How to Wear an Abaya
Muslim women who practice the Islamic faith typically wear Abayas, a robe-like dress that is worn on top of regular clothing. The design is made to conceal the beauty of a woman to those men who are not "legal" to her, such as her father, husband, sons or others as outlined in the Muslim religion.
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Instructions
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Decide what type of abaya to wear. The head abaya is a dress that begins at the top of the head, covering the entire body and rests below the ankles. The black abaya are more common in the Middle East and are almost always black as the name suggests. The white abaya are worn in the far eastern Muslim countries and are made from very light fabric. Colored abayas are more fashionable and some have embroidered designs and are popular in Jordan and western cultures. Some abayas are available in fitted versions as well.
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Use an abaya as a quick way to get out of the house. Because the purpose is to conceal the woman, it is perfect if you need to leave quickly in the morning to run kids to school or an errand. No thinking about what to wear, just slip an abaya over your sweats or pajamas and off you go, respecting both yourself and your faith.
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See it as a way to soothe your spirit and feel secure in times of cultural sensitivity. An abaya is meant to shield a woman from the stares of others, thus it can provide a sense of security by allowing a woman go about daily chores cloaked in her abaya, which can allow the woman to focus on calming her spirit in stressful times.
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Gather and hold the ends of the abaya up while on escalators, elevators or getting in or out of a vehicle. The beauty of the abaya is that it is long and flowing, but it's tricky to try and keep the fabric from being caught in things causing the woman to trip or the fabric to tear.
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Practice respect for your Muslim faith by wearing an abaya. Although abayas have come a very long way in terms of fashion and trends, for many they are still rooted in respect for their Muslim faith and cultural roots.
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Comments
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scergol
Jan 16, 2008
Thank you for this sensitive and thoughtful explanation of the abaya. Most American woman misunderstand the tradition as an instrument of oppression. I just returned from three years living in the Middle East, and my experiences there taught me about the freedom in dressing modestly. -
scergol
Jan 16, 2008
Thank you for this sensitive and thoughtful explanation of the abaya. Most American woman misunderstand the tradition as an instrument of oppression. I just returned from three years living in the Middle East, and my experiences there taught me about the freedom in dressing modestly.
