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How to Style an Abaya with a Shayla and Accessories

Two blacks rarely match. Pair a shayla with an abaya by fabric weight and undertone, then let one accessory lead: a belt, a brooch, a watch at the cuff or a bag.

Published Updated 4 min read

In this guide
  1. Match the blacks1
  2. Match the weight2
  3. Pins and grip3
  4. Let one accessory lead4
  5. Working with contrast5
  6. Colour in the shayla6
  7. Bags and shoes7

Match the blacks

Two blacks rarely match. Some lean blue, some brown, some green, and the difference shows in daylight. Hold the shayla against the abaya by a window before you buy it. Matte against matte reads as one outfit. A glossy shayla on a matte abaya reads as a deliberate contrast, which suits evenings more than the office.

Match the weight

A heavy shayla on a light abaya makes the head look larger than the body. Pair light crepe and nida abayas with chiffon or georgette shaylas. Jersey and modal shaylas grip better on busy days and suit work abayas. Keep satin and silk shaylas for evening pieces with some weight of their own.

Pins and grip

An underscarf or cap stops a chiffon shayla from sliding. Magnetic pins hold without piercing delicate fabric, and one pin at the side is often enough for jersey. Keep pins away from lace edges, where they leave pulls that show.

Let one accessory lead

An abaya outfit has room for one accessory in the lead. On a belted abaya such as Novella 017, the belt is that accessory, so keep jewellery small. A brooch works on a plain lapel, and Novella 005 comes with its own decorative bow brooch.

On 007, the gold-toned buttons set the metal for the whole look. Match a gold watch or bracelet to them at the cuff, and keep silver for another day.

Working with contrast

White panels and cuffs ask for a black shayla, which keeps the vertical line of the abaya clean. That suits Novella 019, with its white front panel and cuffs, and 020, with its black and white lines and piping. On an ivory abaya such as 021, a black shayla repeats the single black flower at the waist.

Colour in the shayla

If the abaya is plain, the shayla can carry the colour or the print. A navy abaya such as 012 sits well with navy, grey or soft blue. A brown and beige abaya such as 001 takes a beige, camel or chocolate shayla. Keep one colour story per outfit, and let the bag and shoes follow it.

Bags and shoes

A long abaya shows the shoes only as you walk, so the toe and heel carry the effect. Choose a bag with a structured shape against a flowing abaya, and a softer bag against a tailored one, so the two lines balance.

Questions on this topic

Should my shayla match my abaya exactly?

It should match in undertone and finish, even if the shades differ a little. A blue-black shayla on a brown-black abaya shows in daylight, so test them together by a window. If you cannot find a close match, a clear contrast, such as grey on black, looks more deliberate than a near miss.

What is the best shayla fabric for everyday wear?

Jersey and modal grip well, resist creasing and stay put through a working day. Chiffon and georgette are lighter and suit flowing abayas, but they slide more, so wear them with an underscarf. Save satin and silk shaylas for evenings and occasions.

How do I stop my shayla slipping?

Wear a cotton or jersey underscarf, which gives the shayla something to hold. Use one or two magnetic pins at the side instead of many straight pins, and choose a fabric with some grip, such as jersey, for long days. Chiffon slips most and needs the underscarf.

What jewellery goes with an abaya?

Pieces that show at the edges of the abaya: rings, a watch or bracelet at the cuff, and a brooch on a plain collar. Match the metal to any hardware on the abaya, such as gold-toned buttons. One statement piece reads better than several competing ones.

What is the difference between a shayla and a hijab?

A shayla is a long rectangular scarf wrapped loosely around the head with one end draped over the shoulder; it is the usual head covering with an abaya in Qatar and the Gulf. Hijab is the wider word for any head covering, and in many countries it means a pinned scarf or a close wrap around the face. Both work with an abaya: wear it with a hijab if that is your habit, or with a shayla for a longer, softer line.

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