Advice says women should dress modestly - how modest? Can I wear jeans? Should I cover my (blonde) hair?

coopers
By coopers

Would it be best to cover my (blonde) hair?

By Besty• 10 Dec 2008 08:19
Besty

My wife (who is yet to join me here) has been asking me the same questions. She's concerned about what to bring and what's acceptable.........I was therefore tasked with observing what was being worn.

My response to her was that the majority of women Western ladies here dressed "sensibly" i.e. jeans or 3/4 length pants or skirts/dresses. Most of them wore a top that covered their shoulders and was waist length. It was different in some hotel bars/clubs where there were short skirts and skimpier tops which to me, would have been deemed inappropriate during the day.

No doubt my wife will still feel the need to go out and buy new clothes when she arrives but there are plenty of places here to accommodate that!

Enjoy your stay here, make the most of it and don't pay attention to all the responses you will receive to questions on here. As you will see, there are people who know everything and have never had the need to ask a question before moving to another country.

By anonymous• 10 Dec 2008 07:42
anonymous

Modest means decent thus, no minis / sleeveless in public places.

This is an Islamic Country.

If you would able to visit Saudi Arabia you would understand me more.

Anyway, enjoy your stay!!

Cheers..

By wol1• 10 Dec 2008 03:46
wol1

Depends where you go. I have seen women in mini skirts and bare midriffs. If you go to City Centre mall in a short skirt the young males will act like baboons and point and holler. It's really funny watching them, cheaper than going to the zoo. Very entertaining.

If you go to Villagio you will be looked at. If you go to a high class restaurant you will be fine.

Otherwise dress in longer pants and blouses not because of the culture but because the climate here is a nightmare and the air is filthy most of the time. There's a reason people are wrapped up head to toe in the first place and it's not because of culture, it arose from the desert climate and air quality. It then became 'culture'.

By fefee• 10 Dec 2008 02:47
fefee

WHICH PART OF THE WORLD ARE YOU COMING FROM? HAVET YOU SEEN BLOND ARABIC WOMEN BEFORE?? THERE ARE LOT OF BLOND LEBANESE FOR EXAMPLE. I WONDER WHY PEOPLE THINK BLOND HAIR IS SOMETHING ABNORMAL TO THE REST OF THE WORLD?

NO WORRIES , BLOND, BRUNET BLACK, RED OR WHAT EVER HAIR COLOUR IS WELCOME. YOU CAN ALSO BRING ALL YOUR LOVELY CLOTHS WITH YOU. IF YOU FORGET SOME THING YOU CAN BUY WHAT EVER STUFF YOU LIKE FROM HERE . SO RELAX AND COME AS YOU ARE. NO NEED TO CHANGE ANY THING! STAY BLOND!

CHEERS AND GOOD LUCK!

By sek• 10 Dec 2008 01:15
sek

definitely agree with niki! don't worry...be cool!

By nikired• 10 Dec 2008 00:49
nikired

I have been here three weeks so i am no expert, but i had the same worries before i got here. Yes you can wear jeans... just make sure that your midriff isn't hanging out. No you do not have to cover your hair... unless you want too.

If you feel comfortable wearing something to the office (assuming you might work in a professional offic) or to a meeting with the president of your company, or on a first date where you wanted to make a really good impression of the girl you take home to mom, then it's a safe bet that you can feel free to wear it here.

Bare shoulders around town are frowned on and so are short skirts and shorts. Knee length dresses and skirts and peddle pushers are fine.

Rule of thumb...if you feel you might be showing too much... you probably are. But once you are here for a few days you will have a pretty good grasp of what is acceptible and what isn't. Truth be told... I have to go shopping... i left all my "good" stuff at home and now realize that i could have brought it to wear out.

I hope this helps.

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