How to Style an Abaya
As the fashion industry evolved, abayas started making their way as a modern trend. From iconic and cultural “tatreez” embroidered abayas to contemporary and sleek monochromatic open-face abayas, the world of Islamic clothing is endless with possibilities. But with these infinite possibilities, finding the perfect outfit that expresses you while meeting your day-to-day needs can be overwhelming. Picking your fit should be an easy and fun way to express yourself, and often you can achieve this by introducing new elements to your abaya. Whether your look is geared for everyday errands or a special occasion, there is always a way you can bring a new aspect of creativity to your abaya and can be as simple as adding unique pieces under your abaya. Abayas, and their undergarments, can transform a look and is a super simple way to make your outfit look new every time. This blog will cover many abaya fashion tips for styling abayas with undergarments.
Tips for Choosing What to Wear Under an Abaya
It is essential to consider these three factors when choosing undergarments to style your abaya: comfort, climate, and occasion. Comfort is paramount and is vital for feeling like you. Aim for undergarments that are not too loose or not too constricting. A cute dress is a popular choice for abaya undergarments because it geometrically compliments the abaya while giving you the freedom to be comfortable. Another comfortable choice can be a simple white T-shirt with a pair of blue jeans. This look would be adorable under a monochromatic open-faced abaya, allowing you to be bold and choose something fun with your abaya color. If you want to improve your look, I recommend a pair of patterned flowy pants and a simple blouse/top. Then, you can choose an abaya color that matches the color of the pattern of the flowy pants. This is a fun way to step up your look while keeping comfortable!
The following important factor to consider when choosing undergarments is climate. For warmer weather, it is essential to prioritize summer outfits with breathable fabrics and lighter colors. Cotton and linen clothing are breathable and can be an excellent abaya undergarment choice for hot days. For colder climates, layering is essential. Layering your dress in a way that doesn't add extra bulk is necessary. Some abaya layering tips; for an edgy, laid-back look, you can wear a thick abaya with sweatpants and a hoodie, topping it off with a chunky scarf. A more cute dressed-up look would consist of flowy patterned pants, a pretty blouse, and a long monochromatic abaya on top. If you wanted, you could also tie in a belt to add more dimension!
The last factor to consider when choosing abaya undergarments is occasion. Dressing up an abaya is surprisingly more accessible than you think. A unique way to dress up your abaya with undergarments is with jumpsuits. Sometimes, jumpsuits can be a little bland on their own. However, throwing an abaya on top can offer some sophistication. This could also be an idea for work outfits under an abaya. Adding a professional outfit under an abaya can be a unique way to shake up an office look.
Abaya Fashion Tips
In addition to focusing on comfort, climate, and occasion, other factors should be considered when styling your abaya. One way of doing so is by mixing colors and textures. For example, pairing a monochromatic abaya with a tassel belt, jeans, and a patterned top with neutral leather shoes or white sneakers could make for a cute daytime look. Mix an open-faced abaya with a long sleek dress and heels to switch it up for the night.
Another way of styling your abaya is focusing on neutrals. Neutral garments can be a straightforward way to craft an outfit that makes your abaya stand out. By choosing neutral undergarments, you can feel empowered to pick patterned, textured, or even vibrant-colored abayas to take your look to the next level. An example could be a neutral beige top, flowy white pants, and a blue Tatreez-style abaya. This example would be a unique way to mix modern and traditional clothing.
How to Accessorize Your Abaya
Now that we have covered factors to consider when choosing what to wear under an abaya let's focus on outfit ideas for abayas and how to style an abaya with accessories. Abaya accessories can range from belts and purses to jewelry. Typically abayas come with a cloth belt that matches the fabric/pattern of the main abaya pattern. You are welcome to use that belt for styling around the waist of your abaya, or you can use it for other types of abaya styling! A unique way to style an abaya belt is to wear it as a hairpiece or headband. This way, you can draw motifs of the abaya towards your face, adding more dimension to your look. You could also braid the belt into your hair or use it to tie a ponytail back. For women who wear hijabs, you can still use the belt as a headband or tie it to your headscarf to make a turban-style hijab. If you do not want to use the belt, you are welcome to just ditch it and wear the abaya as an open-faced look. Another option is to completely change out the belt for another belt you have in your closet! A metal chain-styled belt could give it an edgy look, while a leather belt can make it look more sophisticated. The options are endless when accessorizing your abaya with belts.
Another popular abaya accessory is jewelry. Jewelry can range from necklaces, earrings, bracelets, anklets, and even whole-body chains. There is no one-size-fits-all for jewelry, and the options are endless when trying to style your look. A general abaya styling tip with jewelry is: for high necklines, ditch the necklace and wear chunky earrings, for low necklines, wear a cute necklace or layered necklaces and more low-key earrings. For women who wear headscarves or hijabs, a cool look could be to incorporate gold/silver hijab magnets. Hijab magnets are a trending alternative to pins because of their ease of use and endless styling options. Hijab magnets come in various designs and colors and can give unique hijab looks. Additionally, you can add as many magnets as you’d like to your look, so there are endless hijab styles.
Lastly, purses and handbags can make excellent styling additions to your abaya. A unique idea would include replacing the belt with a sleek and small leather fanny pack. That way, you get the pro of having a handbag while contributing to your abaya's style. Another idea is long strapped handbags. These complement the length of the abaya and can make you look taller if that is an objective. Lastly, tatreez-styled bags can give a traditional look and pay homage to its culture and traditions. Of course, there are many ideas for handbags and purses, and there are no limitations when trying to style your abaya.
Where to Shop for Abayas and Undergarments
A common question many people ask when shopping for abayas is where to find the best options. Often, it can be challenging to find cultural clothing in Western countries. Some major cities will have options, but frequently they have a limited selection of colors and styles. An option could be to look at common brands and find styles similar to abayas (like kimonos), but the options are limited and do not capture the same essence of an abaya. Online shopping could be a great tool to explore different abaya styles and undergarments, but always be wary of the return policy. At Noureem, we offer various colors, styles, and textured abayas with varying undergarments. Furthermore, if you don’t feel perfect in your Noureem Abaya, we are happy to receive your return in a 30-day window. That gives you time to try out your new abaya with all the fashion tips covered above.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we covered choosing what to wear under an abaya by looking at comfort, climate, and occasion. Then, we talked about how to style your abaya by combining different colors and textures to create unique looks. We covered ways to accessorize your abaya and unique ways to incorporate hijab jewelry and fanny-pack belts to do so. Lastly, we showed you where you can find abaya undergarments and abayas. Feel free to comment on your abaya styling tips below. The Noureem Community is excited to see how you take your abayas to the next level!
