My Abaya Thoughts

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Sunday, January 14th, 2012


The Abaya…….Kind of a Cloak with Flare


My first abaya. Nothing exciting but it does the job.



One of the big adjustments to living in Saudi Arabia is the wardrobe. I have brought many of my favourite clothing items to wear but most days it doesn’t really matter because if I leave my housing complex I have to cover it up with an abaya. You all know what it is…..those long black cloaks that cover pretty much everything from my neck to my toes. At first I was a little put off by the idea of wearing it but since getting here, I have found a few positives. Take a look.

1. You don’t have to think about what to wear in the morning. Long black cloak it is.

2. It looks good with any shoes (4 inch heels, flip flops, boots of any kind….even running shoes). It also goes with any scarf or hand bag so get creative.

3. You can wear the same clothes several days in a row. No one will know..... they only see your abaya.

4. No need to shave your legs.

5. The question “Does this make me look fat” no longer applies because of course it makes you look fat.

6. Everyone else is wearing one so you would feel out of place without one.

7. Who doesn’t look good in black?

Another abaya. This one is a little bit fancier but is a lot heavier. That means in a few weeks it will be in the closet until next winter because it is far too hot here to where it.

My night life abaya. This one has buttons down the front which means I can put it over my party outfit and remove it when I get there.....without messing up my hair.

In addition to all that, there are tons of abaya stores and tons of abaya styles so the shopping is never boring.  I should mention that it is not necessary for me to cover my hair in public. The Mutawa'ah may request it but was a Western women it's not actually required. I've taken pictures with the head scarf just for fun. I have yet to have a true interaction with the Mutawa'ah but I am sure I will run into them eventually. In case you weren't sure, the Mutawa'ah are the religious police who are autorized by the govenment to enforce Sharia (Islamic Law) here in Saudi Arabia.

Mom, you can now stop asking for pictures of me in my abaya.....here are 3.

Julie