Dubai Calling: Dubai Street Fashion

Image by Prutha Raithatha

Kaftan/ Djellaba: From Morocco

Dubai was my first stop on my vacation trip. Apart from the cool architecture and a new culture, the best part of my trip was this lady I met, Fatima

I saw her one morning during breakfast in my hotel and I couldn’t stop looking at her. I loved what she was wearing and swore to find a kaftan like that for myself in Dubai. 2 days passed and I couldn’t find anything like that anywhere.  Then one evening I was going back to my room from my sister’s and I bumped into her in the hallway. I couldn’t help it and I jumped right in front of her, “ Where did you get that white caftan? I love it. I want one like that and can’t find it anywhere.” She started giggling. “ That’s cause its not from Dubai. It’s from Morocco. It’s the traditional dress of Morocco. You want to buy mine? You can try it if you like.” Can you believe how freaking excited I was to have my hands on that Kaftan? But it freaking didn’t fit !!! Long story short, I tried it, I have my mother’s hips, she will send me one after she gets back to her land.

She now lives in Belgium though, after marriage.

Her Story: Fatima was married when she was 16. She had her daughter when she was 18 and she is now 35 and has a 17-year-old daughter who she does not intend to get married anytime soon. When I asked her why she got married so early she replied that she came from a very conservative family and she wanted to drive a car. She met her husband and he was open minded enough to let her after marriage and so she married him. A little love story was involved too I could tell ;-)

But I have to give it to her. Staying within her social parameters, she did get her way and didn’t just sit at home like a lot of the girls I know who come from conservative families. She stood up for herself and made things happen for herself. After having her kids too, she went to school for 6 years to study fashion. She has her own website now of clothes she sells online and has 2 day cares she manages.

Anyhow I must get my hands on her email address and ask her to send me that kaftan and stay in touch with her. I will never be able to explain how much of a pleasure it was to meet her. She was so cute, funny, excited and sweet, it was unbelievable. And may I please add GORGEOUS!!