WRITTEN BY: Meira E. Schneider-Atik, Contributing Author

What with everything going on right now, we’re always looking for ways to cope with the stress of it all. 

I love clothes and accessories so my favorite way to cope is to wear real clothes and accessories and not spend the days in pajamas. Aside from jewelry, my favorite accessories are my wraps.

 Normally, I reserve sari scarves for special days. But this past Sunday, I just wanted to feel good so I wore this sari. I love the combination of brown texture-y print with the textures and prints of the red sari. 

This past Friday, I had errands to run and I needed an energy boost, so I chose my favorite color- green. A layered wrap of print scarf plus green 2-in-1 added that extra element of fun. 

As a precautionary measure, my shul (synagogue) is closed. However, Shabbat (Sabbath) doesn’t stop just because I’m not going to shul. Putting on Shabbat clothes and a great wrap helps me get into that mode. A sari turban (worn over a 2-in-1) feels fancy and fun. 

One of my wrapsisters recently posted that the only reason she wore a particular scarf was that it brought a smile to her face. I told her that there’s no better reason to wear it. This combination of green flower print scarf plus Watercolor 2-in-1 puts a smile on my face (especially since green is primary here) and there’s no better reason to wear it. 

As you can see, great wraps have been helping me cope with the stresses of this time. If you love wraps, this is a great time to play around and have fun.

I’ve been wanting you to meet Paola for a long time! Read on to find out more about this incredible Lady Wrap Star from the Netherlands!

I found out about Wrapunzel in 2015. As a Muslima the scarf and I have a special relationship. I simply love scarves and have way too many of them. I wear them all year round, Summer and Winter, it doesn’t matter, around the neck but also on my head. In the beginning of 2015, I was thinking about wearing the headscarf again. I was looking for a different way to wear it (i.e. not like my granny haha) and started searching on the internet for inspiration.

I watched a lot of so-called “hijabi” tutorials but I also watched a couple of videos in which a young lady wrapped her scarf in a way that was totally new to me. She used words I did not know, like tichel and sheitel, but I liked what she did and wanted to know more. I needed to know more.

I watched video after video and learned a lot of new ways to wrap my scarf. But not only about wrapping scarves, but also about why Jewish women wear the headscarf or mitpachat. Soon after that, I joined the fangroup on Facebook and I was hooked.

From that moment on I learned so many new ways to wrap the scarf, especially the turban look, which I love and is my all time favorite now. But I learned so much more. I had never realized that it is not only Moslim women who wear the scarf. I found out that a lot of Jewish and Christian sisters wear it too and I was eager to know why.

I learned how you could easily style your scarf, even when your hair is short (in those days my hear was often very short) using shapers and velvet headbands and all other kinds of accessories. But more important than that, I met a lot of ladies from all over the world and found out about a sisterhood, not only in the umma, the Moslim community, but beyond borders and beyond belief.  

Since I was a little girl I was interested in the world and its cultures. My granddad was the only one who really understood my fascination and he gave me books to read and took me on trips into town. He lived in the big city, Rotterdam, and I was growing up in a little sleepy town in which our Moslim family was an attraction itself haha.

Through the Wrapunzel Fangroup I met so many lovely ladies, from all faiths with whom I could talk about the things in life that are important to us. About headscarves of course, but also about so many other topics. The ladies in the Fangroup encourage each other, give each other tips and tricks, but most of all, are there for each other.

And that is what I love about the Wrapunzel Fangroup. It is not only scarves, it is beyond scarves. It is about our lives, about our struggles (do I wear the scarf or not) but also about our victories. And most important it is beyond Faith. And in these days of hatred and blaming others I am really glad there is still something like sisterhood.

It is true that I am a little absent in the Fangroup nowadays. My job takes a lot of my energy (too much right now I sometimes think) and in the house, there are still construction activities going on. But I still read everyone’s posts and I am still inspired by the pictures and the sisterhood amongst the members.

I still love my scarves although I do not wear them on my head every day. That is my own struggle, my personal battle, something between Allah and me. But there is one thing I know. You will be there for me sisters xxxxx.

Read on for some awesome outfit transition advice from Wrapunzelista Meira Shneider-Atik!

A lot of fashion gurus talk about the “day into evening” dilemma that pops up a lot. You have your regular work during the day, but then you have a dressy event afterward and you don’t have time to go home and completely change clothes. This dilemma is easily solved by planning ahead and using a base and changing your accents.

I had this dilemma myself on Sunday. I had to take my daughter to a high school open house in the morning and then I had to go to an engagement party in the afternoon and another in the evening. But I planned ahead and used color and accents and it wasn’t difficult at all.

