Chic of Araby

Italian designer Walter Albini created this in 1976 (photo from the New York Times, Oct. 12, 2010). Read more about him here. You'd think that, today, the more germane term would be hijab chic.

The phrase, Chic of Araby, isn't original. In fact, the Times used it for a men's fashion spread in Spring 2010. Below is a representative photo. Very Lawrence of Arabia retro. More here. (Maybe the Times got the name from the John Abercrombie 2009 track.)

Muslim Chic from Urban Outfitters

This is pretty unbelievable. A leather and rope bracelet with allah الله inscribed in Arabic. What is Urban Outfitters up to? First the kufiya, and now this? Is Islamic style really becoming chic?

Except that, the item is no longer available. Were their protests? I don't know. (I learned about this from Kabobfest awhile back. But no harm in recycling, is there?)

(And in the back of my mind, I'm hearing an objection. Allah in Arabic just means God. When Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews speak of God, they use the same word.)

When you could get it, the bracelet cost $8.