Modesty meets style

Modest dressing is a choice made by many lovely ladies here in Bahrain and Sara Abdul Ghaffar, AKA Modest Belle, is aiming to prove that modesty does not have to mean boring, writes Camille Jones.

She has been blogging for the past year about her style and has given inspiration to many Arab women all over the world with her graceful ensemble that are fashionable yet conservative.

I wanted to pick her brain about her work so I met her at Riva and we chatted about the new autumn/winter collection. The first piece that captured her attention was a floral printed top in navy and burgundy. She loved that the flowers were wilted and reflected the shift of season. This piece can be paired with jeans and you are ready for any event.

Our next discovery was a 60s-inspired baby blue pastel coat with jakar print for BD49 and since certain pastels are being carried into autumn it is perfect for the ‘Jackie O’ look that we all love.

We then saw a gorgeous navy and white top for BD27.500 with bold Islamic prints that are relevant to the region. It could be paired with jeans or white trousers for a demure ‘Modical’ (mod meets nautical) style that are both trendy and non-revealing. 

Since Bahrain’s Autumn weather is considerably warmer than other parts of the world, ladies need to consider the heat when selecting their outfits. We found a grey ‘high-low’ dress made of a light jersey that keeps you fashionable yet cool. Sara was very fond of this piece and said: “I love the length of the arms. You can pair it with leggings and a wedge shoe for a conservative statement.”

While in Zara we found an ‘over-sized’ wool cape jacket with faux leather trim and a skinny belt for BD69.900 now seen on all the runways. It is modest and great for winter.

The last piece we found was a trench coat for BD49.900 that can be worn all season. Sara said: “I love beige or brown trench coats and they are perfect for a demure look when you do not know what to wear. They are perfect for travelling and are timeless. Every girl should have one in her closet.”

Her last piece of advice was to dress for your body type as some women don’t even realise what they are wearing is too tight or revealing. Often bad choices go against the look you’re trying to achieve. To catch up on Sara’s blog visit www.themodestbelle.com

Other deals I’m privy to:
Pull & Bear –  Special promotion on selected items
Stradivarius –  Shop with your friends with BD45 to receive gift vouchers and friendship bracelets

Pimkie – Mid season promotion for 50 per cent off
Re-opening of Massimo Dutti Seef Mall branch