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?

2point4, Bahrain much strickter than Dubai, less westernised, but mostly similar advice yes.

Y'see, I grew up an expat kid. I have a feeling being an expat wife is not going to be quite the same thing.

Also, we were never posted anywhere as sophistamacated as Dubai.

lol mumsnetters are everywhere!

Hi BS there was atg least another one can't remember who it was though. So do you need any other advice tonight before i come to the uk (and go to bed )?! How many dc's do you have? i have two ds 6 and dd 2.6.

yep I grew up an expat kid too. England has taken a while to get used to, but I tink if I was an expat now as an adult it would be different

2point 4 - i have a friend whop moved to Bahrain from here - she likes it - it is sleepier than Dubai apparently but i haven't been yet so can't comment.

God, I have a gazillion questions Morgan, but I have a couple of months before I head out with the kids so I'll let you go to bed / on holiday, and thank you for your help! I'm not particularly stressy about it all, just excited and wondering how it will be.

I have a dd of 2.2 and a ds of 10 weeks.

Well get onto expatwoman if you want to know anything while i am away. In uk for 5 weeks back here 23rd Aug. Am very happy to answer queries when I am back and meet for a coffee once you arrive. Off to bed now!

Forgot to add that i really like it here btw

Thank you Morgan. Sleep well!

DUABI .

Sorry only just got back to this thread!

Well we went there on hols and only arranged it while on honeymoon in mauritius so didn't prepare clothes wise...obviously hols different to living there BUT I agree you need to cover up..

I only has access while there to shortish skirts and shorts etc and when we went out during the day I was v uncomfortable..Lots of staring etc. Onviously to be expected and totally my own fault but couldn't be helped.

dh & I keep discussing the option of us going there to live...

lola..do you work for my wardrobe by any chance..???

You seem to recommend something from them alot...?!!!

I just had a week there staying with a friend.

Tbh clothing not much different to here.

I wore linen trousers and skirts a lot and normal t-shirts.

Lol - she either works for them or really REALLY likes their stuff.

That double layered thing is more revealing than I'd wear to go shopping in Leeds, let alone Dubai nice try.

I worked in abu dhabi years ago. Made sure skirts and dresses were just above knee length, upper arms covered (for work). When we went out in the evening, it was pretty much anything (reasonable) does. I hung out with a lot of lebanese girls, who really knew how to dress up. It was much more conservative back then. I would say avoid showing too much cleavage, upper arms and legs. Which isn't too difficult really, expecially as everything is airconditioned to some arctic temperature most of the time.....!

Hi Brocloi Spears, I am in Dubai and here all summer. Firstly its hot, so linen is the way to go. Not evenone is bling, mani pedi are cheap so most people make the msot of them and it saves your feet lloking like pigs trotters when you wear flip flops all day. Aadditonally i come from leeds also and would say if you are not an OTT dresser in Leeds then most anything will be OK. Mainly I wear linen trousers and shirts, jersey tops etc. Shorts are ok if not too short, lots of people wear city shorts to work, cropped trousers are ok. Loads of mums wear sports clothes to do the school drop off as they go straight to tennis/gym/aqua for 8am. School starts at 7.30/.45. dont forget weekend is Friday Saturday and please please be assured it is not like the sun or daily mail et al make it our to be. If you want to know anything just post here on or living overseas. In fact we were arranging a Dubai meetup but everyone seems to have gone home or on their travels. Just ask away. When are you coming? Any ideas whre you will live yet?

Good luck

hardly, i wish i did! imagine the discount, i just love their sale its fab

Hi Starmummy - thanks for that All pretty reassuring. We should be out by September, not yet sure where we'll live. Will definitely hope to make a MN meetup if I'm okay to invite myself - will need to make friends when I get there!

As soon as our arrangements are starting to fall into place I think I'll post on Living Overseas with some questions.

Great, we shall look forward to hearing from you. and its like good freinds, you dont need to be invited just turn up (we havent ever met up yet but I am on a mission).

hey Mrs starmummy - didn't know you were from Leeds - I'm a wakey lass (but don't tell anyone
was in springs a bit last week as DD bridesmaid dress was altered by a lady on jumeirah Islands - who happened to be maltese (my spiritual 'home')
so it a small world after all.
Broccoli - keep us up to date - looking forward to the west yorks-dubai-mumsnet meet up!

escape, DS was at school in Wakey!! I think maybe I know you from EW, or else there is another lady on there who has a spititual home in Malta?

Brocoli, keep in touch. I expect we will see you on the living overseas.

see you all in September.