Abaya trends among expat women

EXQUISITELY styled abayas are on the wish list of every woman in the Kingdom. Expat women too are determined to make a fashion statement out of the typically black cloaks that are, by and large, not mandatory in their home countries. “Saudi women as well as expat women prefer modern abaya styles. However, women in Riyadh are more conservative in their choice of abaya colors, and there are some restrictions prohibiting very attractive and colorful abayas in Riyadh. On the other hand, women in Jeddah like to wear colorful abayas,” said Hala Droubi, a Syrian PR coordinator in TBWA\RAAD, Jeddah.



“Another difference between Saudi women and expatriate women,” she said, “is that most Saudi women are willing to invest more in abayas than the average expatriate women. They also buy new abayas more frequently and in almost every season or have their own custom-made abayas, making sure that they follow the latest trends in abaya styles.”



Abayas in vibrant hues, with bands of glistening diamantes, sheaths of leopard prints, glittering stones, ribbon and lace embellishments, etc. are just some of the designs in abayas that are gaining popularity with expat women.



Droubi said the latest trend in abayas is inspired by the old traditional Egyptian “milaya laf” dress, which women used to wear in the 1920s in Egypt.



Abayas in butterfly and fish silhouettes and with embroidery designs on the neck, back and borders also score high with expat women, and so do black abayas blended with bright and flashy colors, and those embellished with sparkling diamantes and detailed bead work in the front. Satin pleated abayas with chic net sleeves give a modern and contemporary look. For more read here.

The abaya shines on a Parisian catwalk

AHEAD of the Paris couture shows, top designers have joined a tricky exercise to glam up one of the world’s most traditional pieces, the abaya - the long black overgarment worn by millions of Arab women.

Unveiled the same week that French President Nicolas Sarkozy unleashed a storm across the Arab world for criticising the head-to-toe burka for women, the score of just-completed jazzed-up designer abayas are to be offered to the Saudi royal family by Saks Fifth Avenue of Riyadh and Jeddah. The presentation of the madeover abayas, held this week at the luxury George V hotel owned by a Saudi prince, seemed just another catwalk show in the world’s fashion capital, but within minutes morphed as a scene out of the Arabian Nights.

To music and amid a cloud of smoke, a mighty grey Arabian horse pranced into the ornate underground reception hall mounted by a Russian red-head riding side-saddle and clad in a rhinestone and sequinned shawl designed by John Galliano for the Saks collection. Following the horse came a score of models parading the abayas, each of them black but each very different. Other couturiers taking part in the scheme include French houses Nina Ricci and Jean Claude Jitrois, Italy’s Blumarine and Alberta Feretti, Australian Martin Grant and US designer Caroline Herrera. For more read here.