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Dana Chehab lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and their three young children. “My husband and I are both Lebanese, and we raise our kids as Muslims. It’s a big part of our culture at home,” she explains. “But we also have an American lifestyle — we watch Netflix, our kids play Nintendo.” Here, she shares five outfits she wore in a week, including the best minimal basics and house slippers…
Top: Just Female, similar. Tank: Everlane. Jeans: Madewell. Moroccan slippers: similar.
“I bought these house slippers from an artisan at a market few years ago — I wear them in the kitchen. We make a lot of tabouli, and I’ve been experimenting with Lebanese-style pizza — manakeesh — with cheese and za’atar, plus tomatoes, olives, mint and pickles. My husband and I also love lavender lattes. They’re regular lattes but you put in lavender syrup. It adds a good sweetness.”
Sweater: babaà. Pants: Black Crane. Tee: Lululemon. Moroccan slippers: similar.
“Houston is really hot, but you don’t walk around outside that much — you go from the car to Target and back to your car! I choose breathable fabrics, like linen. Because I wear the hijab, I always cover my arms, legs, neck and hair for modesty. I like that what I wear on the outside mirrors my internal state. Many women choose to wear the hijab when they reach a certain age; I started wearing it when I went to college. It ties to my spirituality — living simply, being thoughtful in what I wear and how I live. I have fun with the colorful hijabs from Alibaba.”
Dress: Black Crane. Skirt leggings: Mimu Maxi. Necklace: Melissa Sonico. Straw bag: similar. Mules: similar.
“These photos make our backyard look like a forest! There’s a fruit tree, and we pick kumquats and give them to neighbors and friends. My mother-in-law loves them. The basket is a random find from a local Arabic grocery. The shop owner uses the baskets to display bags of rice, but I saw one on the ground and was like, are you selling this? He was like, ‘Um, okay, $8?’ We also use it to store blankets and toys in the house.”
“Under my dress, I’m wearing Mimu Maxi skirt leggings — they’re a thing! If I’m wearing a dress that doesn’t go all the way to the floor, they keep my legs covered.”
Sweater: Lauren Manoogian. Shirt: Eileen Fisher. Skirt leggings: Mimu Maxi. Water bottle: Purifyou.
“My sister and I are both into style. She lives in New York, but we’ll send each other dressing room pictures when shopping separately — you need someone’s opinion! Overall, I’m trying to have a more minimal lifestyle. I used to run into Target and grab whatever home or kitchen thing looked cute. But now I try to think more carefully about what I’m going to buy.”
Jacket: Black Crane. Tank: Urban Outfitters. Pants: Ilana Kohn. Ring: Another Feather.
“Sometimes, when I’m with friends who aren’t wearing the hijab, I realize that people are treating me differently. Maybe I’m checking out at the grocery and the person isn’t that polite, but they’ll be overly friendly to another customer. But overall, most people are kind. Most of all, I have become more confident in myself and what I’m wearing. I really believe in it.”
Thank you so much, Dana!
P.S. More weeks of outfits, including a craft editor who loves Old Navy and a Toronto lawyer.
(Photos by Bri Costello for Cup of Jo.)
