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meyanga · Joined: 02 Mar 2008 Posts: 103 Location: Malaysia

Hi

I am moving to Jeddah soon and have been searching through old posts to find out about what clothes are suitable for life there.

I would appreciate it if someone could please refute/confirm the following -

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:31 am Post subject:

Who posted this 'advice'?????

Here in even-more-conservative Riyadh, I hardly ever step outside the door without 10cm heels!!! I reckon if I were ever to be nuts enough to run a marathon, I'd insist on doing it in heels! So yes, you can wear your Manolos in Jeddah.

Regarding the second point, even here in Riyadh, plenty of non-Muslim (and even some Muslim) women do not cover their hair in public, and seem to get away with it most of the time. Personally, I always cover my hair, not out of any sense of 'obligation' but because I feel that I 'blend in' better that way and am less likely to draw unwanted attention. I generally advise women to cover their hair in Riyadh, at least when they're out on the street or walking around alone, but it's not that big a deal. Jeddah is somewhat more 'liberal' than Riyadh so if you really don't want to cover your hair, it shouldn't be a problem for the most part.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Now if you are in Buraidah or Qassim it is different. Here in ultra-liberal Dhahran I often see women in public without abayas. Many do not cover their hair. Some wear abayas. Some wear "modest" clothes.

Don't listen to what the propagandists say about KSA. Half of it is not true.

meyanga · Joined: 02 Mar 2008 Posts: 103 Location: Malaysia

Thank God!

There are lots of adjustments I am more than happy to make - but wearing flat shoes everyday is just not one of them! Very Happy

Thanks Cleo

Cleopatra · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 7:58 am Post subject:

Couldn't agree more.

Abaya and headscarf - no problem. Flats every day - no way. There are some things a girl just can't compromise on, and a woman's right to shoes is one of those.

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:38 pm Post subject:

Cleopatra is right. Heels are not a problem at all. The beauty of the abaya is that you can wear whatever you want underneath it, including outrageous shoes.

What you wear outside the abaya is up to you and it does depend on the norms in the area where you live. In Dhahran, most foreign women do not cover their hair. I covered my hair when I first arrived because it made me feel more comfortable. I no longer cover it at all, but I do try to bring a headscarf along in case circumstances warrant covering my hair.

If you are a non-Muslim, it can feel like you are giving off the wrong signals with your hair covered. Many people in the EP will assume that you are Muslim or the wife of a Saudi if you cover your hair. Not covering your hair, at least in the EP, is in some ways a more honest type of communication to those around you.

007 · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:10 pm Post subject: