What size abaya should I choose? Measurements and length

To choose the size of an abaya, compare your measurements to the model's chart and check its length separately. A letter like M or XL alone does not describe how it will fit your figure. Two abayas of the same size can have very different shoulders, sleeves, and fullness.

This guide will help you before an online order or during a fitting. If you are hesitating between several constructions, first consult our comparison open or closed abaya: the type of opening changes the points to check.

Preparing Measurements Without Complicating the Fitting

Take a flexible measuring tape and note the date of your measurements. Wear thin clothing, with no extra volume, and maintain a natural posture. Ask for help with a difficult-to-read measurement rather than bending over, which can alter the tape's position.

Measure your bust at its fullest point and your hips at their widest part, keeping the tape horizontal and not pulling it tight. If the chart asks for a waist measurement, follow its placement indication. Do not suck in your stomach to get a lower number: you are looking for a garment to wear comfortably.

Does the Chart Refer to the Body or the Garment?

This is the first question to resolve. A body measurement chart indicates which bodies the sizes are intended for. A garment measurement chart describes the finished piece. In the latter case, you must take into account the cut and intended ease, without arbitrarily adding the same margin to all models.

A width measured flat is not a full circumference. If a product description indicates a "chest width," ask how it was taken before comparing it to your bust measurement. Gathers, pleats, or an opening can make a simplistic conversion misleading.

What Abaya Length for Your Height?

Your height provides a general guide, but it does not determine a single length. Shoulder height, bust proportions, and shoes influence the result. Check the starting point of the measurement announced on the product description: shoulder, nape, or other reference point.

A practical method is to measure a long dress that fits you well, starting from the same point as the envisioned model. If the measurement points differ, ask for clarification. Do not use a chart found for another brand as a guaranteed equivalence.

Numerical codes can represent a size or a length depending on the seller. Do not automatically interpret them as a French size. Demand a clear unit and a dimension in centimeters when the title is ambiguous.

Petite or Tall: Checking More Than Just the Hem

For a petite stature, also look at where the wrists, pockets, and any belt fall. An abaya shortened at the bottom may still have sleeves that are too long or a waist placed too low. For a tall stature, ensure that gaining length does not force you into a width that doesn't suit you.

Alterations may be possible, but an embroidered border, a closure, or an asymmetrical cut can complicate them. Ask for advice before buying, assuming you can always shorten it. The principles in the guide size and length of an oriental dress can supplement this check.

Adapting the Size to the Abaya's Construction

• Closed straight cut: check the shoulders, bust, and hips, especially when seated.
• Open abaya: try it with the intended underlayer and check the front overlap if you want to close it.
• Loose fit or generous sleeves: do not assume that the neckline, cuffs, or upper arms are also wide.
• Belted model: choose the basic size first; the belt is used to adjust the look, not to correct a piece that is too tight.

What to Do Between Two Sizes?

Identify the measurement that doesn't match and the area concerned. Hesitation about the hips is not resolved in the same way as hesitation about the length. Send the relevant measurements, the model reference, and the desired fit to customer service.

Do not automatically choose larger "to be safe." Excess fabric can shift the shoulders, interfere with the sleeves, or lengthen the hem. If no choice matches the announced measurements, another cut may be more suitable.

Performing a Moving Fitting

With the intended shoes, walk, sit, extend your arms, and check the closures. The fabric should not force you to constantly hold the bottom or readjust the front. Also, check the look with your bag and hijab if you wear one.

For an abaya intended for summer, include any underlayer in this fitting. Finally, consult the Maison Layina abayas and the chart for each product: this method is not a universal size chart for the collection.

Frequently Asked Questions