Islamic Design Trend: the balloon sleeve abaya

Whether ending at the elbow (this is my fave and I love the flowers embroidered on this silky Dubai version-)... or starting at it...
Either fully ballooned like this Arabesque creation pcitured below or just ballooned at the sleeve like this munaqaba's with teal velvet inserts ...Balloon sleeves are new trend for abayas. Do you like it, or is it too Shakespearian for you? I'm a fan of the first two. The full balloon is too much for my petite frame. There is also the balloon cut abaya which is a very elegant Omani design that I love... and which suits skinny short girls like me to a tee, and also look elegant on thin tall girls. The fuller balloon sleeves suit a bigger woman, and look playful on her, while on some very small, one gets lost in all the fabric.

Comments

Celeritas said…
I'm not the biggest fan but they do look pretty. I couldn't pull it off though.
March 22, 2009 at 8:56 PM
Majda said…
I love love LOVE balloon sleeves. You know where I could get that last one?
March 22, 2009 at 9:34 PM
Mina said…
Oh i love the ballon sleeve abaya, so chic...i got one from my aunt in febuary and its gorgoues, havent worn it though waiting for that special occasion:)
March 23, 2009 at 1:30 AM
Adventurous Ammena said…
ooh.. I do love the abaya.. I think my friend (Mehvish) posted this type on her blog too
March 23, 2009 at 2:51 AM
Ange said…
some i like and some i hate.
so hmm,, dunno
March 23, 2009 at 7:18 AM
Anonymous said…
mashallah I like the style but a part of me cringes anytime I see a abayah with the ballon sleeves becauses they hark on back to the pleated wonders so popular in the 90's of which I never really liked.

I remember this big ballooned sleeved black and white plaid jilbab I got from Kuwait, complete with lace cuffs.
LOL...I guess fashion goes in and comes back every decade or so.

The star one is cute, desert store has a version.
March 23, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Pixie said…
Celeritas: Hmmmm... I'd have to see you but you might be able to... But your style is very European isn't it?
March 23, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Pixie said…
Majda: I am going to be terribly unhelpful. A souq in Oman? Write sunnahstyle.com and ask them to sell the design. I asked them to do a few styles and they stocked them and I was THRILLED.
March 23, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Pixie said…
Mina: Lucky duck, mashaAllah. I honestly dont own one but I saw the girls in Oman wearing the last style I posted and it flowed so nice.
March 23, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Pixie said…
Ammena: post a link to her blog. i love hijabi blogs:D I'll go check it out.
March 23, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Pixie said…
Ange: I dont like a full balloon sleeve because it looks silly on me.
March 23, 2009 at 12:52 PM
Pixie said…
Um Ibrahim: I know! I posted the desertstore link in the post below this one. A sister sent me the pic and I think it is the same style.
March 23, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Anonymous said…
Wow your latest posts ar the best yet!!! i'm like in fashion hijabi shock right now..its like a syndrom i swear, i feel the ticks coming on now..lol...im teasing. i like the balloon sleeves but i'm real tiny and tall. so iono i think the first picture would look the best on me. the others would kinda make me look odd. i think.

cheers. salaam
March 23, 2009 at 5:50 PM
Anonymous said…
Assalamu alaikom,
I agree with Umm Ibrahim, it reminds me of the really super NOT fashionable old school kind.
March 23, 2009 at 6:23 PM
Ahxuan said…
salem sisters, pls visit my blog at ahxuan2share@blogspot.com
March 23, 2009 at 8:44 PM
Anonymous said…
Salama

I find these abayas extremely old-fashioned, same as the ones with shoulder pads:) So dunya like... vanity, but not even beutiful. Then again, it's only my opnion:)
March 24, 2009 at 12:47 AM
on345667755 said…
this would make my fat arms and skinny wrists look even more ridiculous! yet another abaya style that will only look good on thin ladies
March 24, 2009 at 5:58 AM
Pixie said…
essenceoftimeandearth: InshaAllah sisters will find the shopping links and tips useful.
March 24, 2009 at 9:21 AM
Pixie said…
eyes serene: I don't think i was around then:D I don't know what the old school ones were. The one thing I can't stand is shoulder pads.
March 24, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Pixie said…
Ahxuan: will try to inshaAllah.
March 24, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Pixie said…
Anonymous: LOL, wa alaykom e salaam ramatullah wa barakto. I like the top one, and the bottom style one. And the star one is cool. The full sleeve ones though I kinda hate.
March 24, 2009 at 9:23 AM
Pixie said…
oh an anon: please use a pseudo-name because we don't want any anonymouses. make up someething fun and do it like this
-Pixie
March 24, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Pixie said…
Sakeenah: LOl. I think the star one would look good on you dear. The puff isn't overwhelming so it suits more and I still think you;d rock that Arabesque one I could never pull off.
March 24, 2009 at 9:25 AM
asmaa17 said…
i'm not too fond of the balloon sleeve style... but i've got an oversized abaya [at least three sizes too big] and the sleeves are baggy... so i end up putting stretchy bracelets at the cuffs and it kinda looks like balloon sleeves...
i love the star design though...its definately something different =D
April 2, 2009 at 9:50 AM
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