There are many reasons why this ensemble is so amazing. It's very feminine and elegant being so flowy and trailing. It is available in any material you like, for every single occasion. For example, wedding thobes are usually in velvet with intricate embroidery and crystals on. Beautiful silk thobes are often worn for occasions and my favourite for everyday is cotton or this stretchy heavy fabric (I'm not sure what it's called so maybe someone else can tell me).
With thobes you don't have to worry whether you are a size 10 or a size 18 because they are very loose fitting and don't display all your lumps and bumps. They are also nice and cool to wear. But their most economical feature is that they are cheap (I'm mostly talking about the everyday ones now). It's refreshing to see that those who are wealthy go to the same shops and buy the same 3 Rial thobe and lossi set that those who are poorer do. Ideally, you can just have a small selection of thobes in different colours and then just keep buying different lossi's...for 1 Rial each! My first shopping trip to the street in Salalah where all the thobe shops are (I know it as Al Gharbiya) was heaven!
I must just mention one drawback...the Dhofari thobe doesn't appear to be intended for those who are particularly active. I have struggled to achieve household chores while wearing one, constantly sucking up a corner in the vacuum cleaner or tripping over the tail. And I have nightmares about setting myself on fire while cooking. But they are so very pretty....
@ this post, I love your review of the garment. I want some of the daywear ones. I only have wedding ones.
ReplyDeleteOPNO...I'm going to Salalah soon and I would be more than happy to do a little shopping on your behalf ; ) Email me if you're interested.
ReplyDeleteVictoria: That's so kind of you, really mashaAllah:) I will.
ReplyDeleteperhaps some velcro on the train at the back so you can hitch it up securly while working
ReplyDeleteAccording to Jebbalis, the tail of the thobe used to be heavier back in the old days and usually made of a heavier fabric (like leather) with the purpose of erasing women's footprints when they were out with their animals so men wouldn't follow them!
ReplyDeleteAs salam alaikum Victoria.
ReplyDeletemashaAllah wa mabrook on your shopping spree for thobes. They definitly are pretty & comfy for relaxing in at home or at a sisters house. I was cooking just a few days before ramadhan when i caught on fire..i could smell something and then woosh the big flame right in my face,alhamdulillah i didnt get burnt but i was soo shaky. Thobes are definitly not for new mums with small babies or for doing house chores in them just as you mentioned.
My favs are silk thobes and the modern style of wedding thobe..im not too big on the gaudy 1930's designs some of them have on their fronts..but then again thats just my opinion, each to our own right.
Keep the reviews coming..loved it !!