I started with a black base- shell and skirt- and just added colored accents.

For the open house, I wanted to look polished and pulled-together but also warm and approachable and not overdone. So I chose olive green for my accents. I wore my red Cranberry scarf with the olive green side showing and I wrapped it in a 1920’s style turban (favorite everyday wrap). It coordinated nicely with my olive cardigan. Olive is a color found in my irises and so it’s soft and warm and not too formal.

Once I got home, I just changed into my teal cardigan and teal Cranberry scarf (again in a 1920’s style turban). Teal is a much more dramatic color on me, so it comes off dressy, making it perfect for the engagement parties.

In all of those, I looked and felt just right. And I didn’t have to drive myself crazy.

Yes, these situations do happen, but with a little planning and strategic use of color, you can do this.  

Love, Meira

Here it is! Part 2 of “Head Wrapping in the Professional World” by government agency worker, Lila Halpern Besser! Enjoy and take notes!

Sometimes I love to pair a neutral color with a bold scarf and accessories! (Wrap: turban with a signature)

Some people don’t mix red and pink, but the darker pinks in the top match the burgundy of the skirt! And even though the florals aren’t on the same background color, they coordinate well (Wrap: turban with a pin)

Bright colors are the best way to beat the Monday blues! This shirt is one of my most worn, and this skirt gives me the ability to pull so many colors! (Wrap: 2-scarf regal with a pin)

Sheath dress is fun colors is still professional. I chose a sari that had two colors from the dress, and toned it all down with a black cardigan. (Wrap: beginners luck with a pin)

Hi ladies! Andrea graciously asked me to write something about wrapping in the professional world. I understand not every “professional” environment is the same, but I wanted to share my personal feelings so that it may help someone have the confidence to wrap for work.

A little about me-I’ve been wrapping since my wedding almost 2 years ago, and I live near Washington DC with my amazing husband. I met Andrea shortly after I got married through a mutual friend, and have been inspired by her in my wrapping. Some of you may recognize me from the Wrapunzel website (I had an awesome time modeling the midsummer line with Yehudis) and from the fangroup, where I post almost daily. Sometimes I need to see myself through a camera lens to see the outward image I am projecting for the world to see, and what better way to do that than sharing with the amazing and supportive Wrapunzel community.

What makes an outfit professional? (including my shopping tips)

Everyone has a different definition of what is considered professional. I work for a government agency where all of the men (and some of the women) are in suits every day. Dress pants and blouses and sometimes sheath dresses are present as well. That is what “business professional” standardly looks like. And yes, while I love to rock the sheath dress as much as the next girl (see pics below), that isn’t the be-all, end-all of dressing professionally.

First and foremost, confidence and tidiness are key. Even if you are in a suit, if you don’t hold your head high and your clothing is disheveled, you won’t look professional. And while wearing your tichel proudly, you allow your confidence to shine through. It may take a little practice to get a tichel looking neat and tidy, but master the Beginner’s Luck, the Regal wrap, and maybe a turban if you want and you will never go wrong.

My fashion tastes tend to be a little loud at times (pattern mixing, bright colors), but I keep it all professional by following a few simple rules:
1- A sheath dress with a cardigan or jacket, regardless of the color or pattern of the dress, is always an easy way to look put together (especially when your tichel coordinates with colors in the dress.
2- A line, pencil, or flared skirts, even in colors or patterns, are flattering and look great, but it always depends on the top. An outfit can hinge on a corresponding top.
3- Tops with collars, whether form fitting like dress shirts or a little more flowing, are amazing closet staples. Personally, I love the sleeveless, loose fitting button down tucked into a flowy or pleated skirt with a cardigan for a polished look. It’s pretty much my go-to most days.

How do I express my creativity while still remaining professional?
Part of it is the clothing I choose to wear, but tichels play a major part it in. Sometimes I want to do a fancy wrap with multiple scarves and feel creative, and some days I just want a simple Beginner’s Luck with my favorite sari scarf, or a turban with a T-shirt tichel. It all depends on how I feel, but my color choices in both my clothing and my tichels allow me to express myself and show the face I want the world to see.

Do I feel constrained or more free in my wardrobe choices due to wearing a tichel to work?
I think sometimes it’s both, but more often it makes me feel free. I’ve woken up some mornings wanting to wear a particular scarf and decided nothing matched, or had a hard time matching a scarf to an outfit I wanted to wear (in these situations, my husband usually comes to my rescue and suggests some fantastic combination. Don’t be fooled, ladies, some of my best outfits were chosen by him). But most of the time, I love being able to match scarves to outfits, pulling in some small color from my dress, or wearing a neutral outfit and brightly colored scarves. I also believe that accessories pull and outfit together and make it look polished. Tichels are as much an accessory and part of my outfit as makeup, jewelry, shoes, or a jacket, so I love to coordinate whatever bling I’m wearing on my tichel (headband, pin, sash) to the rest of my jewelry
to pull it all together.

