He he he. The store girls in Oman always referred to me as their Barbie, and forced me to try on every pink jalabiyia in the store. LOL. Anyways... just to let ya'll know, my shoes have less a heel than the ones shown in my collage---mine are kitten heels not stillettos. And I DO generally cover my feet---but with my jilbab not with socks. I MIGHT wear socks if I notice my feet causing men to stare at them, but you can ask Boxie and Um Khaled (I have some pretty ugly looking feet most of the time lol). Anyways...
I love SunnahStyle.com (they are THE best for plain black abayas that are somewhat affordable and really quickly delivered here in Canada) I recently wished to order this abaya
http://www.sunnahstyle.com/product_info.php?pName=shaamilah-closed-overhead-abaya&cName=abayas-overhead from them (USD $50.99) since they are one of the few places I trust to get my sizes right, to wear with my new barbie pink kitten heels from Le Chateau in the Gulf with niqab and gloves (I've been told by numerous people to keep my eyes, hands, and face covered in the Gulf). Something like this for Saudi and Egypt---
...and something way more like this for the rest of the Gulf (I like my eyes to breathe because while I see shapes and everything clearly, I don't see colours like I like to with mesh or sunglasses).
But since my habibi endearingly terms the overhead abaya "grandma style" (I like Grandma things----my grandmothers Victorian nightgowns, glove collection, and hat pins (make killer hijab pins) are to DIE for) I bought this butterfly abaya that with khimar and niqab, has much the same effect
http://www.sunnahstyle.com/product_info.php?pName=black-satin-full-butterfly-abaya&cName=abayas-butterfly for $49.99.
Then, of course, I swore to myself, enough black abayas for you! You DO live in Canada, and your father resents religious wear of any kind, and sees black as especially "suspicious" so enough money spent.... Start saving more for hirjah and hajj and a new house (renting is not my favourite pasttime). So what do I go and do? I get mad at my messed up day and go out an buy another black abaya on impulse.... But hey, don't hate me. The abaya was $14.00 Canadian and I found it at a Thrift Store.
*and about socks and gloves for me: I will wear tights (probably) but if I don't I make sure my abayas always cover my shoes in case I am somewhere hot. I think gloves are not part of proper hijab at all since many authentic ahadith document the Prophet's wives hands exposed to non-maharam men (so I can't even find it to be a sunnah) but I do think it is respectful culturally in a Gulf state (and I HATE stalker/perverts). I personally don't think overhead abayas and gloves are proper hijab (I mean they are proper hijab but they are not the ONLY proper hijab) but really safe hijab. They definately do meet all the requirements of hijab to me (and this is always beautiful and something I admire) but other clothing does as well without be as intimdating to non-muslims. of course, in the end, we should only care what Allah S.W.T thinks. I personally like overhead abayas so lng as the niqab isn't tucked in (that looks kinda creepy to me while it may be practical I no likey) but gloves I only think fit a cultural, practical (warmth) or fashion purpose. There is no evidence of women wearing gloves as hijab in the days of the Sahaba that I have ever found. So I won't say gloves are part of hijab. But they are part of Gulf culture and fashion, and here in my country, I wear them for warmth.
InshaAllah, I do intend to be wearing my niqab full-time when I return to Canada. I'll try. I believe it is mustahaab (recommended) so I'll do my best. But of course, I've wondered on what I'll do to wear mine differently. Colours of course. Pins of course. Neats ways of styling the shayla as khimar + the niqab. Decorated niqabs----???? Such as the like that are sold at this website http://www.bestabaya.com/abayas/niqab.html perhaps... but only for super special occasions (like my non-muslim family weddings or galas).
These are certainly unqiue but... they all come in sheer. Which is not niqab to me. So I'd have to wear a half-niqab underneath of them for them to be niqab at all. Which might be a tad uncomfortable.
What do you think? 
Do you like the idea (if not the exectution of it) of individual style on the niqab, or do you think this might be a bit too exotic/overdone or tacky?
This simple ribbon one is pretty though to me.
Russian Empress anyone?
I don't know about you, but I love jalabiyias. Mainly because they are often modest enough to wear for salat and safe to wear in the house if a non-maharam MIGHT pop into the room before I can move out (happens sometimes in family houses in the Gulf with brother-in-laws).
But Jalabiyias are not abayaat/jilbab as some bloggers mislabel them. Why, even if they are cut the same one might wonder as I once did? Cuz my husband won't let me go out in my fancy Saudi and Omani visiting jalabiyias or my party Morrocan caftans even the ones that are not see-through) but he IS okay with me wearing simply cotton embroidered jalabiyias from KSA and Egypt and Morrocan dishdashes of a modest deign and fabric. Why??? I used to wonder.
Well, Jalabiyias are made to be beautiful with rich designs (a simply cotton jalabiyia I'd still wear out of the house if as an overgarment) (and I know some abayaat are too) but Islamically we are not to wear anything publically (this means with the exception of in front of family and close friends who we know their regard to us already and we hope to be safe from their envy) that others might not easily be able to afford so that we are not marking our social status out in regards to wealth. 
Alot of jalabiyia are pricey (some range from $100-$10, ooo) so in my humble opinion, I never wear a jalabiyia out of the home that cost more that $100 because anything else is unreasonable to assume that everyone in my city can afford the same. Sure, we can wear whatever we want if we still pay zakat, but we are NOT to make ourselves look like we are divided into different ranks financially. This is makruh in Islam.
The only exception to this I can see is an occasion wear EVERYONE is going to be dressed to the same level of expense, which is usually weddings or galas (where non-muslim co-workers might be in ballgowns). Still have to be sensible in regards to zeenah if non-maharam men are present of course.
Boxie is going to make herself an abaya like this red one with the crochet. 
This particular abaya is a wedding one (don't wear it at the malls girls!!!!) and costs a small fortune. But I love how it drapes almost like a sari when one sits.
I just love the abayaat with sheer panels and red fabric underneath and anything with red roses.
The use of the fabric and the cut one this particular desgn is very unique. It reminds me of a 1920 Poiret evening coat.
Ooh la la. i love the long circles and this is probably my favourite cut of abaya.
I like the pretty sleeves and the design but here in the Gulf, I've come to hate the front open style because very few girls are wearing them halal. They keep wearing jeans and tights and mini skirts with them instead of long skirts of jalabiyias and maxis. Ahhhhh, the horror, the horror!!!!!
This is my absolute favourite abaya from the collections, because of the lace sleeves and the colours of the threads in the design.
So these are some bad cell phone pics of the jalabiyias in Al Marina Mall. I kinda didn't know how to use the camera covertly (the shop owners glare at you when you take pics of their merchandise) and I got the glare from moving away too quickly. Ooooh, and this is an accessory shop that I liked.
There are two fonts available. Antique...
and kiswah style. To make a request you must email in the word or name with your order.
