Otomi Embroidery

Long ago on "Stylespace by JBM," I made a blog post about Puebla dresses. A big part of these folk outfits' appeal is in the colorful embroidery. Well, for this blog post, I want to focus on Otomi embroidery.

I want to note that this is not the only style of embroidery; this is the style of Mexican embroidery I got to learn about as I was researching this topic.

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Otomi Embroidery

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To everyone who adores Bohemian or festival chic, one can find something to love about the earthy tones of something like Otomi embroidery. Feminine garments with such Otomi embroidery can really enhance the overall style of traditional Mexican folk outfits. These prints are known for being colorful and expressive. These designs can include floral designs, animals, or they may even be a combination of different colorful elements to form one amazing image.

Otomi embroidery gets its name from the Otomi people of the central plateau of Mexico. Otomi embroidery involves an elaborate stitching technique to put the colors together. These pieces are designed using embroidery floss. One thing I read or seen noted Otomi designs could take as many as eight months to make a complete piece; at least, by hand. Some designers can easily come up with these designs much quicker with sewing machines. Once these pieces are complete, some amazing designs can be made with Otomi embroidery.

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Otomi Embroidery on Garments and Goods

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Now that I have discussed Otomi embroidery, allow me to show you some examples. Follow along with me. All media featured are for educational purposes.


^ from: Otomi Mexico - Otomi embroidery involves colorful and intricate stitching with a rainbow of colors.

Now here is an example of Otomi embroidery on clothing:


^ from: (Pinterest) - These colorful Otomi stitches make up the colorful details of this dress.


^ from: (Camelia Mexican Boutique) - This already beautiful blouse is made more so with these colorful Otomi stitchings.


^ from: (CasaQ) - These sneakers are adorned with Otomi embroidery to jazz up these sneakers.


What do I think about Otomi embroidery? Find out in my Final Thoughts.

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My Thoughts on Otomi Embroidery

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Otomi embroidery on garments are colorful and beautiful. The colors are vibrant and really bring out the loveliness among fashionistas. Otomi embroidery can also be great for home furnishings as well. Even if you aren't of any Latin descent, you can still enjoy something like a top or a dress with these accents on them. You can equally enjoy some Otomi embroidery with household items like pictures, accent pillows, and more. There is a lot to love about Otomi embroidery to me. You can definitely add these pieces to your wardrobe or your home if these embroideries interest you.





Thank you for visiting this blog and this blog post! I hope you were able to be educated a bit while also gauging some of the material I have to offer for you. Subscribe/Follow my blog(s) in any capacity if you love my work. Share my blog post(s) with others if you enjoy my work. Support me further by connecting with me on social media; and if you are inclined, feel free to donate to me (donations are voluntary but would be appreciated). Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

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Kurtis

Ever seen a kurti? Rakhshanda of "Chamber of Beauty" inspired me to discuss kurtis. A kurti is a kind of traditional Hindu dress or long tunic usually worn with pants. They can be solid color or in any number of patterns. In a way, a kurti in Hindu fashion is almost like the Ao Dai in Vietnamese fashion. And in case you're interested in the Ao Dai, search for my "Ao Dai" blog post here on "StyleSpace by JBM." But anyhow, back to kurtis. Also, a special hello to all of my Hindu readers.





Here is an example of a kurti (may be changed if I can use a better picture):


^ from: looksgud.com (best I could find) - This is a kurti being worn with pants and pumps.


For educational purposes, here is a blog post from Rakhshanda showcasing kurtis and how to style a kurti:

HOW TO LOOK YOUR BEST IN INDIAN OUTFITS | INDIAN FASHION BLOGGER (Chamber of Beauty....)

This is an older blog post of hers wearing a kurti:

Ethnic Casual OOTD (Chamber of Beauty....)

If you love Rakhshanda's blog, feel free to follow her blog in some capacity. Believe me, she has many more lovely outfit posts than just these I've mentioned.

Kurtis are usually worn with some sort of basic pants. Usually not flared or legging-tight pants, but mostly some straight-leg pants. Footwear is usually on the chic side ranging from charming sandals or some pumps.

I think the kurti is a wonderful traditional Hindu garment. I still regard sarees/saris as the most fabulous traditional Hindu fashion garment, but kurtis are lovely. You almost can do no wrong in styling a kurti. I'd probably stay away from sneakers or something.





Well, that's it. Another post in the books. So...