What would I say to someone nervous about wearing a tichel on her first day of work?
To be completely honest, I’ve been there. I started my job two months before my wedding, and the first day going back to work, I had a really hard time getting dressed. I had been planning on wearing a wide headband, but somehow it just didn’t feel right. My husband was watching this dilemma, and he told me to just wear a scarf. So I chose something neutral and understated (black/white/grey ombre 2in1 with a silver headband), and went to work. The first week, I got a few questions from my supervisor and co- workers, but I was ready with my response: “Some Orthodox Jewish women cover their hair after marriage, and that is what I have chosen to do”. And everyone accepted that. Over the next several weeks, as I became more comfortable, I started branching out with brighter colors and more intricate styles, and no one batted an eyelash. Do I still get funny looks in the bathroom sometimes? Of course.

Do people occasionally ask why I cover my hair? Absolutely. Do random people stop me in the halls? All the time. But when I smile at staring people in the bathroom, they smile back. And I tell the people who ask that I cover my hair to signify my status as an Orthodox Jewish married woman and it is a part of my religion. And the people who stop me in the hallway? They usually just want to tell me they like my scarf, ask how I tied it, or where I got it.

What are some of my favorite professional outfits I’ve worn?
Check them out!

Everyone, I am so excited to introduce you to Elena Isabella, a woman who takes head wrapping to a whole new level! Love her story, her sense of style, and knowing that she is out there on her tiny island rocking these awesome scarves!

Hello!

Hi everyone! Meet Arrianna, second year medical student who is rocking the wraps while doing training in an environment where professionalism is strict. This is Part 1 of our blog series on Wrapping in the Professional world. Enjoy!

I’m a second year medical student. We had our first clinical exercise of the year at the VA hospital today. I almost didn’t wrap, concerned as we always need to be about strict professionalism while in our white coats. But in the end I did with a simple 2-in-1, and gold rose headband. My classmates loved it, and one patient’s wife even asked me how I did that, as her hair was thinning and she’d been thinking about starting to wear scarves. I didn’t have time to show her how to do the wrap right then, but I wrote down some information for her, and I hope that now Wrapunzel’s youtube channel has a new fan.

My advice? Keep it simple, especially in the beginning until you really know your work audience and they’re used to you. In my situation, medicine is a fairly conservative profession and I deal with people of a huge range of ages, backgrounds, beliefs, socioeconomic status, hopes, and needs. I want the image I present to be professional, but not austere. When people see me, I want them to see a competent medical provider first and not to be distracted by my scarf, much like I wouldn’t want people distracted by my jewelry or my clothing.

Being in healthcare and being around patients who may be losing hair for many reasons, I’m very uplifted by the fact that wrapping in this environment is going so well. Much of healthcare has an underlying theme of the effect of health problems on self-image, as hair (or the lack thereof) figures so prominently into our society’s idea of what makes both men and women attractive. Personally, I hope that wearing a wrap in the workplace will encourage those who may be too shy or embarrassed to talk to their doctor about hair loss to ask me questions. I would like them to see me and think: “there is someone who will help me without judgment”.

I am delighted to introduce you to Nancy! A regular face on the Wrapunzel fangroup, she has quickly blazed an inspirational trail for all stylish head wrappers! She truly knows how to put tichels and outfits together, and is such a warm and lovely person – I can’t wait for you to meet her!

“What a honor it is to be asked to be a Lady Wrap Star.

A little about me, I was born and raised in Southern California. I now live in Palm Desert, California about 20 minutes away from Palm Springs. I’m married to a wonderful man and have two children a daughter 42 and a son 40. I’m also blessed with three beautiful grandchildren. I’m so luck to still have my 89 year old Mother that is as spunky as a 40 year old! She’s my best friend, I love her so much.

I’m very active at my Temple. Im co-chair of the Social Action Committee, visit those confined to live in care facilities, pick up elders for Shabbat Services, deliver food to the needy every Tuesday and collect clothing and toiletries and deliver them to the migrant workers on the farms. Hashem has called me to do this and so I do.

One night about two years ago I was going through You Tube and I came across a Wrapunzel tutorial, a huge gift from Hashem, that night was the beginning of my Wrap journey. The next morning I placed my first order, ran to the thrift store to get some scarfs to practice with while awaiting my order and I was off and running never to look back.”

