings works on two fronts: prevention or relief poverty through development over a sustained period of time; and to raise awareness of human rights violations of silenced communities. All the profits from Haya’s first collection were donated to this grassroots organisation for their Uighur Women’s Rights Campaign. Haya’s aim is to provide hijabs with a conscience and is proud to support Restless Beings with their incredible work. Haya’s second collection will support the Pakistan flood victims, 5% of the profits will be donated to the cause. Having spoken to Haya and the causes its supports it really hit me how important charity is and how often we seem to forget this. The Quran reminds us: "Spend (in charity) out of the sustenance that We have bestowed on you before that time when death will come to someone, and he shall say: "O my Lord! If only you would grant me reprieve for a little while, then I would give in charity, and be among the righteous." (63:10).

Review 1

Pink Flowery Business 3SC-FRBZ-01 £8.50

I love the feeling of this scarf, it’s very difficult to find good quality and attractive chiffon scarves. The scarf is lightweight and its pattern is bang on this autumn’s trend. It can be worn teamed up with an evening dress or even with a nice tunic or mac for a more urban autumn look. I have placed another plain scarf beneath it which is hidden and then layered the chiffon scarf on top to give it a bit more volume and more elegant look.

Review 2

Blue Beach 3SC-BEAC-01 £8.50
 

This is such a lightweight and beautiful hijab, it drapes well and the material is soft and flowing,  it also has very intrictae flower detailing that makes it stand out and it is really beuatiful to wear during the summer or for an evening out, there is plenty of material for coverage and it look nice with flower accessories. Im definatley wearing this with a black maxi dress as I think the scarf just adds the single touch you need.

All Styling courtesy of Hijablicious

Haya’s website is currently under construction however scarves can be purchased via the facebook group which provides fans with updates and images of the scarves:. Order requests can be mailed to info@love-haya.com

GIVEAWAY AND DISCOUNT!

Haya have teamed up with Hijablicious to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a plain silk-chiffon scarf! All you have to do it ‘like’ Haya on facebook and email me letting me know which plain silk-chiffon scarf you like best.  Closing date is 10^th October 2010. Entries to samia@hijablicious.com

(Please note the opinions and thoughts expressed are my own) http://www.hijablicious.com/

Join Hijablicious on facebook and twitter www.facebook.com/hijablicious for updates/giveaways and reviews and to get in touch you can email me samia@hijablicious.com

The Muslim Weekly segment of the review is below:

 

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