I’ve recently run across some pretty outstanding faux pas involving white thobes, and just wanted to pass along my observations for the fashionably challenged among us. If you like to sport a thobe or galabiyya, here are a few tips to avoid some of the more egregious blunders I’ve seen lately.

1. White thobe plus black high-top sneakers, without socks.

Now, I know that the “sockless” look is coming back, but this is no excuse to go overboard. Besides being kind of gross, going sockless in your sneakers (made worse if they are “high-tops”) just looks icky to me–especially if your chosen footwear is a throwback to 80′s chic. If you’re still rolling your pants, then stop reading because we simply will have to agree to disagree. If you compound this already doomed ensemble (high tops minus socks) by pairing it with a white thobe, you’ve stepped over the danger line. This outfit can only get worse by proceeding to combinations 2 – 4, as listed below, or pairing your favorite kufi with your new mullet.

2. White thobe plus baseball cap.

While this combination doesn’t have the gross factor of number 1, there is just something so incongruous about it that I find it irritating. There are some blends of East and West that should not occur, and this is one of them.

3. The uber-transparent white thobe.

No pictures necessary for this one. The small bit of advice I have to give is that if you can see the print on your t-shirt through your thobe, it’s just too transparent.

4. The white thobe that is too tight.

This is probably the most common faux pas I run across. If it stretches at any point over your frame, it’s time to go a size up.

This garment can be done right, and when it is, it looks really sharp. If in doubt or fearful of any new combinations that strike your fancy, ask your wife. Barring that, your sister, mother, aunt, even one of your brothers shouldn’t let you down and leave you to commit fashion faux pas of this magnitude. If you disagree and have a picture of yourself making these looks work, I really, really, want to see it (except numbers 3 and 4). Feel free to post it to our Facebook page and make me eat my words.



I’m listening…

I’m working on some great upcoming posts for our blog and a new Style Guide is in the works. But then just the other day, I thought, “I really want to know what all of our customers want to see.” So this post is dedicated to all of you who have been following our blog and taking the time out to read our posts, and leaving such thoughtful comments. I want to pick your brains a bit and find out what it is that you want me to blog about and to get to know you a little bit better. Because really everything that I do at SHUKR is for all of you, so what better way to find out what you want than to just ask you directly. Let me know what interests you most. Do you have any style dilemmas? Are you super passionate about fashion and want more of an inside look into what that world is all about? Whatever it is, leave your comments below and I will do my best to get to all of them.

-Tabassum Siddiqui, Head Designer

Shop now:

1. The Anjum Top (US, UK, Canada)

2. The Sundial Wrap Top (US, UK, Canada)

3. The Cotton Jersey V-Neck Dress (US, UK)

4. The Active Long Vest (US, UK)

Salaam everyone!

Check our these 5 experimental designs, and let us know what you think!

As usual, please rate the following on a scale of 1 – 5 (1 = not so great, 5 = outstanding). Any comments regarding fabric, color, or any changes to make it better are highly encouraged.

Inshallah, if the following are produced, I will post the link below the items. Please be patient, as some of them will not be produced until the appropriate season (if, at all, dependent upon their overall evaluation).

To more easily rate the designs and see what other people have said about them, please view our album on FACEBOOK. However, if you do not have a Facebook account, feel free to leave your ratings in the comments below, like usual.

1. mG7101 (above; please note that this is a men’s item–however, we’d still love to know what you think about it for brothers, fathers, or husbands.)

2. wD0373 (above)

3. wD1441

4. wD1471 (above)

5. wD1491b

Salaam!

Thanks to everyone who regularly takes part! Your feedback is highly valued by all of us here at SHUKR, and we are so glad to have your help in bringing you high quality Islamic clothing that you’ll love wearing.

As usual, please rate the following on a scale of 1 – 5 (1 = not so great, 5 = outstanding). Any comments regarding fabric, color, or any changes to make it better are highly encouraged.

Inshallah, if the following are produced, I will post the link below the items. Please be patient, as some of them will not be produced until the appropriate season (if, at all, dependent upon their overall evaluation).

To more easily rate the designs and see what other people have said about them, please view our album on FACEBOOK.

However, if you do not have a Facebook account, feel free to leave your ratings in the comments below, like usual.

1. wB4841 (above)

2. wB4761 (above)

3. wD0833 (above)

4. wD1411 (above)

5. wD1431 (above)