Job Discussion Forums

[trapezius]

Green Acres, you are worrying too much about shoes. All sorts of shoes are sold, bought, and worn here, by men and women, in public. You will see women in flimsy barely there sandals/leather flip flops , sneakers, trainers, normal sandals, ballet type slip-ons, and some of the highest and narrowest heels you will ever see in public outside of the Oscars red carpet. The fancier the mall or restaurant you go to, the higher and narrower the heels. Pink and purple are apparently the craze these days for high-heeled women's shoes!

No one even bats an eyelash anymore at such women's shoes in public (the ones designed to attract the men's attention and kill the wearers' backs). Of course, if you are going to Hail, Jizan, Hofuf, or some other small 'backward' town, you won't see that many heels, but in the big cities, they are all over the place. However, more and more young Saudi women are starting to wear sneakers, trainers, and other comfortable shoes out to malls and restaurants, which is refreshing to see.

In short, tell your wife she can bring any shoes she wishes to.

As for men, you will see them in flip flops which should only be worn on the beach or inside the house, in expensive designer formal shoes, and everything in between.

Again, in short, bring any shoes you are comfortable in (or want to be seen in!).

As for men not showing their legs, yes, that's not common. However, in Jeddah, more and more male teenagers and young men are wearing shorts or capri pants (3/4 pants? mid-calf pants?) in public. Yes, men wearing capri pants. The shorts are long enough to just come to the bottom of the knee cap.

BTW, you haven't told us what city you are coming to. In Jeddah (and I am sure Khobar/Dhahran as well), you have the highest chance of seeing non-black abayas. Still quite rare, but they do exist. Dark blue, dark brown, grey, etc. You might see a couple to a few per month, depending on how much you go out. And you will also see the wildest most fashionable $$300-500+ abayas on women in malls, cafes, and restaurants. Fashionable abaya? Wot's dat? Figure-hugging, wildly flared sleeves (sleeve opening of a foot or more!), shiny material, and lots and lots of eye-catching and exquisite lace and patterns adorning all possible edges and strategic non-edges. Defeats the purpose of the abaya (from both, cultural and religious points of view), but then again, the abaya is only required by the government, not what people want, so they do what they can to look fashionable.

What else you got?

[Green Acres]

I don't have much more, really. Thanks for all the information.

I suppose that most of the warnings (in public documents and what-not) pertain to the more conservative elements of society and social function. I have done a lot of reading, which is why I was confused. I am also too liberal for my own good, so when others heed caution, I usually perk up.

I'm still confused, but at least I feel a little more confident about the choices I am now making. Everyone has been very helpful in this regard since one must sometimes read between the lines.

I have one more question about dress. Flying into the country, my wife will need to wear an abaya at the airport (I assume), but we haven't one. Any recommendations? I can just see somebody assigned to cover all the women on their way into the country with rentals...how would I know?

[Cleopatra]

Have to get in my two halalas worth on the subject of shoes. Unlike Mia, I've had no problem finding mid-range shoes here in KSA (of course we are in different cities). Nor is it a problem wearing the highest, strappiest heels in public, even here in dour Riyadh. I should know, I've got about 15 pairs of them, at last count...

[eclectic]

anything that works will do, dont panic.

[johnslat]

Dear eclectic,

"anything that works will do, dont panic."

Paper bag with eye-holes cut out?

Regards,
John

[eclectic]

John,

The bag must be brown, or darker. Any lighter and the God Squad (I am told by someone a few weeks back on this forum it is jovially referred to as) (whew! what a word-order! of course I can't confuse the students with stuff like that, right?) will remove it with duct tape.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[eclectic]

well my memory couldn't come up with who, but now I see it was you!

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

NCTBA