Winter picks: Oversized Knitwear (Part 8 of 8)

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I think this year (although I may be shooting myself in the foot as I am freezing today) has been quite a mild winter; I haven’t been stranded once by snow nor have my fingers turned blue. I am bit gutted though as I invested in some funky wellies and bought 3 new coats. Lol.

An item of mine I have been living in at the moment is my ‘Heaven Sent Laddered Knit’; I purchased this from Bank in November for around £32. The reason why I am in love this top is because it can compensate as a oversized cardigan (with no buttons) this means whilst shopping you don’t need a jacket.

The top also keeps you warm/cool whilst indoors due to its laddered knit. I teamed the top with a fitted turtle neck jumper underneath or a thin sweater depending on day.

I have been on a little hunt to find the top for you girls as they are no longer in store. I found this maroon one online for only £15 which I really want; however they are out of stock - I am going to keep a close eye in case more come in (click here).

I have found some similar buys:

Loving this;

ASOS Oversized Pocket Front Knitted Jumper

Now £22 - Perfect for full cover.

And for Spring this Slouchy Kimono Top from Warehouse (£35) is excellent, great colour and light fabric!

May I also just add that I bought the Hijab I am wearing in the photo from Central London (3 for £5!) from a random store (I can’t remember where but there were quite a few rails of the same offer at a number of shops.) I think I was being a bit of a snob when I saw the offer as I was convinced the fabric, size and quality would be poor - however I am made up with how easy it is to style and how great the fabric is! I regret not getting more (this is a major hint to my London friends to bring me some up! Lol). I don’t think you can ever have too many block coloured hijabs as you never know when they will come in handy with an outfit.

Girls – please always let us know if you know other places that sell blocked scarf’s for dead cheap.

Please check our previous Winter Pick blogs:

• Part 7: Cape Sweaters
• Part 6: Head Bands & Hijabs
• Part 5: Mixing leather and shearling
• Part 4: Winter picks: I Heart Ponchos
• Part 3: The (Faux!) Fur Coat
• Part 2: Cape, Mac and Snood jackets
• Part 1: Our Top Winter Picks

Winter picks: Cape sweaters (Part 7 of 8)

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Although we've had some sunny days, but it's still bitter cold outside! I don't think we'll get higher temperatures for a few months yet, so here's part another of our winter picks.

This time it's my favourrrite dark grey cape sweater from New Look. Have had several friends asking me where the top was from when I've been wearing it - both my Muslim hijabi friends, and also non-Muslims. I got this in the sale just before Christmas so they may not have it still, but there will be similar things in-stores! Nadyah blogged about a cape coat previously here and ponchos here - there's a reason this shape keeps popping back up... super super modest!! AND super stylish. And super easy to wear. I've worn mine here with New Look trousers and New Look brown heeled boots (I think you can guess I like New Look!!).. on another note, my hair seriously needs cutting :S 

Apologise for the quality of this pic, but I took this last night. I switched up the pants and swapped the completely dark look with some blue trousers (bought for £10 in the Topshop sale last week!), so you can see how you can create different looks quite easily. Keep an eye out in the sales right now for similar styles as there's still a lot of Autumn/Winter stock (bought a few more bits and bobs in the Topshop sale today..)

If you've missed them, check our previous Winter Pick blogs:

Part 5: Head bands on hijabs
Part 4: Winter picks: I Heart Ponchos
Part 3: The (Faux!) Fur Coat
Part 2: Cape, Mac and Snood jackets
Part 1: Knitted cardigans and cable knit jumpers

Hijabi on Holiday

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We have hit 2012 and I have 25 days worth of holidays to take (Good times!) I have already scheduled in Thailand in April and will try going on a cheeky trip to Dubai at some point too :) and perhaps throw in Morocco :)

I must admit I am truly missing the sun this year, normally I am well adapted

for winter, but I really need to get away soon!

Once upon time when asked 'what was my favourite season?' I would be more than happy to pick winter over summer, when it’s a cold day I actually have a little smirk. Why? Because when it’s cold it’s easier to dress. You can always pile more layers to keep warm, but when it’s hot there is only so much you can take off to stay cool :(

For some of my Hijabi sisters out there, sunny holidays can be the most difficult/anxious time of the year, especially visiting somewhere hot; it can be hard to remain cool when covered.

I went to New York in July last year and temperatures hit 36’C+. It was extremely sweaty and unbearable.

The colours I opted for were whites and beige; I always kept my hijab a simple tie to remain cool.
My life saver must have been my 'floral baggy pants', for me harem pants are a special gift for modest girls. They are very in, look cool and trendy and are baggy as hell! So you can get away with a shorter top. A cute baggy long sleeve linen top worked a dream (keep an eye out for these in Primark this Spring) with some simple flip flops.

Personal Tip - Teaming a floral Hijab up with floral trousers/top, is a major no. If the trousers are jazzy, it needs to be a plain Hijab, if the trousers are plain go all out with a jazzy/loud and proud patterned Hijab.

