Hijab Obsessions-Kaftan/Abaya Review

Today I will be reviewing a  a Simplicity Kaftan abaya sent to me by Hijab Obsessions. This is the first abaya that I have in my collection at the moment so I was very excited to try.  I was kindly sent one in a striking electric blue. It is plain so can be worn like so or dressed up with accessories.

On first impressions I was wondering if they had sent me the wrong size as it was HUGE! However once worn with a belt it was perfect! I was sent a size 52 which I believe was based on my height (I am 5ft2 inches). Other sizes available are 54, 56, 58 and 60.

Without belt                  worn with belt

Ignore the colour of the kaftan on the left, it was taken in the dark. The true colour is on the right and is stunning!

The kaftan is made from jersey material but isn't tight at all. The sleeves are batwing style and flattering without looking large. An added feature is strings inside, which allow you to tie and adjust to your size.

I have dressed mine up with a black belt from Primark; wedges from Forever 21 and a cobra hijab from Princess Rockz

With the heels and belt the kaftan is just about the right length. If you're petite like me it won't be possible to wear flats with this length kaftan.

As the colour is so striking I would probably save this for an evening event and choose their black kaftan to wear during the day.

Conclusion

I like that the kaftan is plain which gives you the freedom to dress up however you like. It can be worn for a majority of functions and and give you a different look each time.

You can purchase from Hijab Obsessions for £42.99. Check out their website for more photos :)

What do you think of the kaftan? Do you have something similar in your wardrobe?

Aquaini-Modest Swimsuit for Muslim Women

I've been looking for modest swimwear for a long time now, but could never find one that ticks all the boxes. (Most I have seen come with leggings and a short top) So when I came across this I was eager to try! I was given the blue suit in a size small to review.

So let me tell you a little about the company behind this design. Aquaini are a UK based company that specialise in modest swimsuits which provide full coverage, ideal for Muslim women. Their website lists the benefits as:

- Protects you from harmful UV rays
- No hassle of applying sun cream
- Waterproof hood
- Helps keep hair healthy
- Keeps your modesty intact while in water
- Made from water-protected polyester

Close up of the design

It is made from a mixture of nylon and spandex with the lining made from 100% polyester. The swimsuit has full sleeves with a hood attached. I am a UK size 8-10 and find it to be an excellent fit. It isn't clingy but also does not fit like a sack. The top comes to just above my knee (I'm 5ft 2). The trousers are also full length and can be attached to the top to prevent it from riding up while swimming. This I believe is one of the key features of the product design. Once in the water I found it to be comfortable and easy to swim around in. Another benefit is that it's easy to remove as the material is stretchy.

As the hood is attached it is great to wear without a hijab as it covers your head as well as the neck. If you prefer you can also wear with a hijab on top.

The swimsuit is of course ideal for all women- Muslims and non-Muslims, who wish to participate in water based activities whilst dressing modestly.

They are available in different colours for £40. You can find Aquaini on their facebook page or by visiting their website.

Please leave a comment down below and let me know your thoughts :)

Kitsch + Co Jewellery Review

Today I will be reviewing jewellery that was sent to me by Kitsch and Co which is an online jewellery company.

Front and back of the card :)

Packaging the jewellery came in

I was sent three rings and a collar necklace to review. I'm a huge fan of quirky rings and the doughnut is definitely my favourite. It's small and can be adjusted at the back. Moustaches accessories are a huge hit at the moment so this ring is bang on trend! I would probably wear the 2 finger ring for an evening out, but it can also be worn casually during the day.

The length of the necklace can be adjusted and would be great if worn with a turtle neck and a side draped hijab style, to show off the necklace. Dress down during the day with a pair of jeans or for the evening with a maxi dress.

You can find Kitsch and Co on Facebook or on Twitter

What do you think of Kitsch jewellery, are you a fan?

The Body Shop Oil-Free Balancing Foundation

This was a total impulse buy. Waiting at the airport in duty free I decided to pass time and test out the oil free foundation from The Body Shop. I have been on the look out for a decent foundation that provides coverage and is ideal for my combination skin. Swatching this on my face in store I was kinda surprised that it covered well; so on a whim I decided to purchase this (shade 04) along with the blending sponge.

Yup that's dried up foundation right there...

I used this during my holiday abroad and it worked well in the cold weather of Istanbul and the heat of Dubai (around 28 degree Celsius).

The trick is all in the application. For a flawless streak-free finish apply with a damp blending sponge. The disadvantage of this is that you waste some of the product through the sponge. The foundation dries very quickly so you have to work fast with it! Only pump a small amount onto your hand at a time to work with, otherwise it'll dry before you apply to your face. If your skin is dry or flaky the foundation will only highlight this so moisturise well before use!

It provides light-medium coverage and the finish is matte but still glowing. The biggest plus is I don't need to powder as much, which if you have a shiny t-zone like moi will understand! It hasn't broke me out yet which is a MAJOR plus for me *Yayyyyyy!!* Oh and it has SPF15-not bad :)

Overall I am happy with this foundation, and will continue to use. My search for the perfect (is there such a thing?) concealer is still continuing...

