#and thought the caption gender would be appropriate. anyway.

[lovinglin]

Gender

[soul-controller]

Patreon Update (February ‘23)

Hello there everyone, hope everyone is doing well! It’s been a bit dead over here on Tumblr (which I apologize for) but I’m planning on changing that starting next week with a new story. Without going into too much detail, I’ll just quickly explain that I’ve been dealing with a bout of depression (which was only amplified by getting food poisoning recently as well). Luckily, I feel like I’m in a better headspace and I’m finally recovering from the food poisoning! 

Anyways, here’s a quick little summary of the stuff I’ve released over on my Patreon over the past month. If any of the following stories intrigue you, please feel free to click on the title so you can sign up for the appropriate tier to read it! I’d love to have you join my Patreon and my Discord community, where you can view exclusive photo captions.

The Scent of Studliness

After secretly witnessing his jock tormentor / secret crush Alex get turned into a pair of workout clothes by a bullied janitor, gym novice Martin investigates the new clothing and finds his inner kinks emerging as he realizes that they are soaked in the jock's intense sweat. Upon pressing his nose into the clothing and inhaling Alex's potent musk, Martin's body soon finds itself transforming to become the perfect replica of the jock.

Tags: Inanimate, Clothing-Based TF, Mental Change, Muscle Growth, Racial Change, Shapeshift

The Leading Man

Upon finding out that his friend and former Supernatural co-star Jensen Ackles would be attending the same brand new fan convention as him called Soul-Conventions, jealous actor Misha Collins decides to use one of the magical items included in his gift basket to finally get the chance to be the hunky leading man...

Tags: Body Swap, Actors, Revenge

Devolving The Scientist

After finally achieving success with their military-funded weapon that is meant to devolve opposing armies into an early stage of evolution, frail and nerdy Dexter is desperate to get the solo credit on the weapon while also getting the upper hand against his hunky co-worker Richard. Deciding to jump straight into human trials, the sly and jealous genius decides to get his revenge on the hunky Richard and send him down a few rings on the evolution timeline...

Tags: Animal, Mental Changes, Revenge

S-C Fitness: The Trial Run (Part One)

After returning from holiday break to find that his small hometown gym has been suddenly purchased and revamped to become a brand new S-C Fitness location, pudgy gym novice Tom gets an invitation from the new owner for a brand new program he's trying to implement. Upon finding out that not only will he receive a free gym membership for participating, but he'll also get the opportunity to do a workout with his gym crush Dylan, the man instantly agrees. Unfortunately for the duo though, they'll end up finishing their session in different bodies...

Tags: Shapeshift, S-C Fitness

The Body Shop

In hopes of alleviating some stress, Peter opts to take a walk through his college town. Near the end of his stroll, the man stumbles upon a new shop called The Body Shop. Upon entering, he's greeted to a vast array of artificial body parts that are able to be worn to create a bodysuit of a customer's dream body piece-by-piece. As soon as he meets the incredibly attractive owner of the shop, Peter finds his world turned upside down as he's able to be easily convinced to try out pieces that he never would have previously considered...

Author's Note: This series will become increasingly smutty with each chapter in the trilogy. It's not something I've dabbled much into, so I thought it was a worthy warning to preface this story. So if intense and explicit foreplay isn't your thing, this trilogy may not be for you!

Tags: The Body Shop, Slow Transformation, Gender Swap

[dianapana]

SH Day 2: Fashion Statement

Modern AU, OOC

@sasuhinamonth

Bullies exist everywhere you look, in school, at work, on the street and most of all, on the internet. Countless bullies hide behind the anonymity the internet provides them in order to bring down strangers for no apparent reason. But there is always a reason, jealousy, an inferiority complex, a superiority complex, or plain and simple the bully is a pile of trash and no one should call it a human being. One of the worst things one can do when being active on social media is read the comments, because no matter how many positive comments there are, one bad comment outweighs them all. Scrolling through my Instagram I see the perfect example of this issue. Hinata is barely an acquaintance, I have not seen her since middle school almost a decade ago, she’s not active on any social media, or at least she wasn��t until today. The picture in front of me brings back all of my past thoughts of her, how pretty her face looked, how refreshing and pleasant her lower voice tone was; out of most people I was aware of at the time, she was one of the least annoying. The only thing that bothered me at times was her meek demeanour, how easy she’s fold under the pressure of bullies; and it would appear that she had not changed in that particular category.