Do you like kurtis?

Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

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Puebla Dresses

Puebla dresses are Mexican folk dresses. Most of them are fine mid-length daytime dresses in solid colors and adorned with some pretty colorful embroidery like flowers and birds. Their namesake comes from Puebla, Mexico. They could be complimented with ballet flats, some wedge sandals, or some espadrilles. There are Puebla dresses for various females ranging from children to adults. While Puebla dresses may lack any romantic appeal or anything body-hugging, they are comfortable and charming to wear.

So how does a Puebla dress look? Here is a picture I found:


^ from: guideimg.alibaba.com - Puebla dresses are simplistic in design, yet very charming as warm weather daytime dresses.

I find Puebla dresses to be colorful and (in a way) minimalist. They are in no way overly expressive or over-the-top. The simplistic beauty of these Mexican folk dresses make them great to wear and great to be seen in. So if you want a lovely ethnic dress to wear, be sure to take a look at Puebla dresses. Find a nice pair of sandals or ballet flats to pair these Puebla dresses with.





I hope you found this to be a nice blog post. My blog posts on fashion and beauty feature various topics, even including topics like certain folk fashions of certain cultures and nations.

What do you think about Puebla dresses? Would you wear one (if you haven't already)?

I hope you enjoyed this blog and my blog posts. Subscribe and Follow if you want more of my content. Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

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Hijab Fashion

(UPDATED: July 1, 2020)

This blog post highlights on Hijab fashion. When you open yourself to the world, you tend to open yourself to new places and new cultures. So I decided to open "StyleSpace by JBM" to Hijab fashion for this blog post. The post is mostly a digest rather than something truly detailed. I am not in any way properly educated on certain Middle Eastern culture deals or anything. What I will do, however, is provide this blog post to discuss Hijab fashion and introduce Hijab fashion to my reading masses.

BEFORE I BEGIN...

If you want factual information on Hijab, please read this Wikipedia entry on Hijab. This post only focuses on the fashion aspects of Hijab.

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S):

JUL 1 2020 - added an extra resource, edited overall look of post

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Hijab Fashion

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I had to do a fair amount of research for this topic so that I don't provide any serious misinformation. I am going to need some help from loyal audience members in case I've screwed something up here.

The way I've understood Hijab fashion is primarily that of dressing modestly as well as acting modestly. There are lots of religious and social undertones regarding Hijab chic as well; but since I am not as educated on those matters, I won't discuss those here in this blog post. One religious undertone I'll make note of is in dressing in Hijab in obedience to Allah. A key element of Hijab relates to hiding parts of the body. The most important thing to make note of is that Hijab is NOT a fashion lifestyle. It isn't a fashion statement much like Bohemian chic (for example). I am not introducing Hijab fashion style as a means of giving fashionistas ideas. Nor am I introducing Hijab fashion as any trend (because it isn't). I am merely introducing Hijab fashion here basically for discussion and education. It is just an expansion of the range of topics I offer here on "StyleSpace by JBM."

You can dress casually with Hijab as well as with some more classy pieces. The key word through my own research of this topic is modesty. So therefore, nothing like ripped jeans, offensive/suggestive messages and designs, midriff-baring, or anything like that is worn by those sporting Hijab. The same also applies to not wearing super-tight clothes. Hijab chic is about modesty. I have seen online some very classy-dressed females sporting Hijab style. These range from beautiful individual pieces to various vibrant colors. The way some outfits are put together make them very beautiful to the eyes, at least to me.

I have come across a number of different fashionable ladies whom wear Hijab styles on LOOKBOOK and even through blogging. Perhaps the first was a blogging friend of mine named Hoda. I then later came across a beautiful blogger who runs "BellQees." I'll introduce you to some personalities later in this blog post.

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Hijab Fashion: Individual Pieces

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Here are some individual pieces of Hijab chic. Some of these items may appear in individual future posts on "StyleSpace by JBM." Have a look (All pictures provided are offered for educational purposes):

The Pashmina.

^ from: www.amazon.com - The Pashmina is a staple of Hijabi chic. This one has floral designs on it.

A staple of Hijab fashion is the Pashmina. This is the headscarf worn to cover a woman's hair.

The Abaya.

^ from: alzefaf.com - This lovely dress is called an abaya.

An abaya is sort of the staple outfit for Hijab fashion as much as the qipao dress is for Chinese women. They are immensely modest. Just like saris/sarees, abayas can be worn either casually or formally. Some abayas are usually worn more like long tunics- mostly worn over jeans or pants outfits.

