Coloured Abayas: How to Wear Colour Beyond Black

Which abaya colours are worn beyond black?

Beyond black, the most wearable abaya colours are muted, softened shades rather than bright ones: dusty pink, mauve, matcha, burgundy, navy, brown, olive, greys and off white. These tones keep the calm, modest character of the abaya while adding warmth or lightness.

• Soft pastels: dusty pink, mauve and off white.
• Deep tones: burgundy, navy and brown.
• Quiet naturals: matcha, olive, dark grey and light grey.

At HIMMA, 24FW Aura comes in dusty pink, black and burgundy, and 24FW Haze in matcha, black, navy, brown, dark grey and light grey. In The Icons, Signature Mauve is a satin crepe in dusty mauve.

How do you choose an abaya colour for your skin undertone?

Choose by undertone rather than by how light or deep your skin is: warm undertones glow in earthy, golden shades, cool undertones in blue-based and rosy shades. A simple test is the veins at your wrist in daylight. Greenish suggests warm, bluish suggests cool, and a mix suggests neutral.

Colour sits closest to the face at the shaila, so if a shade suits the abaya but not your complexion, a shaila in a flattering tone solves it.

Which colours suit which occasions and seasons in the UAE?

Lighter colours suit daytime and the warmer months, while deeper colours suit evenings and the cooler months from roughly November to March. The UAE's strong light is kind to soft pastels, which look fresh rather than washed out.

• Work and daily wear: navy, greys, brown and matcha look composed in the office and in meetings. See our guide to abayas for work in Dubai.
• Eid and daytime gatherings: dusty pink, mauve and off white feel celebratory without excess.
• Weddings and evenings: burgundy, navy and deep mauve, especially in satin crepe with its soft sheen.
• Travel and weekends: olive, brown and greys forgive dust and long days.

Pale colours can reveal what is beneath them in bright sun, so a fully lined abaya, or an inner dress, keeps them opaque. HIMMA offers an optional white inner dress at AED 99, made in the abaya's size and length.

How do you build a small abaya wardrobe with colour?

A considered abaya wardrobe begins with one black abaya and adds one or two colours that suit your undertone and your calendar. Three pieces, chosen well, cover work, family visits and most occasions.

1. One black abaya for formal occasions, evenings and days when you want no decisions.
2. One grounded colour, such as navy, brown, grey or matcha, for work and daily wear.
3. One soft or rich colour, such as dusty pink, mauve or burgundy, for Eid, gatherings and occasions.

Choosing one silhouette in two colours, such as 24FW Haze in black and navy, gives consistency of fit. Because length is made to measure on every HIMMA abaya, you can reuse the same length across pieces. The Fit Atelier can suggest one from your height.

What colour shaila goes with a coloured abaya?

With a coloured abaya, the most refined shaila is either the same colour, one shade deeper, or black. Each creates a different effect.

• Tone on tone: a matching shaila gives a long, unbroken column and feels most polished.
• Black shaila: frames a dusty pink, mauve or matcha abaya and grounds it for the evening.
• Neutral shaila: off white or light grey softens navy, brown and olive for daytime.

Several HIMMA pieces are paired with the Dujalil shaila, and 24FW Vivid in black, olive and brown comes with a black Dujalil. For draping and pinning, see how to style a shaila.