The no-fuss headscarves made of jersey fabrics are fabulous unless you move around.

They're great for conference calls and videos, but when I was out walking, moving my head from left to right, and stooping down, wouldn't you know — it came undone.

Over the last year of fiddling with scarves, veils, the under cap, pins, no pins, and magnets, I've concluded there's one way a headscarf works for me: tied in the back at the base of my neck, thrown around my neck and pinned over the back of my head on the opposite ear.

I spent a good 10 minutes fighting with the pins this morning, too. Those straight pins? They fall right out! Every time. I do not know what you guys are doing differently in the videos than I am.

I've spent a year, on and off, trying to get used to it, figuring it out, and watching tutorials. I figured it out real quick when I went outside.

Then again, I'm not coordinated enough to French braid my hair either. I never have been. Since I could not learn how to do that no matter how often I've tried over the years, I'm betting there's a high chance I won't be able to style my headscarf like others.

I can't have things squeezed tightly around my skull, like an under cap, the no-fuss jersey rectangle scarf that must sit that way to be flush on the face, or fabric wrapped tightly around my neck.

It doesn't work for me. It triggers a low-level heightened awareness, my flight-or-fight response. In that state, I cannot concentrate on the professional tasks in front of me.

There is no "getting used to it." I don't have to "get used to it." I'm not 11 and trying to adjust to a training bra.

I'm allowed to be comfortable, feel safe, and not hate how I look all at once.

Yesterday, I tripped over my pant leg again when speeding up the pace (another big pit bull on a tiny rope) but didn't fall.

These long, baggy pants do not work in #tactical situations. I am not trained to maneuver in them like some do in martial arts.

I have yet to tell you about all the times I've tripped over the bottom edges. They're so big that I have to hike up the waistband to sit at the base of my ribs to avoid tripping over them, which is uncomfortable.

Don't get me wrong.

I often enjoy them in the house, when walking outside, or running errands. They can be quite elegant, but the difficulty arises when I have to make fast work on my feet.

It's often unexpected.

In those moments, I trip. I've gotten good at not falling, but those few seconds of recovery can cost me several feet of distance, depending on the situation.

Throughout my life, I've often found I have more peace when prioritizing functionality for the scenarios I can find myself in.

I'm not 100 percent sure what this means for my wardrobe in the future, but there's a high chance it will not please Muslim X.

I dragged out some pants from 2 to 3 years ago. I had a different body then. I still fit into some pants and immediately started feeling calmer with the snug denim where it belonged. I felt more like myself, which was telling.

This means outside of the occasional comfort of lounging in these giant pants or feeling #elegant, I am not myself in them.

My #functionality is hampered. I'm not spending any more money experimenting with different styles or things that don't fit or work right.

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

No replies yet.