The Underscarf (or Bonnet Cap).

^ from: www.inayahcollection.com - This is an example of an underscarf.

In my research of this topic, I get the impression that the underscarf is more like a complimentary scarf to go with a basic scarf.

The Neck Cover.

^ from: www.amazon.com - A neck cover can be a great accessory for which the Hijabi fashionista can cover up the top of certain tops and dresses with deep necklines.

Someone sporting Hijab can wear neck covers to cover up certain low-cut blouses or revealing dresses.


And that is basically a brief amount of the usual traditional items and usual items of Hijab chic.


Here is a better resource regarding Hijab types, thanks to one loyal visitor's suggestion: Muslim Veil and Hijab Types | Complete Guide | Meaning, Styles, and More (Istizada).

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Hijab Fashion Around the Internet

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Here is some insight from various personalities:

• "The Veil...Unveiled: Why I Choose to Cover My Hair" (JooJoo Azad ~ Free Bird) « more information on Hijab.
• "Chic Outfits for the Modern Hijabi" (BellQees) « modern and chic Hijab-friendly outfits.

• ("Hijab" search results on LOOKBOOK) « Hijab outfits on LOOKBOOK.

• "Makeup-Masterful Hijabis Who Prove Modesty Is Anything but Boring" (POPSUGAR) « A piece regarding beauty of Hijab.





I will be sure to add more resources. There was one blogger I wanted to feature, but that one blog had some kind of redirect that is a distraction. So I didn't include one certain blog.

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Hijab Fashion: Final Thoughts

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I presented this blog post because I want to expand the range of fashion discussion in my blog posts. There is importance to me in offering a blog about anything and everything regarding fashion and in including a topic like this one. Religion is NOT a topic I discuss a lot or focus on. I am hopeful I can improve this post for visitors so more people get a factual and respectful view on the matter discussed here.

Cross-Promotion/Other Reading.

Here is about the only other post even remotely relevant to concepts expressed in this post. Take a look at it for more:

"Modest Dressing" (StyleSpace by JBM)
^ Revealing isn't always the way to go. This blog post is all about modest dressing, like some of the concepts of Hijab fashion.

Last Call...

People, if you can help make my post on Hijab fashion better with some more factual material, please contact me and let me know of any changes I should make. The main goal in the end is to provide a quality blog post enjoyable and useful in regards to this topic. So please provide me some help if there are certain things I can add to help make this post more useful.


That concludes this post for the most part.






I hope you all now have a little perspective on Hijab fashion. I offered this in an educational manner and made sure to include as much factual material as possible. Go ahead and Subscribe and Follow if you enjoyed your time here and if you enjoyed my work. Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

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Saris (or Sarees)

(UPDATED: June 26, 2014)

A sari (or saree) is a lovely outfit worn by Hindu women. Their purposes range from casual fashion to formal occasions. I've had some female friends from India (or mostly from India) whom I've seen wear saris. I'll share these lovely garment with you all in this blog post. Perhaps my blog post on saris/sarees will be of interest of you, and maybe you will find something to love about saris. This blog post is part of my "Folk Fashion" label, which pertains to traditional fashions of certain countries and cultures. Let's begin!

I will mostly use "sari" in this blog post rather than "saree." I may interchange the two terms through this post, but I will mostly refer to these as saris.

A Special Hello...

If you are from India or Pakistan, let me send a special hello you, and welcome to "StyleSpace by JBM!" Since saris are worn mostly by women from India and Pakistan, I also welcome my Indian and Pakistani audiences to "StyleSpace by JBM." Of course... I welcome all of my worldwide audience.

LATEST UPDATE(S)/REVISION(S)

JUN 26 2014 - removed a link, edited some content

--- Saris/Sarees ---

This is an example of a sari/saree being worn:


^ from: www.amazon.com - This is a sari/saree. Wonderful what yards of fabric can look like when wrapped beautifully and worn by a woman.

The sari/saree is the most beautiful dress-type garment for Hindu and Muslim women. I have seen a few saris being worn before by Hindu women. I say Hindu because it is not just Indian (as in the country of India) that wear saris. These are even worn by Pakistani women, as I once read. Many saris consist of one dominating color accompanied by various patterns and accents of varying colors. Most saris are made from satin or silk. Often times, saris are worn over a sari blouse (called a choli) and a sari petticoats. What I love most about saris (or most kinds of Hindu clothing in general) is the array of colors and patterns. When wrapped completely and complimented with the choli and the petticoat skirt, saris can be absolutely beautiful on women.

