How to Style an Open Abaya: A Modern Wardrobe Guide

The open abaya is the most generous silhouette in our atelier. It accepts almost any inner garment, and it improves almost every one. Here is how we style it.

1. Over a tailored slip dress, for evening

A black silk slip beneath an ivory crêpe open abaya — the contrast is the entire outfit. Add a pair of pearl drops and you are dressed for any private dinner, anywhere in the world.

2. Over wide-leg trousers and a cashmere shell, for the office

The open abaya transforms what would otherwise be a tailoring outfit into something with weight, drama, and movement. We recommend a column of one colour beneath.

3. Over jeans and a white shirt, for daytime

Yes — the abaya can be casual. With a good leather mule and a soft handbag, this is the way our founder dresses on most weekdays.

Three rules to remember

• ◆Keep the inner column tonal — clutter beneath kills the silhouette.
• ◆Let the abaya hang. Resist the belt.
• ◆Mules and flats only — the abaya does the lifting; the shoes should not compete.