Islamic Swimwear

I've never been a fan of Islamic swimwear, or the "burkini" if you will.  I've contemplated purchasing one on many different occasions, however, regardless of my feelings on their look, but always talked myself out of it.

The things I couldn't get around were:

a) cost

and

b) attached hood.


Islamic swimsuits are EXPENSIVE.  At least to frugal ol' me.  Any piece of clothing I purchase is within the $5-$30 range with very few exceptions for special occasions or outerwear (coats).  I had a bikini back in high school that actually cost $80.  My mom bought it for me for Easter though.  Even she was upset with the cost but it was literally the only one that fit me right and covered enough for us both (me and my mother) to be comfortable.  After that experience, bikini buying fell to me, and I probably never spent over $40 myself. 

My first summer as a Muslim I was not fully covering yet so I bought board shorts and a short sleeved rash guard (think surfing) to wear swimming.  The two combined were probably close to $50, and I wore it about twice, both times being uncomfortable. It's strange because you feel "too covered" when with your family (cousins, etc.) all in their bikinis, but yet not covered enough as a Muslim who knows you need to actually cover much more.  So you're uncomfortable on two fronts!

Next you have the attached hood.  Ooooh this hood has been the deterrent for dozens of swimwear purchases.  I just think it's the goofiest looking thing.  I wear hijab and feel pretty.  I wear an attached swimhood and feel like a conehead. 

So, a number of factors with the upcoming summer caused me to 'dive' back into the search for Islamic swimwear.  The first is my son's age.  At 3.5 he knows what swimming is, knows he wants to do it, and knows he wants Mommy to do it with him.  The second is my husband's internship...in Louisiana.  We'll be an hour from the beach, the apartment has a pool and 'whirlpool' and I have no desire to just sit on the sidelines.

Ignoring the cost aspect and telling myself the next article I edit will almost pay for the suit (which is true), I ordered a two piece hoodless suit from Splashgear. 

It was this suit only with no hood (the hood is a third piece for an additional $15) and flowered pants instead of the plain black (about $102 USD including shipping).  Well, using the size chart I ordered small bottoms and a medium top.  It was huge!  The bottoms were ridiculously baggy and the sleeves of the top were too long and it just looked sloppy.  I planned on exchanging it for a smaller size in navy blue (with navy blue flowered pants).  I would be out return shipping but I knew with the current fit of the suit I would never wear it.

Well, suddenly, my husband decides he does not like this suit at all.  He says he thinks the flowered pants look goofy.  I counterargued that the plain pants did not look like me at all, which he agreed, so the decision was made to simply return the suit and continue the search. 

The very next day I was excited to find a hoodless option at Modestly Active.  Without even receiving the $90+ back for the former suit (which is still pending, insha'Allah soon!) I ordered the suit shown right for about $110 USD.  It shipped from the UK super fast arriving today.

Much to my dismay, however, they did not send the right suit!  They sent the exact same suit, but with a hood! 

I promptly e-mailed the company as to how to remedy the situation without having to pay return shipping to the UK.  While waiting for their response, I decided to try the suit on.

The hood is just as ridiculous as feared.  HOWEVER, after ordering the hoodless option (with the intention of wearing a normal shayla hijab with it) I started to worry that I would not be allowed to swim with a hijab in public pools and water parks, etc.  (making my purchase not so useful).  I played around with the hood and no, could not make it look good to me or my husband, but was happy with a shayla wrapped around it.  Also, the hood can be pulled down without looking too silly if you're with women, family, etc. 

How I hope to wear it dependent upon pool policies.

A necessary evil.

I had convinced myself that the hood was a good mistake, when I received an e-mail from the company saying they'd send out the hoodless asap and transfer return shipping $$ to my paypal account to send back the hooded suit. 

So now I'm waiting to hear if they received my e-mail saying "No!  Please don't fix your mistake!  I like the hood!"  lol.  So yes, the hood looks funny, but if swimming at a public pool or park with regulations, there's a good chance hijabs will be seen as dangerous/unhygenic/not allowed, so the hood is a necessary option.  However, at the beach, private pools, etc.  I will take advantage of the option to wrap a shayla around it making it more feminine and less alien. I apologize for the poor quality photos!  I was using my phone and the lighting is bad, etc.  I just wanted to give you a visual of the hood and the hood w/hijab (how I hope to wear it!)

Does anyone read this anymore?

Just in case someone does, short recap time!

Hijab - still wear it 100% of the time in Kentucky, 40% of the time in Indiana (any time I'm not around my parents). 

Prayer - REALLY struggling lately.  I was doing the best I've ever done during Ramadan and now I've totally lost it.  This semeste'rs work load starting the trend and it's become a habit.  I do more du'a now than in the past, but I realize the ritual prayer is the most important and I need to do a lot better.