There are many styles of saris (such as Lehenga saris) for many different occasions (such as for India's Diwali). Just for the purpose of this blog post though, I wanted to provide just a basic introduction to saris.

Draping Saris/Sarees.

You have to fold saris/sarees in a certain way to be able to wear them. Here is one video discussing the process for which to fold a sari. But remember- this is one of just many different videos discussing how to fold a sari/saree:


^ "How to drape an Indian saree ...www.SakhiFashions.com"

There are MANY ways to fold a sari/saree. All I did was show off one such way to do so. You may look elsewhere online for more advanced and more interesting methods of tying a sari/saree. It is also possible to wear a sari/saree even if you're pregnant.

For more information on wearing/draping saris and other resources regarding wearing them, I have included this section below:

Sari/Saree Resources.

I am not any kind of expert on this topic. So rather than pretend my research before the post fully paid off, I figured I'd share some resources with you in case you want more insight. You may look at the material below this paragraph to help you to learn more about saris than what I provided in this introductory section. To learn more about saris, here are some resources online I pulled up for you all:

• "How to Wear a Saree" (ProKerala)
• "Trend Alert: Drape Your Sari With a Twist" (iDiva)
• "New ways to drape a saree" (Times of India)
• Saree draping styles from Lakme

I hope this all helps you and gives you extra insight on this topic.

--- Sari/Saree Inspirations ---

Here are some bloggers wearing their saris/sarees. This is a chance for you to see saris being worn. Follow their blogs if their work interests you:

• "Colorful Cotton Sari for summers..Sari Love [#7]" (My Unfinished Life) « blue/purple/crimson sari. Also includes multiple saris worn by Sushmita.
• "Desi girl" (Chappals vs Stilltoes) « Anupriya in traditional Hindu clothing, including a sari/saree.
• "Feeling traditional" (Bong's Belleza) « a jade green and royal blue sari.
• "Fashion Trend - Ethnic Indian Designer Saree" (Stylish by Nature) « a beautiful white sari/saree with black and gold accents worn by the blogger herself.
• "Fashion Trend - Indian Saree with Halter Blouse by IndusDiva.com" (Stylish By Nature) « a muted yellow sari with white, dark green, and red accents.
• "Here Comes the Bride" (Shotcouture) « a wedding sari worn by the blogger (extra note: this is an old blog I'm linking to. If you want to visit Pratishtha's newer blog, which mostly is a food blog, click here: The Breakfast Projekt).

There lies your sari/saree insights.

--- Saris/Sarees: Final Thoughts ---

The sari is a fabulous outfit for Indian and Pakistani women. It is the most beautiful sort of traditional outfit an Indian or Pakistani woman could wear. The colors and patterns make them truly lovely to wear. There are many ways to drape a sari. Regardless of the method, any woman who wears these beautiful garments look amazing. These are some wonderful garments worn beautifully by those who wear them.

So to all the women out there who wear saris, proudly rock those saris!

--- Saris/Sarees Online ---

Here are a few sites I found online that sell saris in case you want to buy your own. Have a look around:

• saris/sarees on eBay

• Indian Saree and Blouse Design
• Saris/Sarees on Utsav Fashion
• saris/sarees on www.cbazzar.com
• Saree world

Happy shopping! :)





You know, I may do a few more blog posts regarding other Hindu garments. I may do so based on traffic and interest to this blog post and this topic.

What do you think about saris/sarees?

Let your thoughts flow here and thanks for reading!

Thank you for reading!

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Cheongsam (or Qípáo) Dresses

The cheongsam (or qípáo) is an elegant Chinese dress. These dresses accentuate one's curves and offer slits on the sides to elegantly showcase the wearer's legs. Many of these qípáo dresses are made of silk or satin, and they usually have beautiful designs on most of them. There are qípáo dresses for adults as well as little girls. There are even masculine versions of cheongsams called changshans. If you are a video game player, you may be familiar with Lei Fang of the Dead or Alive series. She wears a qípáo dress with ridiculously high slits on the sides.

I've always known them as qípáo dresses, so I'll use "qípáo" rather than cheongsam. Qípáo is the Mandarin Chinese name for a cheongsam.

