Blogged: LOMAR's launch of Abaya line Zero Collection

Lomar's Flagship Rawdah street store, effortlessly chic

Dear Readers,

I had the pleasure of being invited to the reveal of Lomar's newly opened women's Zero Collection ready-to-wear abaya range at their flagship store on Rawdah street ( near Joelle clinic).

I was impressed by the the vast collection which included a variety of different styles available from formal business wear, everyday-wear, sporty, travel and and a special occasion collection. The collection has a contemporary feel, allowing it to fit in perfectly with the fast-paced modern lifestyle while still remaining true to its original roots.

Cutting edge asymmetric abaya designs using colour blocking

I spoke to the Art Director Mona Al Haddad asking her to describe the collection and she captured it accurately as 'elegant, decent and fashionable'. She also informed that they bring in new pieces every week, with more travel abayas and turbans coming soon.

Popular Zero collection designs from the lookbook available to buy at the store

The abayas have been designed to allow versatility in use according to the occasion or personality of wearer. For example, an abaya maybe worn without the belt during the day, and then accessorized with a belt during the evening. A visit to the store is a must where their helpful staff show how different styles can be born.
All their materials are light-weight and  high quality, with a flowing feel adding to the feminine silhouette.

Lomar's Marketing Manager Abubakr Alkaf captured the essence of the brand in the quote below:

"Creating fashion is like casting spells, one has to veer away from  the paved road, concentrate, gather the ingredients and prepare a new enchanting spell once again. " Abubakr Alkaf - Lomar Marketing Manager. 

From left to right: Abubakr Al-Kaff, Marketing Manager and Christophe  Beaufays, Head Designer and Associate Art Director

Lomar's  Associate Art Director and Head Designer Christophe Beaufays has 7 years of experience working with famous French designer Jean Paul Glautier which he has incorporated into the style of abayas at Lomar.
He said that when designing the abaya they ensured that they were modest and fulfilled the functional element of an abaya while adding a bit of edginess or flair to each design to set it apart from others. The would fulfill the needs of the Arabian woman and at tsame time appeal to famous fashion sense of French women.

Abayas wit ha twist: sash bow belt, ombre colour technique, and waterfall two colour frill

The attention to detail in the cut and design of abayas truly blew me away. Even the more simple designs on closer inspection reveal interesting twists. For example this business wear abaya has an elegantly simple colour block design, but when you take a closer look the abaya is not secured in the traditional way using buttons/zips, instead a first slide your hand through what looks a sleeveless dress, while theres is only a strip of fabric at the back,,,you have to see it to understand its hard to explain...check out the pics below. I should have made a video!

From left to right: formal/business abaya with a deceiving simple look, opens up to reveal what looks a sleeveless dress, actually secured by a strip of fabric at the back. 

Lomar also provided bloggers with a promotional voucher which I used to get a jilbab style abaya (it does not come with a tarha/scarf and is technically a dress). It was love at first sight for me, and I absolutely adore it, the lightweight soft fabric, the stylish way it drapes down the sides. It can be adjusted using hidden internal straps to suit your physique, which was was great for me.

I love love love this abyaya I bought it in a eggplant/mauve/brown shade once i take a better pic I will update it here and on Instagram

You can also find a range of quintessential Arabian inspired  accessories such as beautifully crafted musbahs 'prayer beads', Lomar signature fragrance range (in my opinion the Premium one is  the best), and SHIB shoes which look like the traditional Saudi sandals but are actually shoes? and tri-colour matching socks!.

Musbahs, SHIB shoes, and perfumes

I am excited to have this new Abaya brand in Jeddah and look forward to buying their turbans which will be coming soon!

Visit Lomar's website, or their Rawdah street store or follow them on Instagram and Facebook,

To see more pictures of the collection the event follow me on Instagram and Facebook

Saudi National Day- Ten things I love about Saudi Arabia

In celebration of the Saudi National Day I am doing this post to highlight the positive points of Saudi Arabia. I find a lot of Saudi bashing goes on the internet, and I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the positive some obvious but oft forgotten and sometimes humorous aspects of Saudi from a Muslim expatriate perspective :

1. Makkah and Madinah- the two holiest sites in Islam- as a Muslim you just cannot argue with that :-)

2. No TAXES. There is NO income tax, NO VAT, and NO Petrol tax. :-)

3. Reduced working hours for employees and holidays for schools in Ramadan: Where else in the world can you have it so easy?

4. All food is Halal food; this means that you can eat at all the international fast food chains :-)

5. Low levels of crime, inflation usually, and despite all the propaganda a stable political climate (.Alhamdulillah, Thank God)

6. Instead of annoying coins for change we get a packet of gum :-)...what am I going to buy with 10 ten halalas anyway?

7. Very family friendly, of course no scenes of public nudity or indecency, so you don't have to worry about where your kids are looking.

8. You can make friends from all over the world, there are so many different nationalities represented in the expat population it’s amazing. The people are generally easy going and helpful.

9. You can find a masjid or prayer area wherever you maybe.If you are on the highway and it happens to be time of prayer, and there isn'ta rest stop nearby, then simply stop the car off the highway and pray.

Tell me how many places in the world you can do that?

10. Last but by in no means least: You can put on your abaya over your pjs and go out, without anyone being the wiser (unless you are in an accident).

Hope all citizens of this wonderful country: Saudis and Non-Saudis alike acknowledge and be grateful for their blessings and have a great day!

P.S What do you like about Saudi, don't be shy now speak up!

If you like this post be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter :-). Thanks! Ma'salamah.

Yet another trip to the dentist

Ok so I have finally been dragged to the dentist kicking and screaming,well, not literally, but inside I was kicking and screaming. You don't see many young women being dragged kicking and screaming with their abayas flying, makeup streaming down their faces. No, we are required to put on a brave face, in my case it was one without a stitch of makeup.. with the colour completely drained from it, attempting a resigned look, which would every now and then crease up in memory of the pain that was sure to come. But inside I wanted to slap the dentist and run out of there as fast as I could. Another problem- no getaway car. You don't see young women running from hospitals or driving away from them either! There was no escape I was trapped.

And yes, it was painful, despite the anesthesia, the fact that my jaw was stretched open at an inhuman angle, lips ready to tear, with long needles being poked down my root canal. The dentist kept saying 'íftahi' (open). Open! What do you mean open? I 'have opened it as much as I can without dislocating it!

I have to keep my eyes closed throughout the whole procedure-not just because the needles freak me out, but because every now and then the dentist would launch into a discussion with her assistant and in typical Egyptian style wave her hands-scary instruments and all millimeters from my face. She doesn't have what is called in Arabic 'soft hands'. After the anesthesia wore off my tooth, jaw, inside cheek, were throbbing in pain. With sudden jabs of pain as if the dental surgery was still underway.

It still hurts and I am on an insanely high does of antibiotic (Augmentin 1g twice a day) which isn't exactly helping my stomach.

The only time I can stand doctors is on TV, like Grey's Anatomy, and even then sometimes its gets a bit too much for me and I wish it was show about lawyers or something with the same characters.

Oh well, I am waiting for the next dental appointment with dread.That's another thing the whole dentist appointments thing makes the procedure drag out for weeks, like we have nothing better to do then hang out at the hospital!