A Carina is a kind of top. The company calls it "body wear". Hijabi girls all over Egypt cannot live without them. Carina has found its way across the globe. Reaching millions and millions of hijabis.
Let us first describe it. It comes in all shapes and sizes. In many designs. You find halters, tanks, tube tops, turtle necks, long sleeve, short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve, sleeveless... and on and on and on. They use a ridiculously stretchy fabric that just stretches and stretches without ever stopping. There are no visible seams. It clings to the wearer's body so tightly that you'd think the body is actually painted with whatever odd shade of color it's in. The colors are indeed odd. Pink, blue, green, yellow, brown.... The Carina can be made into all colors. Strangely, all colors look horrid when made into a Carina. Then comes the fabric. Manufacturers imitating the Carina all over the country have tried to figure out the unusual Carina recipe that allows it to stretch and stretch and stretch. The secret ingredient that gives the Carina it's rubber like feel yes still be fabric-y enough to be worn...is still undiscovered.
The Egyptian Hijabi community has expressed a very high demand for the Carina. Hijabis claim that they cannot live without them. Most of them own the Carina in all its colors. They like to layer it underneath tops that would otherwise by revealing if worn without a Carina. Some like to layer skin colored Carinas underneath evening dresses thus giving the illusion of wearing (ta da) a strapless dress (for example). The white Carina is commonly used as a bridal undergarment. If the Hijabi bride-to-be wishes to wear a halter or strapless gown, all she has to do is layer the white Carina underneath. Crystal embroidery is then added at the collar to accentuate the Carina, thus creating an "evening" effect.
Carina comes in five sizes. The XS, S, M, L and XL. The XL fits a size ten, with little room to breath, but then it doesn't really matter because we all know how stretchy a Carina can get. I will not even get started on the XS size.
The latest Carina product are the Carina leggings. Hijabis like to layer these under short skirts and dresses.. three quarter length pants and occasional minis.
I hate Carinas. Not only do they look and feel ugly. They are just not a garment that any hijabi should be wearing. Hijabi clothes are meant to be loose and flowy. Carina's are meant to be undergarments. They are not supposed to be seen. That is if you prefer wearing a Carina rather than a 100% egyptian cotton top as an undergarment. I just don't see reason.
Carinas take away from the value of your outfit. As soon as you add a Carina, your look transforms..and you start resembling the odd fashionistas that I commonly see on Egyptian streets. Carinas are synthetic. They do not allow your skin to breath. They trap heat in your body. I really cannot understand how Hijabi's manage wearing them in the blistering Cairo heat. The one thing that is worse than a Carina. Is a Carina with sweat patches.
For the Hijabis that cannot live without Carinas. Please just let me tell you this. Why don't you just use Cardigans to cover up instead? I have them in all colors and not only are they comfortable, they allow my skin to breath, they look elegant and classy. As for the infamous Carina leggings. I choose to not provide advice in that area.
So you probably hate my post. Or disagree with me. It's cool as long as I got it out of my chest.
I HATE CARINAS
(Thank you blogger)
