Clothes suitable for living in a fairly strict muslim country. Anyone fancy helping me find things?

[BroccoliSpears]

I'm quite excited as I think a hot country wardrobe with minimal flesh on show will suit me.

Very keen on ankle length swishy skirts but can't find many nice ones about. Must be light, cool fabrics, but obv not see through.

A bit stuck on tops as I would normally wear a vest with a maxi skirt. What would you do? Need something cool, but with sleeves, and bf access. I can't picture a shirt with a long floaty skirt. Help!

Am 5'4"
Currently size 14 (still carrying baby weight)
Large norks (F) while bfing

Which sites should I be exploring?

Spooky I have just finished watching programme on women in Dubai!!! Very blingy, very designer. There was one lady who spends up to £7000 a month on beauty treatments alone!!!!!

Oh and she was saying Dubai is the place to buy it all, very cheap to get clothes made apparently if you steer clear of the shopping malls.

lol yes your 2 year old can wear anything.

Dubai is very relaxed, you will see a big variety with regards to what the local arab women wear.

It is very westernised, the younger girls in particular will dress pretty much like girls here (well, maybe not quite) but jeans and t shirts fine.

You won;'t need to worry about covering your arms, short sleaves are fine, but I'd avoid vest tops, short skirts, shorts or any cleavage or you will send the wrong message to the arab men

They are quite used to westerners over there too so you won't get stared at too much.

Have you been there before?

yes it is very blingy and very designer. If you want to fit in with the arab women you need to be well groomed, have manicured nails, perfect hair and matching shoes and handbag.

and shopping over there is much better than over here, they live to shop, so don't worry about trying to get everything here before you go.

All the big names from obver here will be there anyway.

That's what she was saying, if you are dowdy you may get ignored and they wax everything, arms, legs, and very thin eyebrows. Her eyebrows looked fine to me but the beautician sad she wouldn't go out with eyebrows like hers It was a very interesting programme.

What you wear will depend on where you're going too. If you're going to the souks, dress moderately, loose and flowing, or put on an abaya (expats often do this, you'll get less hassle from sellers if they think you live there rather than a tourist) but if you're going to an expensive mall or swish restaurant you can be more western in your dress.

yes they wax everytinhg but they are hairier than the average caucasian woman.

Don't have sex on the beach.

Be prepared to see a lot of wealth (although not as much as in Saudi).

It just looked so sore!!!!

Nope. Never been. Moving there cold, as it were. Ulp.

An excellent tip to shop over there.

And roffle at "well groomed, have manicured nails, perfect hair and matching shoes and handbag". Erm... I guess that's me not fitting in then! . Although I will have help with the housework and children, so maybe there will be more time for pedacures and gin in the afternoon.

What exactly is an abaya?

Hi Broccolispears. I live in Dubai so can help - frankly you can wear pretty much anything here - and you will see it all in the malls! although they do have new codes coming in for the malls. You can wear a vest top with a long skirt - i usually wear cropped trousers and a top - the smock ones are good as not too revealing and kaftan type tops are good over skirts.

You will find stuff here of course - all the usual shops Debenhans, Next, Monsoon, New Look all here so no need to panic and can get stuff copiedfat the tailors which is useful. Do let me know if you need any other advice - also go to expatwoman.com information board for everything you need to know if you haven't already done so. I am leaving tomorrow am for my summer visit to the uk so will not be online as often - am looking forward to escaping the heat - it is hot here now

oh yes, you will have much more time! Will you have a driver too?

But plenty of other expats you can make friends with and all be frumpy together

Abaya is the black robe worn by muslim women over their clothes outside - often v ornate here - agree with omdb with all she has said re clothes and kids can wear anything!

this is an abaya. A (usually) black long 'coat' made out of thin laterial that you throw over whatever you are wearing. Loads of different types, the simple ones that don't have any fastenings at the front are easiest.

See when you get there. It's been a while since I was there so things could have changed. I bet no none wears them any more

You sound wistful OMDB? Missing the expat life?

This is really interesting.
Would it be similar advice for Bahrain?

have been for my waxing and nails today but mainly as coming over to the uk tomorrow plenty of average brit (and other nationalities) mums here as well as all the yummy mummys - plenty of them too

OMDB - don't think many expats wear abayas these days.

When are you moving BS?

I bet it's hot there now morgan! I remember the blistering heat of the Saudi summers!

Tis hot omdb - just walk outside and sweat and sunglasses steam up! quite glad to be leaving for a break.

yes! missing it.

Hadn't thought of Dubai mumsnetters being out there.