“Wrapping has literally changed everything about my life. I feel more grounded and centered. I feel more spiritual and closer to G-d.

My wrap styles vary depending on the scarf. Saris wrap different then 2n1s or Pashminas and so on. I think I wrap in a beginners luck and Amped up beginners more then anything.  I still look at tutorials everyday to get new ideas and to refresh my memory. Andrea has been a huge influence on me. I’ve learned about self esteem, modest dressing , Shabbat and of course beautiful wrapping.

I want to thank all the Wrapunzel ladies for all your love and support. You have been there for me in good times and bad. I feel you’re all my friends, REAL FRIENDS!!! I wish one day we could have a huge Wrapunzel  get together so we could all meet face to face.  Love and blessings!”

Check out Nancy’s beautiful outfits and how she incorporates her wraps!

My husband and I had a family wedding and we had to travel, first to Monsey to spend Shabbat with my parents, then to Baltimore for the wedding. Our sons helped me load luggage into the car and the four of us had no trouble getting to Monsey. But while traveling, I realized that we had forgotten to pack along my bag with mitpachot. The only head covering I had was my Artistic License scarf that I was wearing that day.
As it was, I had picked out a dress for the wedding, but I hadn’t chosen a wrap style. So I had packed a few different mitpachot and I figured that I would try a few wrap styles and see what worked.

But now I was stuck.

However, some of my most creative ideas come when I’m stuck. As soon as I realized that I only had my Artistic License scarf, the wheels began to turn. That scarf went just fine with my Shabbat outfit (navy top and black skirt- both classic neutrals which go with everything) and would go with my teal dress for the wedding (same color family). Now my challenge was to find a wrap style that would a) look appropriate for a wedding b) hold up well during dancing (Jewish celebratory dancing is very lively and aerobic).
After Shabbat, I tried on a few different wrap styles – here are the ones I didn’t choose:

Eventually I chose the rose turban. It reminded me of British “fascinators,” so if I’m ever in the UK and invited to a formal daytime event, I know what to wear. Meanwhile, at this wedding, the rose turban worked. My husband liked it and I got tons of compliments. More importantly, I felt great.

Sometimes, the best ideas come when you think you’re stuck. Don’t give up.

The following was written by Devora Sara Alon, Rabbanit of Kehilat Kol Yisrael Achim, after she hosted a beautiful Wrapunzel event in Great Neck.

“I originally became interested in Wrapunzel as simply another tool in the hair-covering toolbox.  I had not known how practically to keep all my hair covered securely in (nor thought that I had the features for)  anything other than a sheitel.

Upon revisiting your site, I was struck by how Wrapunzel is reclaiming beauty.  Society dictates that beauty means being young, skinny, have long flowing hair, etc. yet, we as Jews are supposed to be a light unto the nations. We should not be taking our cues from society at large. We know that aging is actually a gift (after all, Avraham Avinu asked for it), and older people are to be respected and venerated.  We know that our bodies are a vessel for our most essential selves: our neshamot.  We know that Hakadosh Boruch Hu created each woman’s body with intrinsic beauty, so much so, that we cover our bodies lest they detract ourselves and others from recognizing our true essence.  [Andrea’s] analogy of an orchestra really struck a chord with me: each instrument plays its unique part and together we have a symphony. Had we only recognized a single melody, without all the different and unique harmonic lines, our musical traditions would have missed out on a whole world of polyphonic possibility.  As a former amateur singer, (way back in high school) I loved singing in large choirs.  I loved having my voice blend with the other singers.  I vividly recall how on occasion, “diva” singers could completely throw off an entire section or choir simply because a singer was more intent on standing out than allowing her (or his) voice to be part of something bigger.  Yet, it is still each singer’s unique voice that creates the stunning quality heard in choral pieces.

I likewise like to use the analogy of a circle: each point on the circumference is unique, though equidistant from the center.  It is only when we have all the different points on that circumference that the circle is complete. We never, chas v’shalom, ultimately gain from trying to stand out alone at others’ expense.  When we recognize that everyone has intrinsic value and beauty, including ourselves, that is when we can begin to appreciate the artistry of Ribbonu Shel Olam.

When browsing through Wrapunzel’s website, one sees models of every size, color, and age.  Strikingly, every model exudes her unique beauty.  How do they do that?  Is there some special filter being used on the cameras?  No, there is no chicanery occurring.  Each woman is beautiful and in dressing modestly with joy, and her true beauty just radiates!   Thank you for reminding us what we should be realizing all along, for truly being a light unto the nations, and standing well above what society dictates as their  (false) version of what a woman should look like. This has undoubtedly led to unhealthy self-image in countless women and girls throughout the world, but Gd willing with all of our personal efforts towards change we will merit the coming of Moshiach and experience the joy of finally singing our unique melodies together in harmony.”

