Wow! It's been so long since I have posted that I ALMOST forgot what color font I was using! hehe Soo, for quite some time now I have wanted to do a post on Henna, because it's absolutely beautiful and really awesome part of my Arab culture.
So, first, some history! Henna has been used by people to adorn the skin and dye the hair since the Bronze Age! Henna, also known as Lawsonia inermis, is a shrub that grows in Africa and Southern Asia. The leaves of the Henna shrub is where the burgundy dye comes from. The dye is used widely in the Middle-East and South-East Asia to decorate the hands and body as well as to color the hair and preserve leather and cloth material. Henna flowers have also been used to make perfume.
In order to make that lovely paste that is used as dye, the Henna plant must be made into a dry, ground powder. The powder is mixed with an acidic liquid, such as lemon juice and left to rest for up to 12 hours.
Henna as body adornment can be worn anytime, but is primarily seen during times of celebration such as Eid and weddings. As Arab tradition goes, a day before a wedding, the females of the family all get together for a Henna Night as the Henna is thought to have "Barakah," or blessing and good luck. If happiness is being celebrated, Henna is sure to be accompanying this happiness!
Now, Henna ONLY comes in ONE COLOR: BURGUNDY, so, if you see any BLACK HENNA, THIS IS NOT THE ORIGINAL! "Black Henna" does not exist and is most likely mixed with chemicals to get that color. Many of these products have caused allergic reactions among those who have used them, and most of these reactions don't occur until a few days after the dye has been placed on the skin, so please be careful; always leave it up to the professional!
Here are some amazing Henna pics I found online; enjoy everyone!!
Salam all! So, this is kinda interesting. GS Fitch, a design consultancy firm in Dubai has recently come up with a new design of sunglasses made to emulate the Emirati burqa, seen below:
If you aren't familiar with the burqa, it is a face shield covering the nose and forehead traditionally worn by women in the United Arab Emirates and other countries fil Khaleej, as protection from the sun and as a veil. It is not as popular today as it was in the past, but this Khaleeji burqa is still seen sometimes, worn by older Emirati women and some younger ladies as well.
According to the brand's website, the sunglasses are made of gold and resin because the metal is "a renowned status symbol." The idea behind the concept was to create something that blended culture and style. Here is a picture of the new sunglasses:
BQ even posted this video to give you an in-depth look at how they came up with the idea for these shades:
You can pre-order a pair at the brand's website, where there is even an option to see how you would look like in a pair! lol
http://www.bq.ae/en-GB/home.aspx
What do you think of these sunglasses? Would you buy a pair?
Salam! So today I will be showing you all things SPARKLY!! Why? Because I love sparkles! :) This will be a two part post because there are so many things that are bedazzling with Swarovski crystals. This has become quite a trend for some time now in clothing, shoes and accessories; even makeup cases are being embellished!
Today I will show you some gorgeous 'abayat that are accessorized with jewels and crystals and beautiful patterns. Enjoy!
Salam everyone! Sorry, I have not posted for so long! Sub7an'Allah how quickly time flies! Insha'Allah you are all doing well.....
So, while flipping through magazines, I noticed that there are so many Arabian inspired jewelry lately! Since ancient times, jewelry and body adornments have been popular with Arab girls all over the Middle-East. Jewelry is not only used to decorate the body, but also to showcase class and wealth. There is no particular design that is worn, but gold is very popular. During weddings, jewelry is given to the bride in abundance, usually as a dowry.
From earrings and necklaces to bracelets, rings, and anklets, costume to gold, diamonds, or gemstones, one thing they all have in common: they are all BIG! Yes, yes gaudiness is prevelant! But, of course, everyone has different taste, some people like really simple, but elegant pieces of jewelry and others prefer really flashy, yet CLASSY pieces. Hmm, can ya guess which I prefer :P lol actually, it all really depends on the occasion. No matter what kind you prefer, and whether you're wearing it out or admiring it in your boudoir, jewelry makes us all feel GlaMorOus! Enjoy the pix!
