Job Discussion Forums

[KME0050]

Many thanks to all who responded to my questions about the abaya. Now that I know to buy one really conservative black abaya to hold me over until I can go shopping, I realize that I don't know how to dress in the classroom. I had imagined that I could buy some of the pretty dress-abayas and just leave them on while teaching, but from your replies I see that's not the thing to do.

I have a closet full of suits--all with pants or just-below-the-knee length skirts. It sounds like the skirts are out. I'm guessing the pants are too?

Can my neck be exposed? If so, what kind of necklines are ok? What about sleeve length? Can I wear a suit jacket with a 3/4 length sleeve? Can I wear long, loose, full pants that look like a skirt?

If it is best to pack light and go shopping once I get there, I can do that too, but I am hoping that I don't have to replace my entire wardrobe.

Thanks in advance . . .

[veiledsentiments]

I think that this would have been perfect in the other thread... keeping the discussion of female dress together. There have been quite a few threads on this topic, so you might try a search.

Suits?? Never even owned one in my 15 years around the Gulf. Wayyyyyy too hot!! Nor did I wear pants. (BTW... in the Gulf you will be working with teachers who consider this term odd and will refer to trousers... which we tend to only use for men's "pants"... separated by a mutual language )

I never taught in Saudi, but kept my wardrobe very conservative. If you are outside of Riyadh or Jeddah, my suggestion would be very long skirts... I wore mine to the floor... haven't owned hosiery since the early 80s... sandals all year... sleeves at least to the elbow with 3/4s being a perfect compromise... necklines modest. But, this is what I wore in public too since in the rest of the Gulf, only the local people wear abayas.

If you are currently in the US, here is a website for a place that sells a number of items that are perfect for the climate and dress code:

http://www.devalifewear.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=IS0033

I had about a dozen of their skirts and tops.

VS

[Mia Xanthi]

Where I worked, "trousers" were permitted for female teachers, especially if they were part of a suit with a jacket that covered the hips in some fashion. Skirts that are just below the knee are fine, but you may get complaints if they are tight-fitting and reveal too much of your figure. Again, the suit jacket is a good solution.

Avoid anything that is tight-fitting, low cut, or reveals too much skin. Sleeveless blouses are out of the question, and see-through fabric is also a problem.

One good solution is to buy two or three long, long-sleeved, lightweight cardigan sweaters or informal jackets before you go. You can put these on over your usual professional attire and get rid of any problems. Oddly enough for such a hot place, you may also find that you need them. Air-conditioning (when it works) tends to be on at full-blast in Saudi classrooms, and you may find that you are too cold in your usual work clothes. Find a lightweight cardigan that you like and order it in gray, beige, and black.

Remember that KSA has excellent tailors who can copy anything at a very low price. Bring pictures of things that you think are suitable...or better yet, several whole catalogues. You can use your cardigans or sweaters to cover up any problems until you can have clothes made by a tailor.

[lizziebennet]

I'm not sure how old you are but if you are young I don't suggest buying beige or gray unless you really like those colors. Black is always good Buy what you like and would feel comfortable in. I have skirts that are white, red and pink and everyone loves them. They are the long light flair cotten skirts that are so in fashion now (almost look hippie but not so patterned just the plain colored ones) and they have an under layer so you can't see through them. Although if they don't you can buy a half length silk petticoat to wear under them (I think it is called a slip in th US).

Get some nice cotton button up work shirts and it looks appropriate and perfect for summer. You will see students wearng tops that show way to much cleavage but it is definitly not appropriate as a lecturer. Your neck can show but not your shoulders. Make sure your sleeves cover the top of your arm completely as you will get comments if the students can see your armpits.

I snazz up my conservative cotton work shits with big chunky belts around the waist and I noticed that a couple of our Saudi co-workers are doing that too. Quite a few of the teachers in both places I have worked have nose studs (small diamond style ones) so jewellery is fine too.

We could wear pants in Buraidah if we had shirts that went to our knee but in Jeddah we aren't allowed to wear pants. I don't think your suits would be any good here. Depends on your employer though. Perhaps you can e-mail and ask them about that beforehand.

Better to buy sandals because of the heat.

Surpisingly the dress code is more casual just by the nature of having to wear long skirts as opposed to suits and due to the heat of course. My saudi co-workers often wear long jean skirts with T-shirts and other clothes which I would never consider wearing to work but I guess that is Jeddah for you...

[lizziebennet]

Btw I bought 3/4 skirts due to advice on this forum and unfortunately have never gotten to wear them. I have only worked at two universities but both have required long skirts to be worn by both the students and teachers. Again, check with your employee ahead of time but I doubt you will be allowed to wear them...

[KME0050]

A lot of great advice. Thanks to everyone. I think I will bring along a few suit jackets and cardigans as I understand that it can get quite cool in Abha in the winter and buildings aren't heated. I will leave my pants and knee-length skirts behind and will buy a few floor-length skirts. It sounds like my normal (conservative) shirts, tops, and blouses will be fine. I am happy to have a plan!

[veiledsentiments]

I always kept a sweater in my office as that is where I froze... even though the temps may be low in the classroom, moving around teaching always kept me warm.

As to colors... I wore all kinds of bright colors

VS

[Mia Xanthi]

Color suggestions were made only in consideration of having cardigans or sweaters that would go with anything you have to cover up. Bright colors are certainly not a problem in KSA. Inside and among women, the students wear fashionable and very colorful clothing. And they do prefer that their teachers dress fashionably as well.

It's sort of like the better you dress, the more you show for those that you are teaching. I've noticed this kind of thing when teaching other cultures as well. Americans don't tend to see their own dress as a reflection as how we feel about the event we are dressing for. In some other cultures, though, if you show up dressed casually for a somewhat formal event, it is more than just a fashion faux-pas. It can actually be taken as an insult.

[KME0050]

[lizziebennet]

Another suggestion for how to combat the cold aircon is to get some pashmina scarves. I haven't had a problem with aircons being too cold in Saudi yet but in Singapore I did and I find pashminas to be perfect to throw over your shoulders.

[lizziebennet]

Mia, I like your posts! No harm meant about the colour thing!

Me and my girlfriends were discussing how we left our funky clothes at home, bought all this conservative clothing and ended up arriving looking really frumpy and having to buy new stuff here...

Just wanted to let everyone know so they don't make the same mistake

[scot47]

For males this varies greatly from one institution to the next. Some very conservative with a rigidly enforced dress code. Others are pretty relaxed.

[veiledsentiments]

[lizziebennet]

Yep calve length is a no no...

Both my employees have surprisingly let us wear short sleeved tops it seems as long as our shoulders and underarms are covered they are happy.

Again, I am not sure about your boss, some very conservative places may say you should cover your elbows... Better to bring one or two cotton shirts that just cover the elbows...

[KME0050]

Well, it seems that dress code is somewhat employer-specific. As to what I bring with me, I think I'll plan to error on the side of conservative and figure out the rest when I get there.

Thanks to all who posted!

KME