Shopping for an abaya for the first time can feel a bit bewildering. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! (Pun intended).
An Abaya (عباية) is a loose garment worn over clothes, like a robe or cloak. Traditionally, this was a black cloak. Legend says it became popular during the Abbasid Islamic Period. A traveling merchant couldn’t sell his black fabric. The merchant’s poet friend wrote a poem about how the black cloak signified nobility, mystery, and beauty. And it went viral–everyone wanted a black cloak. For more information, check out Abouther.com’s excellent article.
Overtime, the abaya has become an emblem of Middle Eastern culture. Like all fashion, styles change over time. Many women in Saudi Arabia vary the color, fabric, and cut based on the season.
Where can I get an Abaya? How much do abayas cost? What is the process of getting an abaya?
Abayas are sold all over Saudi Arabia. In Riyadh, you can find stores that sell abayas in most shopping malls–there are even malls that specialize in abayas, like Royal Mall or Abaya Mall. For a more traditional experience check out Taibah Markets.
Prices vary wildly. You should expect to pay 300-600 SAR for abayas at a mall like Riyadh Park or Riyadh Front. If you’re shopping at a traditional souq, abayas may cost around 150-400 SAR. If you’re shopping at Royal Mall, abayas vary from 250-700 SAR. Most of the time, prices are negotiable, and you can get a better deal if you buy more than one at a time.
When you go to an abaya store, you will need to find your size. Abayas are sized by height. Different styles of abayas will have different widths and will accommodate all body types. Most ready-made abayas in stores are for women 5’9 or 1.75 meters or shorter. If you are taller, you can occasionally find ready-made abayas, but many stores can make you a custom-sized abaya.
Once you know your size, you can select your abayas. The abaya also comes with a scarf called a Tarha (طرحة). Sometimes it comes with a specific color Tarha or you can choose one that matches. It’s ok not to use the Tarha to cover your head but you still want to wear one hanging around your neck for style. Most stores leave the abayas open. Before purchasing, you can customize your abaya, adding snaps or TugTug (طقطق) in Arabic, pockets or Jaib (جيب), and hemming it to your preferred length.
Always be sure to check the fabric used. Some fabrics require constant ironing to look presentable. Others are very sensitive to water, so be sure you pick a fabric that matches your lifestyle.
Abaya fabrics can also vary by season. When the weather starts getting colder, you will see stores display winter abayas which are made of warmer, thicker fabric and can be used like a winter coat.
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Want to learn how to pronounce the Arabic words in this post, and more? This video on our instagram will help.
How many Abayas do I need?
There really is no limit. You could have three, five, ten or a hundred. Start with 2, so you can have one to wear while the other is in the wash. You can then start building your collection.
You can buy Abayas appropriate for different occasions. Abaya you would wear for a grocery run won’t be the same as the abaya you would wear to a dinner date, which won’t be the same as the abaya you would wear to work. You would need a warmer abaya if you’re going to be outdoors during the winter season. These are just two categories you can sort your abayas with: season, and occasion. There could be more, like abayas with pockets, abayas that are comfortable for travel within the Kingdom, abayas for weddings, etc.
What we’re saying is…make some room in your closet.
And if you’re confused, you can always ask someone at the store to help you with the kind of abaya you are looking to buy.