Around the World in 80 Dresses

At many places on my travels in Islamic countries I encountered sign boards enforcing the veil. The reality is not far from the sign boards I saw in Kuala Terengganu, East Malaysia, and in Abu Dhabi: everywhere women in black abaya and hijab like shadow images. Any colour is denied in public albeit there are variations of black. It all depends on who and where. Elegant ladies in a mall in Dubai, mother and child in holy Qom or the more modern version of the two girls in Tabriz, both Iran, black is the dominant colour. Felicia Engelmann titled her book on Islamic fashion in big cities appropriately Dresses make people, veils make women . In 2016 Dolce & Gabbana advertised a trendy collection for Middle Eastern customers showing a model in embroidered black wearing fancy sunglasses and handbag. © Dolce & Gabbana In Kuching in Malaysian Borneo with their strong Chinese and indigenous minorities the rules are less strict even in public service. Colours ...

In ancient China yellow was the imperial colour. In Shanghai I was tempted to buy one of those iconic portraits of a noble Chinese ancestor, his brocade coat glowing with yellow silk and golden threads. The painting was too big to send it home but the combination of yellow and gold inspired my combination of a silk blouse, vintage Thierry Mugler , and jewellery from Greek designer Ilias Lalaounis . I know no other jeweller West of India and the Dubai gold market who works so boldly in massive gold. He gets his inspiration from ancient gold treasures like those found in Troy. I first encountered his gleaming marvels on a visit to the Greek island Mykonos. ©hjorleifur, Mykonos, pixabay                                       Gold got a new dimension when I strolled through the Dubai gold souq. Wow! The massive attack of t...