Plus-size abayas made to measure: what to send

Measurements to take, and a few extras

Use a soft tape and measure over the clothes you normally wear under an abaya.

• Bust: around the fullest part, tape level across your back.
• Tummy: around the fullest part of your stomach, which may be above or below your natural waist. This is the measurement standard charts usually miss.
• Hips: around the fullest part of your hips and seat, standing with feet together.
• Upper arm: around the fullest part, arm relaxed. Tight sleeves are one of the most common problems with ready-made abayas.
• Back width: across the back between the creases where your arms meet your body. It helps if abayas usually feel tight across the shoulder blades.
• Shoulder, sleeve length and full length: as in our step-by-step guide on how to measure for an abaya.

Front length and how the hem hangs

A fuller bust or tummy takes up length at the front, so a hem cut level can end up shorter at the front than at the back. A useful extra is a front length: from the shoulder by the neck, over the fullest part of the bust and tummy, down to the floor in your shoes. Send it with the usual full length and we can plan a level hem.

If you have an abaya where the hem rises at the front, a side-on photo of you wearing it shows exactly where the difference is.

Ease: comfortable, not oversized

Many plus-size women are offered tent shapes, as if more fabric were the only answer. It is not. A well-planned abaya has enough room to sit, drive and lift your arms, and no more than you want. Our article on shoulder and bust ease explains how to describe it. The simplest approach is to measure an abaya you find comfortable and send those finished measurements alongside your own.

General shape advice for curvier figures is in our ease guide for kameez; much of it carries over.

Details worth asking for

None of these are fixed options; ask for them in your quote and we confirm what is possible with your design and fabric.

• Side slits or a little extra flare at the hem for walking room.
• Sleeves cut with room at the upper arm and a cuff at your wrist size.
• An open front, or a closed front with fastenings placed so they do not gape at the bust.
• Pockets set into the side seams, at a height that suits your arms.

Ordering your abaya

Enter your measurements on the quote form and add notes on comfort and any extra measurements. If you would rather send your own fabric, the Stitching Only page for the USA shows how that route works; check the quantity with us first, because a larger abaya needs more fabric. We ship worldwide, including to Houston and Jeddah.

Your written quote lists every measurement and design detail for you to check before you approve. Production is 5 to 7 working days after approval and full payment, then the abaya is shipped to you.