Additional importance of the abaya

December 2, 2006 – Saturday

Additional importance of the abaya
Current mood:
creative
Category:
Travel and Places

As I’ve mentioned previously, if one is female and in Saudi Arabia, she will wear an abaya (the long black robe like garment).  There are numerous shops in every mall and souk which sell abayas.  Abayas come in a variety of designs and styles.  And when one thinks about it, it is understandable for a women to have a number of abayas in different styles and designs for it is her “uniform” or “business suit” or what one will see when she makes that first impression on a person.  For example, if one is a professional businesswoman and just happens to work in a “mixed” environment (with both men and women), she would likely always wear the abaya.  Although she may have on an Armani suit underneath, few would ever realize it.  Therefore it is important that the abaya make the same statement of elegance and professionalism as one would with their “power suit.”I’ve been taking careful note of the differing styles and cuts of abayas.  As anyone who personally knows me has always realized, I like to make my own imprint and style.  As a result, I anticipate having a few abayas made from my own personal designs.  I can guarantee that at least one of them will sport a hood as well as a “happy kitty face” discreetly on the sleeve of an arm.

9:19 AM - 6 Comments0 KudosAdd CommentEdit - Remove

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11 Responses

  1. Aa,
    I think now we do have different styles of abayas. The variety has improved from before..It would be good to have more and like you said, for a working woman it is a business suit..I agree with you..

  2. totally agree

  3. Now that I have been in the Kingdom for a while I have added to my “abaya” wardrobe. I have the business abaya; the casual abaya; the abaya worn to weddings and special events…and each day one will see more and more choices and styles.

  4. Hahahah awww, but, you can’t wear coloured ones then? Oh maaaan. Well at least black is slimming! I want one with sort of hidden inner pockets :D that way I don’t need a purse or to worry about things falling out of my pockets (this always happens no matter how deep my pockets are! Its a curse!). I think Im with you on this one, because there is always a way to make something YOURS no matter how uniform it is. I bet you’re making great impressions!

  5. If you will be in Riyadh, you will most women in the traditional black although maybe with some very subtle color as a border or a design.

    hmmm, inner pockets is an interesting thought but at the top of my head, I can’t figure out how that would be done (and be accessible).

    Yes; you’ll have fun designing your own!

  6. i live in canada i wear abaya and naqaab ALHUMDUALLAH but want to know is balck only the colour wommen they must wear or she have choices and plz if some one tell me in saudi Abayas are really nice but i dont know any online websites or shops phone numbers so i can see through internet and buy them
    JAZAKAHLLAH

  7. Welcome Sallam!

    Black is the cultural choice of the abaya in the Kingdom although one sees black abayas now with swathes of other colors or design on them. Elsewhere in the region one may see abayas of differing colors.

    If you do a search on the term abaya in the search box of my blog you will find other related posts and some of those do have links for online shopping.

  8. Salam alaykoom
    I’m a little late to make a comment, but I always have my abayas made with side pockets that are in the seam and closes with a zipper. This is extremely helpful to keep items in the pockets during prayer and really handy if you are going to Umra or Hajj.

  9. Very good advise Baking and it is never too late to comment here! Welcome!

  10. I miss my abaya.sigh.:(

  11. [...] http://americanbedu.com/2007/10/18/additional-importance-of-the-abaya/ Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Saudis Abroad and the Stigma of the AbayaThe Saudi Arabia WomenMaha al-Hujailan: Cultural Baggage of AbayasAbaya and slavery [...]

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