The picture was there, I liked it, I looked through the comments, I saw all the negative ones, I saw them misgendering her due to her short hair and baggy clothes, I saw them calling her names; and then there was nothing, because the picture no longer existed. Much like in school, the bully applied pressure on her, and she caved in on herself and chose to hide.

I wish I had taken a screenshot of the picture to post myself, but that would have been an invasion of privacy. She looked older and more mature, her hair was much shorter than in middle school, almost a buzz cut. She had always worn baggy clothes, but her style developed to streetwear, all in all, the picture was, in my opinion, a work of art. But as soon as it appeared, it disappeared. I can’t explain why it bothers me this much the fact that she took it down, but it just does.

I hate all the entitled fucks that think people own them anything. Females do not own them femininity, males don’t own them masculinity and gender non-conforming people don’t own them an androgynous appearance. Gender and fashion style are different issues, they can reflect each other or not. People use clothes for various reasons, as art, as means of expression, or they use them to hide. We talked about this during one of my courses in gender studies in university and it fucked with my brain how many people, young people that are supposably ‘woke’ heard that for the first time. I was shocked how many were unaware of things that I consider common sense.

I have the urge to reach out, assure her that the shit those incompetent fucks commented is the furthest thing from fact. Maybe I also feel guilt, because I was aware she was bullied in school and never helped, my apathy always made me so sure that it had nothing to do with me. It wasn’t my issue to fix, it wasn’t my battle to fight, and this isn’t either; but I’ve also learned to understand that being quiet might not be as hurtful as actively attacking the person, but it’s damn near close enough. So, I click on her blank profile and shoot her a short message. ‘the pic looked nice. U didn’t have to delete it just cuz some ppl don’t know what style is’

It was partly to comfort her, and partly to prove to myself that I’ve become better even in the slightest. I press the lock button on my phone and the screen turns black, I put it screen down on my bed and leave the room trying to fool myself and the universe that I don’t care if she replies or not.

I return to my work desk, continuing this charade, I am actively trying to not think about it, but the more I try not to think about it, the more I think about it. There is something about a 24-year-old Hinata looking the way she does, yet listening to haters, that just doesn’t sit well with me. I’m still in deep thought about the issue when my laptop dings, letting me know I received an email. I half expect it to be Hinata, but it’s work-related and my focus turns to that for the time being. Work keeps me busy for the remaining of the day, enough to push the whole issue out of my mind for real. In a blink of an eye over 9 hours have passed.

I wasn’t able to fully finish everything I wanted, due to some issues but I have to call it a day, since I worked overtime quite a lot. I go back to my bedroom and pick up my phone ready to order some delivery for the night when I see that Hinata responded.

“That was very thoughtful of you, thank you for the kind message.”

“I agree that I shouldn’t let myself be brought down, but it’s devastating in the moment.”

“I’ll try again.”

Her last message makes me click back on her profile to see that she reposted the picture with the caption saying ‘fuck you’. A sense of pride flows into my body, and I can’t fight the urge to comment as well, ‘fuck them all’. I go back to our little chat.

“Im glad u decided to post it again.”

I’m trying to formulate a compliment that doesn’t sound weird, I don’t feel like we are close enough for me to call her beautiful or pretty without it sounding like I am flirting, stunning sounds extreme, sexy and hot feel somewhat disgusting; yet all these five adjectives describe her, because she is beautiful, pretty, stunning, hot and sexy. I’m in the midst of this internal battle when I receive a reply.

“I am too. Thank you again”

I don’t feel like I deserve thanks, so I decide not to write back ‘you are welcome’, but I still want to compliment her so I click back to look at the picture, seeing whether having the picture in front of me will help. I’m lowkey annoyed when I get a notification that I have a new message from her, I am hell bound on finding a compliment and she is hell bound on stopping me. Either way, I click on the message, but upon reading it, my annoyance dies.

