Ordering an abaya as a gift: getting her size right

Borrow an abaya she already wears

Pick the one she reaches for most, not the one saved for occasions. Our guide to measuring an abaya you already own has the full method. If you live far apart, a relative in the same house can do this in five minutes and send you photos of the tape in place. Write down whether each number is in centimetres or inches, and say that they were taken from a garment, not from her body.

Lay the abaya flat on a bed, smooth it without stretching, and note:

• length from the top of the shoulder, beside the neck, to the hem;
• shoulder width, seam to seam across the back;
• sleeve length from the shoulder seam to the cuff edge;
• width across the chest, just under the armholes;
• width across the hem;
• the sleeve opening at the wrist.

If you only know her height

Length can be estimated. An ankle-length abaya is usually about 25 cm (10 inches) shorter than the height of the woman wearing it in flat shoes, so someone of 160 cm wears a length of around 135 cm. Add the heel height if she usually wears heels, and take a couple of centimetres off if she likes the hem well clear of the ground. Our article on abaya sizes 52 to 58 sets the rule out as a height chart.

Width is harder to guess, so borrow information instead: her usual dress size, or the size label in a coat or kameez she wears now. Say plainly in your notes which numbers are measured and which are estimates.

Cuts and fronts that forgive a guess

For colour and fabric, copy what she already wears: the same weight, and a shade she has chosen before. For the cut, leave close-cut shoulders, narrow cuffs and fixed waist seams for an order where she can be measured herself, and choose from these:

• Open front with snaps or a tie belt: the overlap adjusts to her, so the bust and hip do not need to be exact. See open-front or closed.
• A-line or gently flared: extra room at the hip costs nothing in looks.
• Butterfly or kimono shapes: no close shoulder or armhole to get wrong.
• Wider sleeves: a sleeve that is a centimetre too long is less obvious when it is not tight at the wrist.
• Hem slightly above the floor: a little short reads as intentional; a little long trips her up.

Planning the date

We do not take rush orders. Production takes 5 to 7 working days after you approve the written quote and pay in full, and shipping time is extra and depends on the destination. For Eid, a birthday or a trip, start well ahead; our planning ahead guide explains why earlier is easier, and Eid abaya ideas may help with the design.

On the quote form, tell us it is a gift and which country the parcel is going to, since delivery and any import charges are included in the quote for that address. If she lives somewhere other than you, give her country, not yours.

One caution. The abaya is made to the measurements in the quote. If those were a guess that turns out wrong, that is not a making fault, and we do not offer alterations. If the surprise matters less than the result, the simplest route is to tell her and let her take her own measurements with our measuring help.