Assalamu alaikum - where to begin with khimar?
Assalamu alaikum sisters, I'm hoping for some gentle advice about beginning to wear the khimar. I'm Turkish living abroad and although I've been Muslim since birth, my understanding of some practices is limited. My immediate family and relatives back home aren't very practicing, and there are only a few women in my family who cover. I don't yet know how to pray properly - I've been learning for the past few days and have memorized Surah al-Fatiha. I'm working on learning the full prayer and once I feel confident I plan to start praying regularly. I've also been studying more about Islam and taking notes in a little notebook I keep just for that. I don't dress modestly right now; my usual style is gyaru/ke? (I wear more Western fashion), but I want to transition to wearing khimars and abayas. The problem is I don't own any yet and I'm not sure how to begin. Some specific questions: - How many khimars and abayas should I buy to start with? Is there a practical minimum? - Should I wait to start wearing them until I begin praying regularly, or can I start now? - How might I tell my family that I want to start wearing a khimar, especially since they aren't very religious? Any simple, practical tips - like what fabrics are comfortable, how to layer with my current clothes, or affordable places to buy - would be really helpful. JazakAllahu khairan for any advice and duas.