A smart, hijab appropriate outfit idea for work.

Office look by stylishmuslimah

Can't remember source :S

For style inspiration.. loving that bag!

Office hijab look by stylishmuslimah 

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A really simple and easy way to create a smart outfit for work is to pair a dress of knee length or longer with black jeans and high boots. Something along the lines of the following outfits but perhaps without the massive head things and weird accessories. 

I put together a Polyvore outfit for inspiration.. 

Smart Hijab Style by stylishmuslimah

Smart by stylishmuslimah 

I was sat in this Islamic lecture at one of my mums friends houses the other day, trying my best not to get spoken to when I overheard the most interesting conversation. This women was telling her friend about how her daughter had been having difficulty for over a year getting a job and she decided that her headscarf was the problem so she took it off (for the interview) and voila, she got a job! She then went on to advise that her friend's daughter does the same thing - take it off for the interview and turn up on the first day with it on, after which the employers would not dare dismiss her on the grounds of religious dress for fear of being sued. Genius.

As she launched into an explanation about the drawbacks of hijab in the Western world my mind drifted to those wrist bands that I've seen Christians wear, bearing the words 'What would Jesus do?'. Perhaps we need to start thinking along the same lines.

What would - or rather what did - our final Prophet (S) do when he was ridiculed for his message and called a madman and had rocks thrown at him and his family abused? What did Yusef (as) do when he was thrown into prison for not submitting to the will of Zulaykha? What did Noah (as) do when people laughed at him for building an ark in preparation for a flood when there was not a drop of rain? What did Asiya, wife of Pharaoh, do when her own husband had her tortured for disobeying him by accepting the path of God?  What did Abraham (as) do when Allah (SWT) commanded him to kill his own son? What did the early Muslims do when they were tortured in the boiling heat of the desert and told that all they had to do was say a word, say that they did not believe in Allah (SWT) and His Prophet and the torture would cease, they would be free and respected people? I'll tell you what they did not do, they did not sell their principles for worldy gain and not even for a second or a minute, or for the length of an interview, did they succumb even to the pain of extended torture.

We complain that life in the West is hard and that we must compromise the principles that we believe in simply to fit in and be accepted by others. How weak are we then, in comparison to the Mumineen that came before us? They would not even consider uttering a word of disbelief to free themselves from physical torture at the hands of non-Muslims and yet we consider and openly encourage the rejection of what God has ordained for us, in hopes of pleasing non-Muslims?

I was going to post iyas and hadiths to back myself up but frankly, all you need to use is your logic. So anyone thinking of taking off their hijab for an interview because they are afraid they will be discriminated against, I say go ahead and do it, trick your employers and laugh at them when they offer you the job. Just remember this, that which causes your heart to stir with fear and makes you change yourself is what you are truly and utterly at the mercy of. I really do hope then, that your prospective employers are all-merciful and infinitely compassionate.

(Just a side note: I've had quite a few interviews over the past 4 or 5 years and the only time I have been rejected was once, about a year before I put on the hijab.)

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My second smart hijab tip is about what has recently become my favourite type of shoe - the wedge. Wedges are great for both short and tall and I think that they instantly smarten and streamline any look.?

As a general rule, I wouldn't wear open-toed or strappy wedges to work, it just doesn't look right. Also, make sure that the trousers almost (but don't quite) hit the ground.

Here's an outfit for some inspiration:

 

Wedges by stylishmuslimah

Just be careful when you walk though.. I was getting the tube the other week and do you know when you think that the last step is actually the floor and your ankle twists in? Yeh that happened to me with a pair of wedges on.. I couldn't walk for a week :(

I have decided that this blog is in need of a section dedicated to smart/work hijab outfit ideas and tips.

After spending about a month in a hospital and coming across a lot of professional hijabis, I realised that a fair few of them (I feel like a bitch writing this..) could do with *slightly* improving their work look.

Obviously I'm not claiming to know everything about smart dressing, we all know that only a Turk could ever reasonably claim such a thing (just look at Hijab Revival and Hijabi and the City if you don't believe me - EDIT - In case any of you don't understand English, I am implying in this sentence that those two ladies have amazing smart dress senses, like many Turks that I have seen).

So anyway, one thing I noticed that a lot of hijabis do is use far too many colours in their outfit to ever be able to make it look smart and professional. I personally think that the key is to keep it simple and use different shades of a colour as opposed to putting lots of colours together. I would say stick to a maximum of 3 colours.

I really like the colour use in two outfits below:

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If you are stuck for something to wear to work then I would recommend pairing a top with a scarf of the same colour but either much darker or much lighter than the top. Here's an idea:

Smart Hijab Style by stylishmuslimah

Paul Joe t shirt dress, �138

Talbots wide leg pants, $31

Very Volatile high heels, $50

Satchel handbag, $2,350

Forzieri silk shawl, $198

Hope this helps :)