I also adore jump suits! I think for hot weather these are extremely practical (until you need to nip to the loo of course.) They have some amazing ones in Zara (which I believe are starting creep back into the high streets for Spring/Summer) and even in the local market. If you team

them up with a fitted top underneath it can literally be a life saver on a hot day. I have

noticed that the ‘sales’ have cleared room for summer wear – I am getting too excited now. I wi

ll definitely blog in more detail closer into summer about how to remain cool and modest i

n heat and my best summer picks :)

One more thing – just want to give a massive shout out for NYC, Masha’Allah what a city! The people are amazing with so many Muslims too; I can’t tell you how many times someone openly gave me salaam; Halal places were also at hand too. Definitely somewhere I would visit again and would 100% recommend to anyone as a place you must see!

Jay-Z and Beyonce, Islam, the perception of women.. and how they all fit together!

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Just some quick thoughts I had. No matter how integrated or disconnected we are from mainstream media, undoubtedly, we will have all have heard of Beyonce. And Jay-Z. And now Blue Ivy Carter, their little girl, born a few days ago. Congratulations to them, she is of course a blessing from Allah.What’s actually interesting is Jay-Z announced in a poem he wrote that he is going to stop using the word ‘b!tch’. My first thought was how in Islam (read: Islam, not in practice/culture) for a women to ever be regarded in this way would be a great sin. After all, some of the most pious people in Islam have been women – everyone from Maryam, the mother of Jesus (peace by upon him), Khadijah, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), Asiyah, wife of the Pharoah, and Fatima, daughter of the Prophet.


We’ve had female scholars, we’re taught that heaven lies at the feet of our mothers and we’re taught not to flaunt our bodies and assets for the world to see, but instead to preserve and protect ourselves. We're taught that we are equal to men, that we can have our own lives, our own incomes, careers and more.


I can appreciate in today’s world and when culture has to some extent overtaken Islamic principles, women are not always seen in this light, but still, when I compare what Islam teaches about how to treat women and what we see in the rest of the society, I can honestly say I am glad we have an alternative view. 

But going back to my original point, Jay-Z realising the status of a woman and publically announcing this is a great thing – as it’s announcing to the entire world something we as Muslims already know and realise. The hip-hop world (and as hip-hop has grown, the rest of society too) has long been known to undervalue woman. Jay-Z's made mistakes in his past when talking about women in his music, referring to them in derogatory terms, but the fact he has now matured enough to make this assertion can only have a positive impact on society going forward. I sincerely hope that as a cultural icon this is the case (whether we should be following Jay-Z as much as we do is another issue entirely).

Anyway, that was just a point of realisation for me… to appreciate what we are taught about women and to smile at the fact the rest of society is finally catching up =)


Read the full poem:
“Before I got in the game, made a change, and got rich,/ I didn’t think hard about using the word B—-./ I rapped, I flipped it, I sold it, I lived it/now with my daughter in this world/ I curse those that give it./ I never realized while on the fast track/ that I’d give riddance to the word bitch, to leave her innocence in tact./ No man will degrade her, or call her out her name/ the women won’t despise her and call her the same./ I know it’s gonna miss me/ cuz we been together like Nike Airs and crisp tees/ when we all used to hang out front/ singing 99 problems but a lady ain’t one./ Excuse me miss, can I be your mister/ cuz I can tell the difference from a little girl and a sister,/ She never grew up, her father left her alone/ I promise not to talk like we used to/ until Kingdom Come./ I’m so focused on your future,/ The degradation has passed/ I wish you wealth, health, and insight/ forever young you may pass./ Blue Ivy Carter, my angel.”

Blogging from California

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Sorry for the slow posting of blogs on my side recently! Have been in LA/Orange County, staying with my cousin. Weather has been 'hella' beautiful alhamdulilah :) but sadly leaving to come back home in 2 days. Love the vibe in Cali – it’s so laidback and a nice change from the craziness of London town.

I’ve been here a few times before, so haven’t done so much of the touristy things this time around. We did manage to catch the Lakers-Bulls basketball game on Christmas Day though, which was awesome! Also went to Venice Beach (the beach version of Camden, for those of you who live in London!), Laguna Beach and hit up some of the typical American food spots like The Cheesecake Factory. 

The rest of the time has been chilling with family down in Orange County and catching up with friends who live in LA. One of my friends has a bike and two things I love are speed and great views – got both of them riding over the canyons towards Malibu!

One thing I posted about briefly on the FB wall was how the Muslim community here is so different to what I’m used to seeing. Next week when I get home I will write a blog about this because I think it’s an important point to make and I want to share some of the things I’ve seen being out here.

In the meantime, here’s a few snaps!

At Laguna Beach, wearing an ASOS top and Chinese Laundrey boots, scarf from Monsoon

Venice Beach, LA - wearing Forever 21 blue top and New Look dark green/brown trousers

Amazing views and scenery driving around Cali!

Lakers Game at the Staples Center

Riding along the coast... the dream!