“I’m actually in Konoha for the first time in forever. I was thinking…if you maybe want to meet up? I’m here for a month, let me know if and when is a good time for you 😊”

Under normal circumstances, an invitation to ‘hang out’ from any former classmate be it elementary, middle or high school would annoy me further and I’d turn it down immediately. But for some reason, the idea of meeting Hinata after so many years, seeing what she is up to, interacting with her now as adults, makes me oddly enthusiastic. I reply before I can overthink the issue.

“Sure, we can meet, I’m free every Wednesday and throughout the weekend.”

Her reply is almost instant. “That’s perfect! See you Saturday” Reading her message makes me forget what day it is, so I have to look at my phone’s calendar; Saturday is the day after tomorrow, in less than 48hs I will see Hinata. My feelings are conflicted, they lay somewhere between nervousness, which is new, and giddiness, which is even newer. In order to calm myself, I do what I always do, set a goal. By Saturday I’ll have an appropriate compliment for the picture and her, it will have more impact if I say it face-to-face anyway, yes that’s the reason I want to see her, so I can feel as if I completed this little mission of mine, no other reason…

[tessatechaitea]

The Ray #1

In 1994, I had no idea who Christopher Priest and Howard Porter were so I have no idea why I purchased this comic book.

Although (continuing the thought from the caption which is just me saying, "Fuck the format! I can do what I want!") I was in my early 20s in 1994 so I was probably into that edgy fascination with freaks and body deformity. I hadn't seen Tod Browning's Freaks yet but I'm sure I would have jumped at the chance if I'd known about it. It's the only reason I can figure why I bought a comic book about a character I knew nothing about. Because it looks like he's a hero with a deformed baby leg. I probably picked it up off the shelf and yelled, "Fuckin' A, dude! Look at this ganky bastich!" It was 1994 so obviously I was emulating Lobo in my every day life. Some of you might be thinking, "Ugh! You're so gross and problematic!" But I'm just being honest! I was a young man, masking like crazy in order to hide my vulnerabilities so I wouldn't be crushed by social interactions and existential threats to my psyche. I had to act tough to survive the crazy streets of Santa Clara, California! Back then, Silicon Valley wasn't like it is now! In 1994, hulking techno-nerds were roaming the streets with razor sharp circuit boards looking to cut the genitals off of anybody who criticized the Neo-Geo CD home gaming console. If you looked at them funny, they'd challenge you to a game of Cyberball and you'd better hope you won because they were also obsessed with Mortal Combat and if you lost, the last thing you'd hear would be a bunch of techno-nerds screaming "Finish him!" before you found yourself upside down gagging on the filthy water of an unflushed public toilet. The early nineties were some rough years! Especially when you were into heavy metal! People think grunge and rap killed metal but think about what people thought was "rock and roll" during the early 90s: Warrant's "Cherry Pie" and Extreme's "More Than Words." I mean, Feetal's Gizz! Metal was dead long before grunge and rap came by to fill its grave. Anyway, you could totally be into freaks in the early 90s because the Internet didn't exist so your opinions weren't reaching anybody outside your small circle of friends. All the other people of the world who didn't know you at all didn't have a way to tell you you were a piece of shit because of one single thing that comprised the myriad facts of who you were. Fuck you, Internet! No, no! I'm sorry! Don't be mad at me, Internet! I can't live without you! Also, maybe I just bought this comic book because the cover was shiny and embossed and growing up in Santa Clara was so boring that it made this comic book looked exciting. The issue begins with The Ray battling Brimstone. Remember him from Legends?

Brimstone is as big as Godzilla and he's already killed hundreds of people, judging by the apartment buildings he's smashed.