The foundation is currently on sale on the Body Shop website for £8! (RRP £13)

Please leave a comment and let me know what your favourite everyday foundation/concealer is :)

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Review: Bespoke Henna Canvas by Farrah

Hi guys hope you're all well :)

I was sent this amazing henna canvas by Farrah from Bespoke Henna for review and was sooo excited to receive!

Before my review let me give you the low down on Farrah. I met her last year at an Eid souk in London and was blown away by the beautiful designs she made onto canvases, candles and also vases! (You can read that blog post here) Her paintings are all made with 100% natural henna and filled with colourful acrylic paints. They are then sealed with non toxic and non flammable sealents to preserve.

The story behind the painting is just as beautiful as the canvas itself. Farrah was inspired by her travels to Istanbul and the Iznik art around the city in mosques and the bazaar. Iznik art is both a combination of ottoman as well as chinese art which gives it an unique and wonderful look.



I was excited to open the package especially as it came in pink paper (a plus already). The canvas itself was double wrapped in bubble wrap for security. Alhamdhuillah this kept the canvas intact without damage.

 

After removing the bubble wrap I was amazed by the colourful design! Mashallah it's so beautiful  and reminds me of my holidays to Turkey. This would make an ideal gift, especially as Eid is coming up in a few weeks time! 

That's a thumbs up from the husband!
 

You can find more designs on bespoke henna website or on their facebook page (links below)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bespokehenna
website: www.bespokehenna.com


*The canvas was sent to me for review purposes, but I give honest opinions on all reviews

Street Princess Handmade Jewellery

Today I'm going to be reviewing jewellery from Street Princess, which is a small business run by Naheeda. She hand makes jewellery and has a wide selection on her site. The jewellery is bespoke and I would say at the middle-top range in terms of pricing. I decided to purchase some bracelets and as a blogger I received 50% discount. I have been looking for something that I can wear everyday with my casual outfits.

It was a very difficult decision deciding what to choose- I obviously wanted EVERYTHING (shopaholic much?) but I bit the bullet and chose just two.

When I received the parcel it was in a bag with a damage form from Royal Mail. Unfortunately the package was open and one of the bracelets missing (me thinks the postman wanted a SP bracelet too :( ) I contacted Naheeda who was very understanding and sent me a replacement with another bracelet, which I thought was very sweet. She also sent a personalised message with my order :)

So I ordered the Zelda - Black/Nude  and Esmerelda - Black

Such cute packaging!

It's all in the detailing with the 'SP'

The Esmerelda is missing from my photos because someone decided to 'borrow' it before I had a chance to take a picture! But fear not here's a photo down below:

Image from Street Princess

I have tiny wrists so Naheeda made the bracelets to fit at no extra cost, which is great as bracelets without stretch usually don't fit me. The Zelda bracelet feels light even with the 'SP' detail, although I have to be careful not to get them into my food (I just twist this around the bracelet and its sorted!)

Conclusion

If you're looking for cheap bracelets for under £5 Street Princess is definitely not for you. However if you are looking for bespoke, handmade jewellery that has had love and dedication put into it then you will find it at SP. If you want to splash out a little (Majority of the bracelets are over £30) for yourself or a loved one then this would be ideal.

Also have a look at Naheeda's blog for outfits of the day inspiration. (She has such cute outfits, I want her wardrobe!!)

Website- www.streetprincess.co.uk
Blog- www.streetprincess.blogspot.co.uk

Short guide to Morocco

Morocco is a wonderful place...great sites, great beaches and amazing shopping!!! ;)

I found that it helps if u know French or Arabic as not much English is spoken there..apart from the tourist places such as Marrakesh and Agadir and the bigger cities. The Arabic phrase I think will come in much use (if your a girl) is 'Emshi!' -meaning go away....when you visit Morocco you will know why this word comes in much use!

For more Arabic words and phrases click here

Shopping in Marrakesh

In Morocco the price of all things is bartered for, so don't be afraid to try it! The general rule is to go half and then a bit less than that of the asking price.

I'm sure you all seen the Apprentice episode in which Alan Sugar sent the wannabe apprentices to Marrakesh? If not check it out !

Marrakesh is a place for those who love to spend agesss haggling over the price bartering...the apprentices were sent to the bargaining capital of the world (i reckon anyway :P) to test out their skills...do you think you can match them??

Necklace Heaven!!

CD Shop

With tourists flocking to Marrakesh, and even celebrities, it tends to be much more expensive than other places in Morocco; so if you can, explore different cities, where you can witness the real beauty of Morocco.

Moroccan Fashion

Traditional Moroccan dress is the Kaftan....when i went Morocco I saw some georgous ones, such as the ones below. They come in different styles and sizes and can be adjusted to fit you.

Moroccan Abayas


If you haggle well, you can get a good deal!

Wedding kaftans are so elegant and gorgeous!!


Ourika Valley


Not far from Marrakesh this place offers a cool haven away from the heat of the city. Driving through the Atlas Mountains you can stop off and go for a camel ride. At Ourika Valley why not climb to a beautiful waterfall whilst enjoying a delicious meal of tagine- a traditional Moroccan dish.

Moroccan Tagine

High in the Atlas Mountains

Waterfall


Camel riding in the Atlas Mountains