How to Choose the Right Abaya Size Online

Shopping for an abaya online should be very easy but choosing the right size can sometimes make you hesitate before clicking buy. You might know your usual clothing size but that does not always tell you which abaya size will fit the best. Abayas are designed with different silhouettes and amounts of room and length can also vary from one style to another. The best way to get a comfortable fit is to understand your measurements and use the brand's abaya size chart rather than relying only on the size label. Whether you are buying your first abaya or regularly shop for modest clothing online this simple abaya sizing guide will help you understand what to measure and how to compare sizes.

Why is abaya sizing different from regular clothing?

An abaya is not meant to fit like a fitted dress or a top. Most styles have extra room through the body to allow comfortable movement and provide modest coverage. But the amount of space depends on design. A flowing line abaya will naturally feel different from a straight cut closed abaya while an oversized open abaya might have much more volume by design. This is why your usual clothing size should only be a starting point. A size L in one brand might not have the same measurements as size L somewhere else. Even 2 abayas from the same brand can fit completely differently depending on the cut and fabric. Instead of asking what size do I normally wear? It is more useful to ask what measurements does this particular abaya has. Once you start looking at measurements rather than just labels online shopping becomes much easier.

What Measurements Do You Need for an Abaya?

How to measure for an abaya at home?

You can easily follow this abaya measurement guide at home with a flexible measuring tape. Just wear lightweight clothing and keep the tape comfortable against your body without pulling it tight. Measure your bust around the fullest part. Keep the tape straight across your back. Measure your waist around your natural waist and your hips around the fullest part. For your sleeve length, you can measure from the shoulder point down to your wrist. The abaya length needs a little more thought. You need to stand naturally and measure from the highest point of your shoulder down to where you want an abaya to end. If you normally wear flats, take the measurement with flats. If you prefer heels or platform shoes, you can consider them when deciding on your preferred length. There is also a very simple shortcut: take an abaya you already own that fits you well and measure it. You must measure from the shoulder to them and if possible compare the sleeve length to the new style that you're considering.

How to read an abaya size chart?

An abaya size chart can look simple but there is one important detail to check: are the measurements for your body or for the garment? Body measurements describe the person the size is designed to fit. Garment measurements are the actual measurements of the abaya. Since an abaya is meant to have room, its garment measurements will usually be larger than your body measurements. For example, if your bust measurement is 42 inches you should not necessarily look for an abaya with a 42 inch garment bust. That will leave very little room.

What if you are between 2 sizes?

It's completely normal for your measurements to fall between 2 sizes. Your bust might correspond to one size while your hips fall into another or you might be right in the middle of 2 sizes. An abaya style should help you decide. A loose flowing design might already give you enough room, while a structured or straighter style might be more comfortable in the larger style. For example, an A-line abaya gives you more room through the lower body while a closed straight cut style might require closer attention to your bust and hip measurements.

Can an abaya size calculator help?

An abaya size calculator can help if you are unsure where your measurements fall on a size chart. Enter your measurements and use the recommendation as a starting point. But it is worth checking individual product measurements. A calculator might recommend your general size but the particular abaya should have an oversized relaxed or structured fit. Think of a size calculator as a helpful guide rather than a replacement for the actual product information.

So choosing the right abaya size online becomes much easier once you stop relying on the size level alone. Your measurements, the abaya's cut, and the length all play a very important role in how it will actually fit. For different sizes, fabrics and silhouettes, shop Eastessence’s Abaya collection.

Faqs

Q. How do I know what abaya size I need?

Measure your bust waist hips and sleeve length then compare those measurements with the brand's women's abaya size chart. 

Q. Should I size up when buying an abaya?

Not automatically. Most abayas already have extra room built into their design. You can check the garment measurements and consider the style before deciding whether you need a larger size.

Q. How do I choose the right abaya length?

You need to measure an abaya that already fits you well from the shoulder to the hem. You can use that measurement as a reference.