i just thought of sharing a small point on the matter of imposing the black abayat on women. I am Arab but not Saudi and I guess you discussing this matter would annoy many Saudis in the sense were you are all expats thus foreign to the country, even if you lived there for a hundred of years you will still be foreign to the land and its culture. So you being foreign and wanting to change things that Saudis have gotten used to is a big thing, so I guess if you wish to change anything, change on urselves if you can but don’t come and rant about why is this like this and this like that.
Secondly, that belief that the overhead abaya is a cultural thing is according to my knowledge, wrong. this kind of clothing has existed since and some say before the time of Islam, you can still find it in Arab countries in Shaam and North Africa, it’s often called the mila7fa just like we call it in the Gulf, anyways know that this behaviour of yours wanting to change things wherever you go would not be welcome in any Arab country, it looks like some kind of invasion on every land, and sounds like it flows in your blood this ideology of wishing to do things your ways only. No offence wanted though, we are all Muslims and equal to Allah, however you should watch your behaviour when going somwhere and if you don’t like it then the world is big. salam

I’ve not bought one online myself but there are indeed many many websites which do sell abayas. I’ll have to google but I believe a popular website is “the desert store.”

Regards,
Carol

They also do custom embroidery and Swarovski Crystal work on abaya

They even embroider your name in Arabic Calligraphy onto the abaya – now thats unique !

I certainly will hitch my skirt or abaya up when climbing stairs or on an escalator. I have seen others do this as well to include the men in long thobes!

My all time favorite outfit to be out and about as well as comfortably in is the Pakistani shalwar kameez. I think they are among the most fashionable, comfortable and practical of fashions!

So is one allowed to hitch up ones abaya to safe onesself from injury? Can’t they just be like ankle lenght?
Probably not.

Abayas didn’t use to be all black: re. old pictures. So this is a modern thing. So presumably it should be possible to change it back again. To force people to wear black overclothes in such a sunny and hot country is totally evil in my opinion. Or another way of keeping women indoors. I would go down on a heatstroke before I was out of the street. I already get sick if it gets hotter than 25″C over here!

Thanks – Carol