A year ago on November 12, 2007, I published  on this very blog., an article named “Dangerous Lingerie Under the Veil in Syria” ,see here. The same ‘Syrian Lingeries’ surfaced in the today actualities in the form of a book.

Lingerie in Syria

Lingerie

On the German site “Quantara”, an Internet portal for sustaining a dialog with the Islamic world,  an article by  Susannah Tarbush under the curious name  “Panties from the “Axis of Evil”  see here,  reveals the surprising fact that the Syrian member of the “Axis of Evil” has many sexy underwear attributes. Not to bad for an Axis of Evil..and very subtle for an entertaining dialog with the Islamist world.

Now let’s see what’s all about, I quote from the “Axis of Evil” article, ..”When Malu Halasa [journalist] and Rana Salam [designer] visited the souqs and shops of Damascus and Aleppo during a visit a couple of years ago, they were surprised by the apparent contradiction between the unusually audacious and playful lingerie on display there and the relatively conservative society, in which so many women are veiled.

Lingerie

Halasa and Salam soon decided to co-author a book, “The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie: Intimacy and Design,” which was published recently by Chronicle Books of San Francisco… .”..see here.

And more…..It turns out that women in Syria’s conservative culture, “invest heavily in vivid, imaginatively designed lingerie to keep their men interested, not unlike the way a fisherman use brightly-colored flies to attract bass.”, see here.

The BBC refers to this kind of lingerie investment in an article called “Sexy secrets of the Syrian souk “, for example  “It stems from the Syrian tradition for brides-to-be to be given a trousseau of exotic underwear – sometimes dozens of items – usually by girlfriends, aunties and cousins, to add spice to their wedding nights, honeymoons and beyond.”

The souk

And further …”[On the contrary,] sex is there to be enjoyed to the maximum by Muslims – as long as they are married Muslims – and there are numerous religious exhortations on the importance of foreplay, mutual titillation and satisfaction for both partners. Adventurous underwear is popular among conservative Muslim couples. Indeed, if a husband fails to satisfy his wife sexually – or vice versa – it is considered grounds for divorce under Islamic law.”…see here.

QLICK  TO PLAY..

Continuing in the same vein, the article “Syrian wedding lingerie: veils of the unexpected”

Rana Salam (below) and Malu Halasi

emphasise that ..”It is

extraordinary that this deeply religious and conservative society is producing such saucy and explicit underwear. But, according to Rana Salam, co-author with Malu Halasa”… of the book on the lingerie ..” Islamic society in Syria is far from prudish, and men and women have open discussions about sex: ‘Syrians are known for being direct about sexual matters, and they love to laugh about it, too,’ she says. Women in Syria are also by no means the most restricted in the Arab world: they have good jobs, go to university and can make their own decisions. While

The souk

researching the book, Salam, who was raised in Lebanon, found that the lingerie was considered a treat, for both sexes. ‘t’s all about fantasy,’ she says. ‘For the woman, it can spell freedom: it says it’s okay to experiment with your husband, so the man benefits too.’
It’s doing what it says on the packet – aiming to seduce – while conveying a deeper social message. “It’s saying that these people have fun and joy in their lives,” she says, “and the Middle East isn’t all just about war and repression.”….see here on TIMEONLINE.

The Miami Herald, on his “Fashion and Beauty” page, mentioned in his article “Panties in a twist: Syrian women wear sexy underwear, too..”:…  ” ‘There’s an idea that because it’s Islam, they don’t have sex,’ explained Halasa, who is a co-author of several other books and writes for the British press. ‘We cannot make assumptions about the private lives of Muslims.’

Lingerie with birds and fur

Lingerie is a luxury item in Syria. Halasa doesn’t suggest that the women are wearing racy panties beneath their burqas; they are worn at intimate moments. When a woman gets married, she often collects up to 30 outfits for her wedding night. They are gifts to herself and from folks like her mother, future mother-in-law and groom.

The lingerie represents a rite of passage from virginity to respectable, married womanhood.

‘Some Syrian women think that buying lingerie is a waste of money and it has no role in their sexual lives. While for some traditional people, it is a must to buy lingerie with all different colors and styles before getting married,” an unidentified woman says in the book. “I think that not being able to wear what you want in daily life is a factor, which makes some girls feel that only marriage will give them the chance to show.”.. see here.

And in Israel…Lingerie..Lingerie… is women’s secret  panache , even for Jewish  orthodox women

Orthodox Jewish women

Can WE Do It ?

For example  from an article on TIMEONLINE (April 15, 2006) ” Devout shoppers drawn to very unorthodox mall” in Bnei Brak.I quote ..”All the mannequins are headless and there is a dearth of in-store posters because of the Torah’s edict against any likeness of the human image. On the packaging for women’s tights the human form has been discreetly hidden behind strategically placed stickers.

The bedding department has only single beds because even married ultra-orthodox couples must sleep separately and refrain from sex at certain times of the month.

The lingerie section is also discreetly tucked away at the rear of the store and stocks colours no more racy than black, white or skin tones. There were complaints when one shop stocked pink-ish bras.
see here for more.

Veiled women entering a lingerie store

Inside Ali Nasser lingerie workshop