Abaya Size Guide: How to Choose the Right Length and Fit

Abaya sizing does not work like dress sizing. Most abayas are sold by length in inches rather than by a size number, and the fit that matters is almost entirely at the shoulder. Get those two things right and the rest follows.

Length is the primary measurement

Abayas are usually listed as 52, 54, 56, 58 or 60 inches. That figure is the length from the shoulder seam to the hem — not your height.

How to measure for it

Stand in the shoes you will normally wear. Have someone measure from the top of your shoulder, beside your neck, straight down to where you want the hem to sit. That number is your abaya length.

If you cannot measure, a rough guide from height:

• Up to 155cm — 52 to 54 inches
• 155 to 165cm — 54 to 56 inches
• 165 to 173cm — 56 to 58 inches
• 173cm and above — 58 to 60 inches

Treat these as a starting point. Torso length varies more than total height, which is why measuring beats estimating.

Where the hem should sit

Just clearing the floor — around two centimetres above it — in the shoes you wear most. This is long enough to cover the ankle when you walk and short enough not to be stood on or dragged through wet pavements.

If you wear both flats and heels regularly, size for the flats. A slightly short abaya with heels looks intentional; a floor-dragging one with flats does not, and the hem wears through.

The shoulder is the fit that matters

Everything below the shoulder is drape, so the shoulder seam is the only place a bad fit really shows. It should sit at the edge of your shoulder, not partway down your upper arm. A dropped shoulder that is too far down restricts arm movement despite the garment being loose.

For open abayas, also check the bust: the front panels should meet or overlap when closed, without straining.

Sleeve length

Sleeves should reach the wrist bone with your arms down. Test by raising your arms fully — if the cuff pulls back past the wrist, the sleeve is cut short. This matters more than it sounds, because it is the movement you make constantly.

Sizing by body shape

• Petite — buy for length first and expect to have sleeves shortened. Shortening a hem on a plain abaya is straightforward; shortening an embellished one is not.
• Tall — 60 inch abayas exist but the range is limited. Butterfly and closed cuts are more forgiving of a slightly short length than a fitted one.
• Fuller bust or hips — size up on the body and have the length taken up. Never size down and hope the drape covers it.
• Maternity — most standard abayas accommodate a bump without a special cut, particularly closed and butterfly styles. Our maternity guide covers this.

Buying online

Sellers who list a length in inches and a shoulder measurement are giving you what you need. Sellers who list only S, M and L are not. If a size chart is missing entirely, that is worth reading as a signal about the rest of the garment — see how to spot quality.

Check the returns policy before ordering, and measure an abaya you already own and like. That single measurement is more useful than any size chart.

For which fabric to choose once the size is settled, see our fabrics guide.