I don't know who The Ray is or where he's from. What part of the United States of America uses slang like "gaffle," "put my serve on," "zoom this buster," "bone out," "feebs," and "rot." Is this just Christopher Priest trying to mimic youth speak? I would expect this kind of thing from an aging comic book writer like current Neal Adams but Priest was in his early thirties when he wrote this. Maybe The Ray is from another Earth and Priest's theory was that slang words would obviously differ between Earths. But not so much that you couldn't get the gist of what he's saying. Except for "gaffle." I don't know what the fuck he wants to do to Brimstone when he says he's going to gaffle him. I know what I would mean by it but that doesn't seem appropriate in this situation.

Oh wait. The Ray was just writing fan-fiction about himself.

So the Brimstone fight didn't really happen. Or it did happen but The Ray is using it as fodder to write comic books about himself. So he's like Clark Kent writing articles about Superman? At least writing comic book stories about your own adventures isn't unethical. Fucking Clark Kent. What kind of a journalist uses his soap box to simply promote himself? No wait. Journalists fucking suck. I despise journalists for the same reason I despise police officers. If you're just letting your profession go to shit because a bunch of people are abusing their positions of power and not actually doing the public service they're supposed to be doing, you're just as bad as the worst apple in the barrel. There's a reason that whole apple/barrel thing is still a saying even though nobody really associates apples with barrels anymore. Maybe The Ray isn't writing comic books although it seems like the super edgy postmodern take a writer in the 90s would think was fucking mind blowing. We got Kyle Rayner, comic book artist, as the new Green Lantern. Why shouldn't we also get a comic book writer in there as well? Or The Ray might just be writing stories for his college paper which would mean he's just as unethical and terrible as Clark Kent, I suppose. But in an amateurish way. The Ray (whose name is Ray Terrill so it was lucky he got light-based powers) stops trying to write and decides to tell the readers about the last few days. He's a young guy who works at a fast food chicken joint and has just leased his first apartment. It's a piece of shit with some garbage and/or artistic sculpture in the middle of the room but he doesn't have any credit or money so he's stuck with it. I bet there are corpses under the floor boards as well as other things too boring to mention (but which I'll mention anyway) like rats and cockroaches and dried semen stains.

This is Ray's narration of the place which I read after I wrote the previous paragraph. Was I writing comics and named Christopher Priest in 1994?

The Ray spends all day handing out flyers to Clucky Chicken while standing right outside Clucky Chicken. Is that what flyers are for? To remind people about the thing they can totally see right in front of them? I guess they could be coupons. While he's handing out flyers, his super cool cousin Hank stops by to gaffle some swang all up in through him.

This must be Earth-15 where they say things like "Yo trip dat frum, golderboots!" and "Swank on into my PQs, Flub Daddy!"

The Ray is disappointed that he's a man now because responsibility sucks. Kids can't stand curfews and rules but man is it sweet to be able to come and go as you please (within curfew, of course!) while doing whatever the fuck you want and not worrying about money for food or rent. The Ray can't even fuck his girlfriend because she saw him in the chicken suit and is all, "Oh, um, I just came by to say I can't come by! Bye!" The Ray can travel at the speed of light anywhere he wants while carrying other people. That makes sense because comic books. He takes his cousin Hank Fonzerelli to see a volcano shaped like a hand in Hawaii only to discover that it's another Brimstone. It's activated by a henchman of Darkseid while The Ray and Hank are checking out a surf competition or a luau. It's at this point when The Ray gets back to the beginning of the story where he was failing to stop Brimstone from destroying a city. As he picks the story back up, Superboy arrives to save the day. Not the boring Superboy who used to be Superman and learned a terrible secret about himself on his sixteenth birthday about an extra candle. The new Superboy who arrived on the scene after Superman died. He might also be boring but I wouldn't know having never read any comic books about him. The new Superboy is an arrogant dick and The Ray hates him. That's probably why The Ray winds up killing him. Or he thinks he killed him. Everybody reading the comic book probably thought The Ray killed him too (because we were all dumb-dumbs who actually believed DC Comics had killed Superman off for good. Why wouldn't they?! He was a big boring boy scout whose powers kept fluctuating because editors and writers thought the problem with writing Superman stories was that he was too powerful. But the real problem with writing Superman stories was that those same writers and editors were unimaginative assholes who didn't actually understand Superman. Why else would Superman have died from a fist fight?! Seriously, Dan Jurgens. What were you thinking?! Superman should never have been killed because he encountered something more powerful that could just beat the shit out of him. Superman should have been killed because of a philosophical or ethical dilemma where he realized the only way to save the world was to allow himself to die. He should have been Jesus but instead he was just Apollo Creed. Who I think was a metaphor for John the Baptist? The issue ends with the narrator letting the readers know that Superboy isn't actually dead and why would the idiots think he'd be killed in The Ray when he was currently starring in his own popular monthly comic book? Stupid dumb comic book readers! But the narrator also mentions that The Ray is out of power (I didn't know he had to recharge) and Brimstone is kind of mad. Then he's all, "If we were you," (I don't think a proper editor in 1994 would have allowed a writer to use the plural pronoun "we" as a non-specific gender singular pronoun so now I'm picturing the narrator as a small group of old people), "We'd be back here in 30 days!" And I guess 22 year old me agreed with them because I purchased Issue #2. The Ray #1 Rating: C. C is average, right? I didn't find anything I particularly loved about this issue but I also didn't find anything I absolutely hated. Except for Superboy but I think I was supposed to hate him so that's a positive critique. I probably purchased the next issue because I wanted to find out what happens to Hank Fonzerelli. What a cool dude! The letters pages don't have any letters but it does have a story by Brian Augustyn about how Christopher Priest changed his name from Jim Owsley. It also explains that Priest's idea for The Ray was to have a teenager suddenly have to deal with god-like powers while still being a teenager. I think before this that was called "Spider-man". Except for the god-like powers! Those were more spider-like powers.