School - A day or two before the semester began the college e-mailed me saying, "your program is being cancelled.  You must finish within the next three semesters.  Plan accordingly."  Well, my plan had been to take one course a semester.  It's graduate school, it's hard, I've got a son, and I work (more on that later).  I was in no hurry to rush through.  So, I had to add a class this semester (and all of the following) as well as take courses this summer in order to get done on time.  Thankfully, my complaints about finding tuition money for these extra unplanned courses resulted in about $2000 heading my way.  Yay for school being paid for!

Work - I am still an Independent Consult for Thirty-One Gifts but am planning on retiring at the end of April.  There are multiple reasons for this: a) I am too busy with other things to give the business the time it requires to succeed, b) everyone is poor right now and doesn't have money to spend on bags/purses, c) I think I'm annoying my friends, d) it's a Christian company and I feel like a fraud, e) 5 months in and I've still spent more than I've made, and f) new catalog is released May 1, I can't afford another catalog launch (new supplies, etc. etc.). 

More work - I am happily working as proofreader/editor for The New Muslim Survey, found here: http://www.thenewmuslimsurvey.org/ .  Take the survey; make your voice heard!  :)  Any errors found on the website are not my fault!  I edit the articles only, the little website "blurbs" were typed without my input.  :/

Family - My family still does not like that I'm Muslim.  My mom is getting better, though she wouldn't admit it.  She cooks separate zabiha food for us, called me the other day about a sale on long sleeved layering shirts at Wal-Mart, etc.  I openly show my brother pictures of me in hijab.  My grandmother's could both use a great deal of prayer.  Alzheimers seems to be winning more each day.  :(

Friends - I HAVE FRIENDS IN KENTUCKY!  One night last fall I had four (Muslim) women in the park ask me to join them and I thought I was on my way out of loneliness.  When they found out my husband was Shi'a, however, they never got ahold of me again  UNTIL months later, one of them had the audacity to ask for help with her research paper.  I had tried to get ahold of her in the past hoping to go to the park for a gathering again or something but was ignored.  So, no, I didn't help her with her paper.  I am an extremely nice person, often too nice for my own good, but this time it was NOT happening. 

I did meet one friend, during that time period, who has since moved in next door (thanks to my pleas to the landlord).  I thought I was happy with just one friend, my husband and son, my stressful schooling, and my random attempts at work.  However, I met another woman at the beginning of this semester.  My son hit her in the eye with a toy tent pole, so I thought the friendship came to a halt before it started.  Weeks later, though, she called and invited me to go to a gym with her.  She said it was a woman's gym, so I thought I was going to a Curves or something.  She then told me we'd be going from 9 - 10:30 at night.  I thought it odd, but I  was up for it.  Turns out, it's a co-ed gym during the day, but on Tuesday and Thursday nights, it's Muslim women only!!!!!  Basically, it's amazing.  I feel I've made three good friends through going (and I've only been five times), and a lot of nice acquaintances.  It's SOOOO nice to feel comfortable exercising!  T-shirts, tight pants or capris, no hijab!  It's just a really wonderful experience and just seems so out of place in small town southern Kentucky.  It's a college town so there are a LOT of Muslim women at this gym.  And it's all been spread by word of mouth.  Additionally, Muslim women are just more fun to work out with.  Nobody's there to get all muscular, we're just there to get/stay fit, and take care of ourselves.  Also, there is not that level of self-consciousness that I've experienced in the past (pre-Muslim days).  When it's Zumba time, even if you suck at Zumba, you give it a shot.  If someone (or everyone) drops out (needs a break, too tired, etc.) you can stand there and do Zumba by yourself and nobody will bat an eye.  I've never experienced such a thing. 

So, in addition to giving me a HUGE social boost, I feel great from working out regularly and am honestly much happier with myself.  I've never been fat, needed to lose weight, etc.  But I certainly was not healthy either, with my food choices and sitting with a computer all the time. 

Reading - Benazir Bhutto's "Reconciliation."  Just a short bit in but it seems like something everyone should read, especially in the west with all the crazy Muslim propaganda

Politics - suck.  Since it looks like Ron Paul can't win the nomination, I guess I'll have to vote Obama again. 

International affairs - suck.  What about Bahrain people, what about Bahrain?  I know Syria is no less bad due to Bahrain experiencing something similar.  However, it really irks me how the U.S. is all (especially John McCain) "we've got to do something!" when they're selling arms to Bahrain and in cohoots with Saudi Arabia who is killing protestors in their own country and in Bahrain.  Seriously, people.  Seriously. 

And Iran?  If we go to war with Iran here comes World War III, and here comes me moving to Canada.  I'm tired of living in a country that protects "the interests of Israel" despite whether it's morally right or even practically right (think military we just brought home).  I'm also tired of living in a country who thinks everyone's business is their own.  We've got a shitload of problems here at home, they (Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria) don't want your "help" anyway, so let's just fix ourselves first, mmkay? 

I think that's it.  I want to write a book.  Like, for publication.  But I am totally drawing a blank on ideas.  A memoir would be interesting, but at this stage in my life entirely too personal (unless published anonymously, which isn't recommended). Any ideas?  I'm sarcastic which comes off in my writing.  Keep that in mind.  :)