Abaya Length Guide: How to Measure Your Abaya Length in Inches

How do you measure abaya length?

You measure abaya length from the top of the shoulder, at the point beside the neck, straight down to where the hem should fall. It is the single measurement that decides how an abaya moves and how it looks when you walk, so it is worth taking carefully.

1. Dress as you will wear it. Put on the shoes you plan to wear with the abaya, and a light layer similar to what you will wear underneath.
2. Find the starting point. Place the end of a soft tape measure on the top of your shoulder, where it meets the base of the neck.
3. Let the tape fall straight. Keep it vertical over the front of the body, not following the curve of the chest too closely, and ask someone to hold it if you can.
4. Stop where the hem should rest. For most women this is just above the floor, grazing the top of the shoe.
5. Write it in inches. Round to the nearest half inch. HIMMA accepts lengths from 40 to 70 inches.

Why should you measure with shoes on?

You should measure with shoes on because the heel changes where the hem lands by as much as the heel is high. A length taken barefoot will look short with a heeled sandal and can reveal the ankle when you walk.

If you move between flats and heels, measure with the shoe you will wear most often with that particular abaya. An abaya for long days at the office in Dubai or Abu Dhabi is usually paired with a low shoe, while a piece for an evening or a wedding may be worn with a heel. Our guide to abayas for work in Dubai covers the daily side of this choice.

What abaya length suits my height?

Abaya length follows your height, and a floor-grazing hem is usually close to your height minus about 28 cm, or roughly 11 inches. This is the same principle behind the Fit Atelier, and the table below is a general starting point only. Posture, shoulder slope and shoe height all shift the result.

For a figure tailored to you, slide to your height in the Fit Atelier, then confirm it with a tape measure in your shoes. If the two differ, trust the tape.

What are the most common abaya length mistakes?

The most common mistakes come from measuring in the wrong place or in the wrong conditions, and each one is easy to avoid.

• Starting at the shoulder tip. The measurement begins beside the neck, not at the outer edge of the shoulder, which gives a shorter figure.
• Measuring barefoot. The hem will sit too high once shoes are on.
• Following the body's curves. Let the tape fall straight, as the fabric will.
• Measuring alone in a mirror. Looking down tilts the head and shoulders; a second pair of hands gives a truer number.
• Copying a length from another brand. Brands measure from different points, so a number on a label may not translate.
• Mixing centimetres and inches. Give the length in inches, as the order form asks.

Why does made-to-measure length matter?

Made-to-measure length matters because an abaya is a long, flowing garment, and its proportion depends almost entirely on where the hem falls. Too long, and it gathers at the feet and wears at the hem; too short, and the line of the piece is broken.

This is why length is made to measure on every HIMMA abaya, while the bust, shoulder and sleeve follow the XS to XL chart. A Signature Black in satin crepe relies on a clean, uninterrupted fall, and the fully lined 24FW Haze in premium crepe looks its best when the hem just meets the shoe. For the other measurements, read our abaya size guide.

If you are unsure, send your height and the shoes you plan to wear to HIMMA on WhatsApp at +971 56 666 1637 before ordering. HIMMA delivers to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.