[atravellingfoodie]

When I moved to Dubai more than a decade ago I didn’t give a thought to a Dubai dress code or even what to wear in Dubai once I was here. I assumed that the work and leisure clothing I possessed would be suitable for my work and leisure activities.

My clothing was indeed suitable, but what I did not count on was the heat and humidity that made me feel like I had a river of sweat running down my back when I was outside in the first month. Nor did I realise how contrary to the seasons my dressing would be, making layered outfits essential.

It was very easy for me to feel at home amongst women who wore abaya and head covers and men who wear the kandora because I dress modestly and cover my hair anyway. That was a conscious choice that I made more than twenty years ago, and have never regretted. However, it is not for everyone, and every person should make that choice for their own personal circumstances.

The Dubai dress code provides guidance on what to wear in Dubai and the other emirates, in order to respect the religious values of the people of the UAE and the local culture. The UAE dress code is applicable to all visitors and residents and is mandated by the UAE Federal government.

I have never felt oppressed by the Dubai dress code as I was born into a Muslim family and raised as a Muslim. Consequently I share the same religious values as the people of the UAE. This is not true for many non-Muslims who visit or move here for work and this may result in dissatisfaction with the requirements for modesty in public places.

The photos in this article were made possible by my friends from work Ederlyn, Shielibeth and Marites who selflessly allowed me to photograph them to show what real people (as opposed to sponsored influencers) wear in Dubai.

Dubai dress code

Everyone is expected to dress modestly, especially in conservative areas or public places like shopping malls.

Clothing should not be transparent or result in indecent exposure.

Clothing should not display obscene pictures or language.

For comfort both genders are recommended to wear loose fitting clothing that covers limbs (shoulders, arms and legs).

Women are not required to cover their hair or wear traditional or modern Islamic clothing.

Women visiting a mosque are asked to respect Muslim tradition and required to cover their hair and wear an abaya. These are often provided at the mosque.

Any nudity is forbidden. This includes topless sunbathing and wearing swimwear in areas outside of beaches, swimming pools and water parks.

Visitors are reminded that the local culture is conservative and that UAE citizens dress conservatively and may be offended by inappropriate dressing that do not conform to Islamic values.

Dubai dress code rules for tourists

Residents and tourists alike are subject to the same dress code. However, caution should be exercised in other emirates as they may be more vigilant in applying the dress code in public places.

Many of the younger generation feel that the dress code is oppressive to them because it demands modesty.

