Jeddah Slice of Life

Nothing special, but I just like everything about this photo...

Saudi Arabia Fancy Purses

These purses won't hold much more than a lipstick and keys, and a few might even fit in a mobile phone, but they are intended to be mere accessories to complete an outfit. 

They are perfect accessories for a fancy wedding here in Saudi Arabia - lots of over the top bling, large gawdy stones and rhinestones. 

I believe most of these clutches are from India or Pakistan.

Venturing Out Sans Abaya

I see more and more women venturing out in public without abayas lately.  As long as a woman is modestly dressed - long sleeves, high neckline, long skirt or pants - an abaya is actually not required any more.  

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Saudi Arabia Fancy Female Footwear

Saudi women are very fashionable and elegant.  Whether entertaining guests at home or attending a lavish wedding, Saudi women are the epitome of elegance and grace.  This post shows some fancy footwear worn by Saudi women for fancy occasions.

The shoes shown here are not actually that over the top expensive. They cost about 150 Saudi riyals, which converts to about $40 US. I believe they are made in India or Pakistan.

Jeddah Wedding Fashions

These types of fancy dresses are worn at female only events, like gender segregated weddings.  Saudi women would never wear clothing exposing so much skin in front of men who are not related to them.

All the Saudi weddings I have attended have been the most elegant affairs, each one outdoing the one before - the glitz, the glamour, the flowers, the food.

OurWorld - Saudi Arabia Women Working

When I first moved to Jeddah in 2007, I rarely saw women working.  At that time women were only allowed to work in the fields of education (at all female facilities only) or in the medical sector.  This was largely due to the severe gender segregation in this society.

A few short years ago, that all changed.  The change began when the king at the time made a new law that businesses catering to females, such as cosmetics and lingerie, must employ female clerks to attend to female customers.

That was further expanded a short time later to allow women to work in ALL sectors, loosening the strict gender segregation customs.  

I still get excited and happy when I see Saudi women working in all sorts of positions, ranging from security to management, from call centers to jewelry counters, from tourism to the entertainment arena (now that movie theaters are popping up here again).

Saudi women are strong, intelligent, capable, and motivated.  Seeing them leading more normal lives now on parr with other women around the world is quite satisfying and encouraging to me.  

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