A Special Hello...

Before I continue, let me extend a special welcome to my Chinese audience who may be viewing this blog post and this blog. Ni hao! ^_^

--- The Cheongsam/Qípáo Dress ---

Here is a picture of a traditional chenogsam/qípáo dress:


^ from: www.polyvore.com (best I could find) - A traditional cheongsam/qípáo dress.


This is a video featuring multiple qípáo dresses:


^ "Chinese Dress - Chinese Qipao Dresses "


What I personally find most attractive about these traditional qípáo dresses is just how silky they are as well as how elegantly designed they are. They gracefully accentuate the body while offering an elegant view of the female's legs. A dress is meant to make any female feel beautiful and graceful, and these very feminine dresses do just that. I personally love a long, red qípáo dress that has sakura (Japanese for "cherry blossoms") designs on them.

So I would say that the cheongsam/qípáo dress to China is more like the áo dài to Vietnamese women. For more information on the cheongsam/qípáo, you can look at this Wikipedia page on the cheongsam.





Anyone interested in getting a cheongsam/qípáo can look for qípáo on eBay or even qipao dresses on oriental-decor.com.

Thank you for reading!

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Áo Dài

The áo dài is a traditional outfit worn by Vietnamese women. These outfits consist of a very long tunic and some pants. They are very beautiful to see being worn on Vietnamese women. They are usually worn mostly for formal occasions. This blog post is about the beautiful áo dài outfit. It is a continuation of the various fashion-related topics here on "StyleSpace by JBM."

If there are Vietnamese people reading this blog post, I'd like to send a special hello to you all. And so you know, "áo dài" is pronounced like "oh yai." I am referring to the áo dài in this post, but there is also a city in Vietnam called Ao Dai.

NOTE: I used the Wikipedia entry on Áo Dài to get some of the proper Vietnamese spelling correctly.

About the Label: "Folk Fashion"

Topics in this category relate to specific fashions indigenous to or traditional to certain cultures or countries. Topics may specifically discuss one traditional costume or traditional outfit, or they may be about multiple traditional folk outfits.

--- The Áo Dài at a Glance ---

Here is a look at the áo dài. These three pictures will set the tone:


^ from: www.amazon.com - Introducing Vietnam's traditional dress- the áo dài.


^ from: www.amazon.com - These áo dài are worn with conic hats called nón lá.


^ from: www.amazon.com - The pants to ao dai are usually white. Here, this is a buttercup yellow áo dài.

Considering that my hometown of Houston, Texas, USA has the largest Vietnamese population in Texas and one of the largest in America; some of my Vietnamese friends have worn áo dài. This outfit consists of a beautiful long tunic and a pair of pants. These long tunics have long sleeves to them. They are beautiful and elegant. They may either have a single color or may have multiple colors and designs to them. Some women wear conic hats with their áo dài called nón lá. Alternatively, a turban could be worn rather than a nón lá. Some women even perform fan dances while wearing their áo dài. I love the colorful and beautiful designs of the áo dài tunics. They are usually adorned with beautiful floral designs or some other designs. I learned from another website that the history of the áo dài dates back to as far as 1744. Áo Dài outfits are worn mostly by women, but there are also áo dài for children as well. There are even a masculine version of áo dài called áo ga^'m.

What I love most about the áo dài is just how beautiful the tunic and pants flow. They are simply gorgeous outfits to me. These outfits can come in vibrant colors and with beautiful designs. They all look so charming and elegant, and so are the women who wear them.


Here is a video of one woman wearing her áo dài. This is a beautiful all-white áo dài. Watch as it flows in the wind as she walks by and when she stands up. Have a look:


^ "Ao Dai Trang - White Vietnamese Traditional Dress"

Isn't this a beautiful outfit? Truly gorgeous.





This is normally the point where I showcase links for you to visit if you want to shop for certain relevant items featured in my posts. However, there are not too many online resources for me to share with you all. So I will use the material from my "John's Blog Space" post of the same name:

"Ao Dai" search on Flickr
^ "Ao Dai" search results on Flickr

Áo Dài Vinh
^ (browse for the Áo Dài outfits)

Áo Dài Heaven
^ Áo Dài can be purchased here; site available in English and Vietnamese.

"Ao Dai, the Vietnamese long dress" on www.vietnam-beauty.com
^ Learn more about the Áo Dài.

Thank you for reading!

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