What many visitors fail to appreciate is that we are guests in this country, and that by choosing to stay we are obliged to respect the laws, religious values and local culture of the people of the UAE.

Read more: The Best Time to visit Dubai (a resident’s guide)

What to wear in Dubai

In Dubai traditional clothing for local ladies is the traditionally black abaya and for men it is the kandora. Visitors to UAE are not required to wear the abaya or kandora except when visiting a mosque. The climate and culture dictate the appropriate dress for men and women and it includes the following:

The abaya, the UAE traditional dress for ladies, has been adopted by women of many nationalities and faiths in Dubai. An abaya is a loose full length full cover coat like garment worn by Muslim women over other clothing when they go out in public. It is usually a plain color and is often embellished with lace, sequins, crystals and pearls and matched with a similarly decorative head cover (also referred to as a shayla or hijab).

Midi or maxi dresses and skirts, loose fitting trousers and tops in natural fabrics like cotton or linen or are cooler and more breathable than synthetics and will be more comfortable when exposed to the heat and humidity.

Short and long sleeves are more modest than sleeveless or spaghetti strap tops but also offer a small measure of protection against the summer sun or the frosty air conditioning in most buildings. That is especially true in malls and office buildings where the air conditioning temperatures are frigid in summer and many actually wear a shawl or pashmina to ward off the chill.

A bolero style jacket or shrug is useful to cover shoulders and arms and can be worn over the above mentioned sleeveless or strappy tops.

Cotton leggings can be worn under short dresses to cover the legs or with tops and tunics.

For casual wear capri pants, culottes, pedal pushers and cropped pants are suitable as they cover the thighs and knees.

Men and women may wear shorts, although they may be cautioned if found wearing hot pants (extremely short shorts) that shows their naked buttocks in public places frequented by families.

Read more: Where to stay in Dubai for all budgets

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What not to wear in Dubai

These Dubai dress code wardrobe no-nos should be avoided in public places including on the streets, malls, public parks, markets and souks, supermarkets, cinemas and public areas of hotels. These do not apply inside private residences or hotel rooms.

It is not permissable for Muslim men to look at the uncovered bare skin of un-related women, except for their hands and faces. Unfortunately, there are not many ways to avoid it in public places, hence the dress code guidelines.

Swimsuit tops and bottoms are considered swimwear and suitable for the beach, beach parks, beach malls, swimming pool and water parks and are frowned upon elsewhere. A see through sarong or cover up is suitable for the beach or swimming pool. Please don’t go out in public dressed like this as it may cause offence, and applies to both men and women.

Skin tight clothing is discouraged in public and very uncomfortable in the heat. This includes gym wear, so please change into something suitable before going out in public.

Wearing shorts in Dubai is allowed, however, hot pants or ultra-short shorts are not appropriate in public. Men should wear shorts that are at least mid-thigh or knee length.

Sheer and see-through clothing through which underwear can be seen must be avoided.

Plunging necklines may cause discomfort to other members of the public if they reveal the chest or breasts.

Crop tops, low cut or cut out dresses that expose the midriff or back are not deemed appropriate in public places frequented by families, but are suitable for nightclubs.

Ultra short and micro mini skirts or shirt dresses that may accidentally expose the derriere are inappropriate anywhere.

All of the above must be avoided at places of worship, government ministries and municipal offices as you will be shown away and asked to come back dressed appropriately, if an abaya or kandura is not provided.

Although it happens infrequently, all malls have their dress code on the entrances and visitors may be asked to change or leave if they are not dressed appropriately.

Where to buy traditional clothes in Dubai

When I first moved to Dubai I did not wear the abaya because I did not travel with any on my mum’s advice who said: ‘you will find them every where’. We did not realise how expensive abayas were in the malls and I would never have ventured to a souk in Deira or Bur Dubai by myself.

For months I struggled to find any abayas that were in my price range or that were suitable for my needs. I finally found a reasonably priced abaya shop that sells modern abaya fashion including open abayas. After a decade I grew tired of all the black abayas and over the past few years transitioned to more contemporary modest women’s clothing.

