A belle will always get asked to dinner. It doesn’t matter if she’s visiting a new place for a weekend or in an austere location, she should still expect a dinner invitation.  Knowing this, a belle always needs to be prepared.

My bestie Kristen agrees. Kris and I met while studying abroad in China during college. Since then, we’ve both chosen careers that allow us to globe-trot and develop our individual travel philosophies. One of hers is always to pack lip gloss, perfume, and something to wear to dinner. I’ve since adopted that practice, and it hasn’t let me down.  Even when I got deployment orders to Southwest Asia, heels and dresses went into the duffle. Yes, I brought a cute dress to a deployment. Then I bought some more online. Then I bought one when I went out on the town. And you know what? The invites came, and I never felt out of place due to being overly casual at dinner at any restaurant.

While it’s perfectly standard for Westerners to walk around the Middle East in sneakers, jeans, and tee-shirts, the belle in me required a more feminine approach.  Plus, not to be outdone by the local women who dress to the nines all the time, walking around the Arabian Peninsula in cute dresses is kinda my thing. The regional requirement of modesty made the challenge more creative.  Not that finding modest fashion was a challenge –it wasn’t at all– it was just a different consideration from my usual.

If you’re not a girlie-girl like me, you can ignore this entire post. If you are a girlie girl and disagree with everything I’ve recommended, let me know. Either way, you’ve got to travel to South West Asia and see for yourself. This is my list of things you’ll have to remember to pack when deploying or traveling to the Arabian Peninsula.

1. A few swimsuits and while you’re at it, a beach towel, and your beach tote

“You know, when some people deploy, we actually go to war,” my fighter pilot friend teased. I was lamenting that it escaped my mind to bring a beach towel.  Now I’d have to buy one on amazon. He pretended to be disgusted that I dipped in a pool while deployed. But believe it or not, impromptu pool parties were part of life in Kuwait, as are beach days and jet ski outings. Swimsuits are a must.

2. Day Tote.

You’ll need something that looks chic to stash liters of water, sunblock, hand sanitizer, and whatever else you’ll need for a day out on the town.

While themuslimgirl.com caters to women of the Islamic faith, some things like friendships, family, love, and fashion are universal. The blog is informational for all modern women.

3. Maxi Dresses & Maxi Skirts

These dresses have been summer staples in the West for several years, especially jersey knit. These pieces can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the accessories. I referenced a great blog called themuslimgirl.com for more styling tips.

5. Scarves & Hats

Now, it’s probably not the most culturally correct fashion to wear a hijab if you’re not a Muslim woman. You will be thought to be a Muslim woman, and that comes with the expectation to observe the culture.  However, headwraps are a different story. Kuwait, Qatar, and the like are great places to wear your own cultural head coverings without attracting unwanted attention like it would in many places in The States.  Again, headwraps are also culturally specific although many cultures have some sort of hair covering so do take care to select the hair covering that is appropriate for you.

Fashion by the wraplife, modanisa, and EmpressaK. You can also follow EmpressaK on IG @empressAK and her head fashion accessories at @empressivefinds

6. Diva Shades

I always thought the Southwest Asian women were just being posh with their diva shades but really, with the lack of cloud cover and the oppressive wind storms, they are most assuredly a functional necessity.

@Modanisa_en is one of my favorite modest fashion shops.

7. Nice shoes

One sure way to identify Americans abroad is their incessant need to be casual and their preference for flip flops and sneakers over any other sensible shoe. Casual wear has its place,  but when you’re having a night on the town or going to a restaurant in the evening, it’s nice to ditch the leisure attire.

8. Blazers, Cardigans, and Denim Jackets

These are all versatile wardrobe staples that can alter the look of the exact same outfit.

Photos from The Muslim Girl

9. Facial moisturizer

Whatever your skincare regimen is at home, it’s not going to work in the harsh desert environment.  You’re going to need a night moisturizer, moisturizing cleanser, and a day moisturizer + SPF. You’ll probably even need a mid-day face wash to get the desert dirt off your face.

Fresh-faced Modanisa Model

11. Riding pants and boots

If you’re a rider and you’re on the Arabian Peninsula, do not overlook the opportunity to ride gorgeous Arabian horses and take lessons from world renown trainers and coaches. Of course, you can always buy equestrian gear in-country if you don’t bring your own.

12. Your own Abaya

You’ll need one to visit the Grand Mosque. The mosque provides abayas but if you can slay in your own, why use a loner?

12. Fabric, Pattern, and picture of your favorite fashions.

It seems like every seamstress outside the Western World can design the outfits of your dreams just by seeing it. West Africa, Korea, and the Middle East are known for their custom reactions. You can always find your own fabric in fashion districts in the country.

13. Favorite Jewelry & accessories

Speaks for themselves.

My friend, who executes people from the sky for a living, mocks the concept of leisure time while deployed and overpacking. He laughs that I’d even have time to go swimming while deployed, let alone go to a pool party.  We live different lifestyles for sure, and I recognize that.  But every time I think of a location as an excuse to dress frumpy, I think of my très fashionable friend Kari, who supports looking cute regardless of where you are. “Just because we’re in (city x) doesn’t mean we have to dress like it, “she often reminds me.