I am happy to finally introduce you to Danielle!   She is such an inspiring person – an “Aishet Chayil” (woman of valor) in all ways.  She has true grace and really exudes the balance of looking beautiful, treating her family and herself like royalty (because they are!) yet being humble, modest, and giving.  I’ve learned so much from her over the years by just looking at her beautiful tichel creations, and I’m so glad that we all get a chance to read what she has to say as well!  Without further ado, meet Danielle!

“Hi Wrapunzel Ladies! Firstly, I want to say what an honour it is to be featured as a Lady Wrap Star.  The Wrapunzel blog and the amazing ladies of the Wrapunzel fangroup have been an endless source  of inspiration for me and I am so grateful to have discovered this amazing wellspring of beauty and creativity.

I live in Johannesburg, South Africa and was raised in a very traditional Jewish home but we weren’t religious at all. When I was 21 years old, we moved to Sydney, Australia where I met so many young people discovering their Jewish roots and moving towards becoming religious Jews. It was there that I experienced a very powerful Shabbos which ignited a spark in me to become more observant.

Australia turned out not to be the best place for us and so we returned to South Africa where I met my husband. When we got engaged, I always knew I would cover my hair. It was never a difficult choice for me, and it was always a mitzvah that I found easy to keep. I bought a sheitel and a few hats and I reckoned that these would be my main mode of covering my hair.

Once I became a mother my sheitel became a nuisance. Little hands were always grabbing at it, I felt like it was constantly in my face, and it drove me crazy! I had wrapped with tichels before, but I had never seen it as an art or a way to become creative. I always just tied the scarf on and wrapped it around my bun.

One day, friends of ours surprised us saying that their connecting flight from Israel to Knysna was delayed and so they would have to spend Shabbos in Johannesburg. They came to us for Shabbos, and I could not take my eyes off my friend’s wrap. It had so much volume, and she looked so incredibly regal. That was when I first discovered volumisers, and I started watching tutorials on hair wrapping and eventually discovering Wrapunzel 10 years after my hair covering journey had begun! I had never even thought to layer scarves together, or add a colourful sash, headbands, pins, buckles, clips. A whole new world was opened to me.

I have had very mixed reactions to my wraps. The African ladies love them and always stop me to tell me how beautiful my “doek” (head covering) is. I’ve even been asked if I was married to a Xhosa man because they had never seen a white lady with a “doek”!

I now live in a religious community where most of the women cover their hair, but most of them cover with sheitels and only a very few will try more elaborate wraps.

Someone once said to me that they used to wear colourful scarves but they decided that it was drawing too much attention to themselves so they took to wearing a sheitel full time. This initially bothered me as I thought that perhaps I was drawing too much attention to myself. But then I remembered a something I came across when I was learning about modest dress. G-d is the King of the universe, and I am his daughter. I should therefore dress in a way that says that I am a princess.

As a result, my head covering has become my crown, and I am proud to wear it as a daughter of the King.”

I firmly believe that every woman needs a “go-to” color combination that will make her feel fabulous no matter what.  My “go-to” is teal and brown.  What’s yours?

Today I’m wearing a teal shiny licious and dark brown lakeshore bliss – my outfit is just a comfy loose top (perfect for nursing), a turquoise pin skirt and boots.  I feel so fantastically comfortable and am really able to move and do everything I need to do!

Can’t wait to hear your go-to color combinations!  Who knows?  Maybe your “go-to” will inspire something new in someone else!

Sending you all lots of love, Wrapunzelistas!
Love, Andrea

Black and blue, red, orange, and pink, black and brown… these are all color combos that I grew up thinking were a “no-no” to wear together.  Well, time has taught me the error in my ways, and currently I LOVE turning these no-nos into YES-YESSES!!  Who says you can’t wear brown and black together?  Not I!   I’m loving it!

I’m wearing a black Shimmery and a brown Lakeshore Bliss!  Perfect for a chilly day!

What are some “no-no” combinations you’ve been brave enough to try?

Love, Andrea

If you’re anything like me, you’ll have a few shimmeries in your collection that are starting to get holes from their much-loved constant use!  Thrifty solution: rip them up to make sashes!  I love incorporating these sashes into wraps where a whole shimmery might cause too much bulk!

Here is a tutorial I made about it:

Love this double braid style I’m wearing today!  The different widths create almost a medieval feel.

Would you rip up your shimmeries to try this?  Happy wrapping y’all!

Love, Andrea