You may find abaya shops in Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall, Souk al Bahar or Madinat Jumeirah and wonder how anyone can eat or pay rent after buying one. Those are generally very expensive and for the luxury local and tourist market. There are cheaper abayas available in the souks and bazaars.

Classic World of Abaya – branches of my favorite abaya shop are found in Lulu Hypermarkets malls all over Dubai. They have better quality abayas than the souks and also make bespoke tailored abayas on request.

Naif Souk – this is one of the favorite places for tourists to shop for souvenirs but they also have a good selection of abaya shops selling cheap ready to wear abayas. The fabric quality may not be as good as the more expensive shops.

Meena Bazaar – this is one of the favorite places for residents to shop and there are numerous stores selling ready to wear abayas as well as tailors who will make or alter abayas and kaftans for you.

Read more: How to get around in Dubai public transport

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What to wear in Dubai for Leisure wear

The women in Dubai are never sloppy so even the casual clothing that they wear for leisure activities is still fun and smart.

What to wear in Dubai to the beach

Two piece bikinis, one piece swimsuits and burkinis are allowed on public beaches, with or without cover-ups. However, thong bottoms that expose the derriere are discouraged. My friends all prefer a cover up over their swimsuits but allowed a few shots without it to show the variety that is seen on the beaches here.

I have seen older women wading into the ocean wearing full length dresses or long pants and tunics to preserve their modesty since they may not have access to other swimwear.

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What to wear in Dubai for Breakfast or Brunch

Dubai brunches are legendary but are much less formal than they were ten years ago. Comfort is queen especially when looser waistlines are required 🙂

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What to wear in Dubai for work

Many Dubai companies have a fairly relaxed smart casual work attire, although staff may be required to be more formal when attending outside meetings, seminars or workshops. In our company even the senior executives only wear jackets and ties to meetings.

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Read more: Pros and Cons of Expat life in Dubai

What to wear in Dubai on Ladies night or a night out

Ladies night is one of the most popular cheap and free things to do in Dubai and is an opportunity for the ladies to get out and have some fun.

Most cafes, restaurants and bars that have ladies night promotional offers have a dress code of smart casual / semi-formal.

A few places insist on heels so double check with your chosen venue.

Most ladies get dressed up and show off some bling or skin.

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What to wear in Dubai on a Desert safari

Desert safaris start out around 3pm when it is still quite hot and lasts into the evening, with many ending after 9pm.

Casual trousers, tights or capri pants and long sleeve t-shirts or tunics will protect your limbs from the sun and sand. Save the dreamy dresses for your instagram shoots because they will get in the way during sandboarding, dune buggy rides or camel rides.

A shawl or scarf is essential for the outdoor time on the dunes while sandboarding and will prevent sand getting into nose and eyes and if the breeze picks up.

Closed shoes or tennis shoes / trainers are preferable to sandals and easier to walk on the soft dune sand. The sand will get into everything and is extremely hot during the warmer months.

A sunhat and sunglasses are advisable and ensure skin and eye protection against harsh sunlight.

The desert evenings can be chilly even in summer, and it is advisable to take a light jacket or shawl.

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The reality is that this country has a majority of expats, including men who have not seen their families for a year or two. They may be inclined to stare at semi-naked women wearing revealing tops, shorts or short dresses that show a lot of skin. I never know whether it is out of shock at seeing so much skin or due to carnal desires.

I’m old and have never been subject to it here and never realised the extent of the staring until my cousin visited with his teenage daughters. The girls wore shorts and sleeveless or strappy tops, the same thing they wear in Cape Town during summer. Wherever we went I noticed the stares and lingering glances of strange men, and I must confess I felt particularly protective of the girls, even telling a few of the young men to lower their gaze!

The most important consideration for visitors to the UAE is to maintain modesty and respect for the religious and cultural values of the land and it’s people in speech, actions and dress. Always wear layers, so that you can be comfortable whether you are outside enjoying the heat or inside a cold air conditioned building.

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What to wear in Dubai – The Dubai dress code When I moved to Dubai more than a decade ago I didn't give a thought to a Dubai dress code or even what to wear in Dubai once I was here.