Working one day in our SHUKR HQ, I found myself amused by the fact that my male co-workers always show up in galabiyyas or thobes, which are, by Western standards, basically dresses, (also referred to by some as “unbifurcated garments“) and I unfailingly wear pants to work. While this kind of upside-down office dress culture is not purposefully a revolutionary statement, it deserves to be recognized that in Western societies, men, at least, are more restricted in their clothing choices than women. (Conversely, but on a somewhat unrelated note, I found myself telling my co-worker that “I just don’t have time” to wear skirts because they make me trip. Non sequitur anyone? Yes, I’ll take two, please).

Borrowing a bit from Jean-Jacques Rosseau, it all comes down to this: man was born free, and he is everywhere in jeans. While being relegated to slacks and shirts isn’t exactly on the same level as living under a non-democratic form of government, wearing this kind of clothing shouldn’t be restricted to just Saudis and Scots (not that there is anything wrong with kilts per se (other than they make everyone around you uncomfortable and plaid is impossible to match with anything…but, I digress)).

As for most things in life, we at SHUKR have the answer. Don a galabiyya! Deck yourself out in a thobe! For men who secretly covet the freedom that wearing a dress can offer (without trying to pass yourself off as “goth”), the simplicity, or even the overall dignity of the look, you don’t have to abide by culturally prescribed norms and taboos! More than a counter-cultural statement, you can finally go out in public without pants.* (You’re welcome.)

*Editor’s Note: In this article, the term “pants” refers to the American usage, not the British usage.

Even for the casual visitor, Jordan holds lots of surprises. Sometimes one will find a variety of wild animals scrounging around–even in your own (urban) neighborhood.

This is why one always needs to be well-dressed. One never knows what creatures one may encounter.

Here is an intrepid explorer sporting SHUKR’s Raseem Galabiyya (sorry, it’s currently out of stock), holding a hedgehog. Animal lovers, fear not. This creature, while captured (in style) while encroaching upon human territory, was released gently back into its natural habitat.

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow, as the saying goes and now we are finally here. But before we shun our wool jubbas and make a run for shorts and short-sleeved shirts, let’s take a look at some tips before we make a scene.

Fashions Do’s for the Spring

1. Lighten Up

After a long winter, it can be hard to kick those habits of wearing wool and corduroy. Instead of thinking twice about wearing a Wool Fez Cloak, make the switch to lighter fabrics like cotton and linen. New arrivals for the season such as the Hooded Moroccan Zaytuna Cloak and Cotton Voile Hooded Top are excellent for everyday wear.

2. Layer Lean

Just because winter is gone, doesn’t mean the layers have to go, especially if there is still a little bit of chill in the air. This requires you to go back to your fall favorites such as the Azhar Jubba or the Bampur Jacket.

3. Invest In Spring Themes

This tip can be applied all year round. Now is the time to put on some light colors such as white, green, or yellow. This isn’t a tough one, check out our our Ismail Cotton Galabiyya or the Nouman 3-4 Length Sleeve Galabiyya

Fashion Don’ts for the Spring

1. Settle For Saggy Jeans

Back in the day, having loose jeans were cool, comfortable and the right thing to do. But let’s face it, we’ve been fooling ourselves into believing that a nice pair of trousers wouldn’t be as slick as a pair of jeans. So this spring, let’s stand up and invest in some nice trousers. A great pair to have with your tops is the Sahara Trek Sunnah Pants or the Topstitched Pocket Trousers! A nice formal style that offers a slight urban edge—wear them anywhere.

2. Sticking to Socks

Although spring is certainly sandal time, most men fall short. Many of us still have a fear of cold feet and so they never let go of their socks even when they are well into spring time, and some even summer. So here’s the basic rule, if you want to wear socks then wear them with some light sneakers so you still stay cool for the spring.

3. Choose the Wraparound

Unless you’re running for the Olympics, you can pretty much retire your wraparound shades. Shades, such as tortoise wayfarers and wire-rim aviators, alternatively, are so traditional they transcend time.

Does this kufi match? What color thobe goes with my pants? These are some of the many questions that burden the average man. But “Real Men” master the art of dressing well. We must become learned individuals on the science of color coordination. It’s not as difficult as you might think.

Here are five easy tips for the color-coordinating impaired:

1. White thobes go with everything.

When you can’t think of anything to wear in the morning, white thobes will rescue you from burdensome decision making. A white thobe works well with everything you have, especially those unique colored SHUKR pieces that you may find most confusing. Combine it with a Jubba or a Morrocan thobe; either way you’re look sharp and perfectly coordinated. A high-quality white thobe is worth its weight in gold and is sure to keep you looking good.

2. Complement bright colors with gray.

Use gray to your advantage, as it is great for taming those brightly colored items in your wardrobe. If you’ve bought that cinnamon shirt and are not looking to make a scene during Jumuah prayers, use something gray (pants, sweater or Jubba) to manage the boldness of stronger, brighter colors. Not only will you be seen as the stylish brother in the mosque, but you will be seen as cool, classic and chic.

3. Don’t wear colored pants.

What’s wrong with colored pants if you can balance it with gray? Well, no matter who you are, colored pants just don’t work if you’re trying to look like a gentleman.  The rule is that your pants should never be more attention-grabbing than your thobe or kufi. Since pants are the foundation for most outfits, they should always be neutral colors–like Switzerland.

4. Wear different colors of the same value.

“Value” represents the degree of lightness or darkness expressed in every color, so for best results all the colors should match in terms of their value. So just as an example, try to pair warm colors with warm colors, dark colors with dark colors, etc.

5. Use complementary colors.

Complementary colors are colors that are directly opposite one another on the color wheel:: red and green, yellow and purple, blue and orange. Matching complementary colors together is a sign of a “Real Man,” who is confident, a knowledgeable dresser, and knows what he is doing.

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Coordinating colors can be a tricky for a man, but it’s a lost art that we must learn to do, even if on a very basic level. InshAllah, these five simple tips above can serve as general rules of thumb to get you started. Shopping at SHUKR should be easy when you know what colors coordinate well with other. Go ahead, you can sport that Oceania Linen Blend Pleated Hat without causing a scene.

~ Basim, Marketing Manager

Most men think laying means throwing a scarf on a galabiyya and that’s end of that story. But there’s a way to look smarter, sophisticated and stylish, if you do layering right. It is a great way to combine your SHUKR pieces and wear something comfortable and flexible, while showcasing your sense of style.

Before we can start layering, there some minor guidelines we need to follow:

Lighter Clothes First

Start layering off right with your lighter clothes first – t-shirts underneath tops so you can build an outfit. From there you can start moving up to add thicker layers.

Choose Your Layer

This is your chance to be creative when it comes to adding layers. Thicker pieces on top of your heavier pieces. But remember, if you are going to add another layer, make sure you are comfortable. With that in mind, if you can’t wrap your arms around in prayer or make prostration, then your layering combination is most likely too thick and therefore, far from stylish.

Show Some Color

Don’t be afraid to try some new colors in your outfit. However, be balanced, you don’t want to wear 4 layers of all black or conflicting bright colors.

3 Winning Combinations

Now that we’re a little more comfortable with the guidelines, let’s put them into practice.

Combination #1

Combination #2

¾ Length Sleeve Shirt (above, US)

Naseem Jacket (above, US)

Hunayn Corduroy Trousers (above, US)

Combination #3

Cotton Pleated Hat (above, US)

Azhar Jubba (above, US)

Yahya Galabiyya (above, US)

~ Basim, Marketing Manager