New to Ramadan | ExpatWoman.com
 

New to Ramadan

3
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 02:36

Hi,
I am new to Ramadan altogether. I'm arriving in the middle of it. Do I need to wear pants covering my ankles etc.? Do I need to wear shirts that go to my elbows? Am I able to wear capris? Any help here would be good. I don't dress provocatively anyway but I want to make sure I fit in my first few weeks.
Thanks,
Anne

178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 August 2011 - 03:02
Was just in Waitrose at the Marina and saw a young Mum of two with very brief shorts and a short low neckline singlet top exposing her muffin top front and back... honestly no clue at all. Perhaps she thought she was in a Walmart... how can anyone want to show off so much flesh it seems so silly.
209
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 11:53
Was just in Waitrose at the Marina and saw a young Mum of two with very brief shorts and a short low neckline singlet top exposing her muffin top front and back... honestly no clue at all. She was probably getting her abaya drycleaned and just picking it up in preparation for the big day tomorrow ;) lol and usually its soooooo cold in the supermarkets!!!
333
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 11:52
Was just in Waitrose at the Marina and saw a young Mum of two with very brief shorts and a short low neckline singlet top exposing her muffin top front and back... honestly no clue at all. She was probably getting her abaya drycleaned and just picking it up in preparation for the big day tomorrow ;) lol She may as well have been wearing a bikini!
867
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 11:44
Was just in Waitrose at the Marina and saw a young Mum of two with very brief shorts and a short low neckline singlet top exposing her muffin top front and back... honestly no clue at all. She was probably getting her abaya drycleaned and just picking it up in preparation for the big day tomorrow ;) lol
333
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 11:37
Was just in Waitrose at the Marina and saw a young Mum of two with very brief shorts and a short low neckline singlet top exposing her muffin top front and back... honestly no clue at all.
Anonymous (not verified)
0
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 11:09
@ Maracas: Just an off track thought; I found you can be completly covered up and still be stared / leered at. You could be wearing a bin bag and men will still stare imo.
43
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 10:58
Well put, Monkey Face. I just moved here a month and I agree that it is pretty shocking what some people wear in public and in the malls, especially since they DO have signs that ask you to dress modestly, which to me does not seem so unreasonable. It's not like they are forcing us to cover up head to toe... would it kill them to at least wear something with sleeves? I wouldn't feel comfortable going into the mall or even into a taxi with all my 'goods' on display for the entire world to see. Sure, I want to wear my cute clothes, but you can at least throw a pashmina over your shoulders till you get inside the pub or bar, where that kind of clothing is acceptable. Not sure why some women go out dressed like that... why would you want everyone staring at you anyway?
425
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 09:43
If you need to wear different clothes during Ramadan, then you're probably not wearing appropriate clothing when it's not Ramadan. Ok...don't know if it was for my comment or not. So just to clarify : I don't change my habits for Ramadan, but I do change my closing when I'm out of my house....
1617
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 09:23
"If you need to wear different clothes during Ramadan, then you're probably not wearing appropriate clothing when it's not Ramadan." Great point Money FAce...I'm continually staggered by the stuff I see people wearing in the Malls in particular. It's never exactly overheated in there after all! Bare shoulders, cleavage and uncovered legs are never acceptable here.
1257
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 09:19
If you need to wear different clothes during Ramadan, then you're probably not wearing appropriate clothing when it's not Ramadan. *Like*
803
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 08:59
If you need to wear different clothes during Ramadan, then you're probably not wearing appropriate clothing when it's not Ramadan.
333
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 08:16
Your knees, shoulders and cleavage should be covered, so a t-shirt or blouse with either skirt or pants below the knees is fine.
425
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 07:51
Official policies in mall is cover your shoulders and knees. Avoid anything transparent (which makes sense : wearing a see-though Tshirt that covers the shoulders but let see the bra won't be the best....). As it's hot, I often wear spagetti tops (the ones with just one fine string on the shoulder), and wear a pashmina (you can have some in Carrefour at 20 dhs or better quality in any gift shops in mall for a bit more) when I go out. You'll see it's a practice a lot of people have in mall. It's double score as it's often quite cold in malls compare to the outside temperature. I also have an abaya which is actually like a coat, so I can easily through it on my shoulder and close it, while I still wear summer things (as in not correct for outside). I like this solution in the heat of the summer, as the abbaya is often fresher than a pant. And I checked 2 days ago with a local friend who is very religious : I asked it directly if it was ok for me to wear and abaya, still not wearing any scarf, and he said yes. (Some people on this forum said we shouldn't wear abbaya as it will offend them, that's why I checked again and post this comment). Edited for spelling <em>edited by Tiki on 31/07/2011</em>
3
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 04:38
Thank you so much. I appreciate it!
401
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 31 July 2011 - 03:19
Hi Anne4 I've just left Dubai after 4 years and spent each Ramadan in Dubai. You just need to wear clothes that you normally would as a Westerner (I'm guessing?) in a Muslim country, ie strappy low cut tops are not a good idea. I used to wear my normal clothes which didn't include covering my ankles or shirts with sleeves that go to my elbows. I just wore the normal T shirts, short sleeved blouses, skirts etc. Basically, if you don't dress up as if you about to hit a night club, you will be fine. Don't worry. Once you see how others dress, you will realise there's nothing to worry about. Good luck with your move. Enjoy the experience in Dubai. It's great!
 
 

ON EXPATWOMAN TODAY