Abayas · 8 October 2026 · 4 min read
Abaya in the wind: how to stop it flying open
Why an abaya blows open or flies up in the wind, and what calms it: heavier fabric, low closures, inner ties, a weighted hem and the right layer underneath.
InspirationWhy some abayas catch every gust
An abaya flies open in the wind when light fabric, a wide hem and a loose front come together. Weight and closures stop it: a fabric with more body, fastenings that continue below the knee, an inner tie, a deeper hem and a matte layer underneath that the abaya does not slide on.
It helps to see the abaya as a sail. The more cloth there is, the lighter it is and the more freely its edges move, the more it fills with air.
- Light cloth: chiffon, georgette and very light crepes lift at the smallest breeze.
- A wide hem: umbrella, butterfly and heavily flared cuts hold a lot of air at the bottom.
- An open front: nothing holds the two edges together, so wind gets behind them.
- A slippery layer beneath: a satin inner dress or a static-prone lining lets the abaya slide up instead of clinging lightly.
Fabric weight and cut
A medium-weight crepe, a twill or a dense nida-type fabric falls straight down and stays there. Nida is a loose seller name for a smooth, matte polyester, and weights vary from one shop to the next, so judge the fabric in your hand rather than by its name. Our abaya fabrics guide compares the common choices.
The cut matters as much as the fabric. A straight or gently A-line abaya holds far less air than an umbrella cut. If you love a flared shape and live somewhere windy, keep the flare moderate rather than full.
Closures placed low, and inner ties
Most closed abayas fasten down to the waist or hip, and the front then opens freely below. For windy places, ask for the fastening to continue to the knee or lower. A few small snaps hidden along the lower front edge hold it closed without showing.
On an open-front abaya, an inner tie at the waist, joined from the inside of one front edge to the side seam, keeps the front wrapped across the body without changing the outside look. Our articles on open-front and closed abayas and the wrap abaya explain how each style closes.
Hem finish and the layer beneath
A deeper hem, or a hem faced with a band of the same fabric, adds a little weight exactly where the abaya lifts first. Some people also have small flat weights sewn inside the hem at the side seams, a trick borrowed from curtains. It helps on light fabrics, but heavy weights can swing and knock against the ankles, so keep them small.
What you wear underneath matters too. Cotton or a matte jersey grips the abaya lightly, while satin and slippery synthetics let it ride up. Our guide on what to wear under an abaya covers this in more detail. If the abaya clings and then billows, static is often the cause; drying it on a line rather than in a tumble dryer reduces it.
On the day, and for your next abaya
Out in the wind, a slim belt over the abaya, a brooch or safety pin at knee height on the inside, or simply holding one front edge in your hand will get you through. These are fixes, though, and an abaya made for your weather does not need them.
We make abayas to measure. Tell us in the quote form that wind is a problem where you live, and ask for low closures, an inner tie or a deeper hem. We confirm what is possible on your fabric and design in the written quote.
Common questions
Is a closed abaya always better in the wind?
It is easier, but a closed abaya with a wide flared hem can still lift at the bottom. A moderate width at the hem and a fabric with some weight matter just as much as the front.
Do side slits make an abaya blow open more?
Long slits can, because the wind lifts the back panel separately. Shorter slits, or slits with a snap at the top, keep the freedom to walk without the flapping.
Can I add snaps to an abaya I already own?
A tailor near you can usually sew small snaps along the front edge of an existing abaya. We do not alter garments we have not made, but you can ask for them on a new order.
