Beginner's guide
Buying your first abaya: a gentle, practical guide
For your first abaya, choose a closed-front, relaxed A-line abaya in matte Nida in a neutral shade, sized by your height. It is the most forgiving cut, the easiest fabric to live in, and the simplest to match with what you already own. Zee & Zaa ships it free on Cash on Delivery with a size exchange, so a first try carries almost no risk.
Buying a first abaya can feel bigger than it is. Maybe you have just started covering, maybe you have recently reverted, or maybe you have simply admired abayas from a distance and never known where to begin. Wherever you are, you are welcome here, and there is nothing to prove to anyone.
An abaya is only a loose outer robe you wear over your ordinary clothes. It is not a test you can fail. The right first one is comfortable, quietly flattering, and easy to care for, so it becomes the thing you reach for without thinking.
This guide walks you through the choices that actually matter for a beginner: the style, the fabric, the size, the colour and what goes underneath. Every Zee & Zaa abaya is one flat price, Rs. 6,800 in sizes S to XL, so none of this is about spending more. It is only about picking well the first time.
What actually is an abaya, and how is it different from what I wear now?
An abaya is a loose, full-length robe with sleeves that you wear over your normal clothes, leaving your head to a separate scarf. It is not underwear and not a replacement for your outfit. You keep your kameez, your jeans or your work clothes on, and the abaya goes over the top like a long, elegant coat that happens to reach the floor.
That is the part beginners most often miss, and it is the most reassuring part. You are not rebuilding a wardrobe. You are adding one forgiving layer that pulls a whole look together in five seconds, which is exactly why so many people wear one every day.
What is the most forgiving abaya style for a beginner?
A closed-front, relaxed A-line abaya is the most forgiving first style. It fastens down the front so you never have to hold it closed or fuss with it, and the A-line cut skims gently outward from the shoulder rather than following the body, so it flatters every shape and hides the fact that you are still getting used to wearing one.
Avoid anything with a dramatic umbrella flare, a fitted waist or a heavy embellished panel for your very first piece. Those are lovely once you know what you like, but they draw the eye and demand a little confidence. A clean A-line does the opposite: it settles quietly, moves easily when you walk, and looks intentional from day one.
- Closed front, so it stays put with no holding or pinning
- Relaxed A-line, roomy through the body without looking like a tent
- Full, comfortable sleeves you can push up when you wash or cook
- Little or no heavy handwork on the first one, so it goes anywhere
Which fabric is easiest to live in for a first abaya?
Matte Nida is the easiest fabric to live in for a first abaya. It is a soft, medium-weight weave that holds its shape, is fully opaque so you need nothing special underneath, and comes out of a gentle machine wash looking almost ironed. For someone still learning what they like, that low-maintenance behaviour matters more than anything.
Crepe, our lighter and more flowing fabric, is beautiful for occasions and humid coastal weather, but it creases a little more and rewards a gentler routine. It is a wonderful second abaya. For the first, Nida forgives the most and asks the least of you.
How do I get the size right if I have never bought one?
Size a first abaya by your height, not by your dress size, because an abaya is meant to skim rather than fit. The length is what makes or breaks it: too long and it drags underfoot, too short and it rides up when you walk. The width is generous by design, so if you are between two sizes on height, the taller size is the safer choice.
Use the quick starting point below, then check the full chart before you order. Measure your height in the shoes you would actually wear, since a two-inch heel changes which length falls right at the ankle.
| Your height | Start with size |
|---|---|
| Up to about 5 ft 2 (157 cm) | S |
| About 5 ft 2 to 5 ft 5 (157 to 165 cm) | M |
| About 5 ft 5 to 5 ft 8 (165 to 173 cm) | L |
| About 5 ft 8 (173 cm) and above | XL |
What colour should my first abaya be?
A neutral shade is the best colour for a first abaya, and black is the most versatile of all. Black goes with every scarf you own, hides the small creases of a busy day, works from a university lecture to a family dinner, and never looks out of place. If black feels too stark to start, a soft mocha, stone or deep navy gives you the same easy matching with a gentler feel.
You do not need a rainbow of abayas to begin. One neutral that pairs with everything will get worn far more than three bright ones that each need their own matching scarf. Colour and pattern can come later, once you know your rhythm.
The black abaya, styled properlyMatching your hijab and abaya colours
What do I wear underneath it?
Wear whatever is comfortable underneath, because a Nida abaya is fully opaque and hides it completely. Most people wear a simple top and leggings, trousers or a lawn shalwar in warm weather, and add a full-sleeve layer or thermals in winter. There is no special uniform for under an abaya, and nobody sees it but you.
The only thing worth thinking about is the neckline and sleeves peeking out at the wrist, since those are the parts that show. A plain long-sleeve top under the abaya keeps the look clean and means you can push the abaya sleeves up freely without a bare arm showing.
What if it does not fit, or I change my mind?
Then it costs you almost nothing to put right, which is the whole point of trying with us. Zee & Zaa delivers free on Cash on Delivery across Pakistan, so you pay only when the parcel is in your hands, and you get a 7-day size exchange if the fit is not right. You try the abaya on at home, in your own mirror, with no money spent up front and no pressure at the door.
For a first-timer that is the safety net that makes the whole thing easy. You are not gambling on a size you had to guess. Order the height size from the chart, try it on the day it arrives, and if the length or fit is a little off, send it back for the next size. It is meant to be low-risk on purpose.
Free Cash on Delivery and timingsThe size exchange, step by step
How to choose and order your first abaya
A calm, five-step path from never having worn an abaya to one that fits, chosen the low-risk way with free Cash on Delivery.
You need A tape measure or a known height, One scarf you already like, to picture the match.
Pick a closed-front A-line in Nida
Start with the most forgiving combination: a closed-front, relaxed A-line abaya in matte Nida. It fastens on its own, flatters every shape and needs nothing special underneath.
Choose a neutral colour
Go for black, mocha, stone or navy for the first one. A neutral matches every scarf you own and works from an errand to a dinner, so it gets worn far more than a bold shade.
Measure your height and size from the chart
Measure your height in the shoes you would wear, then read the size off the height chart. If you fall between two sizes, take the taller one so the length falls at the ankle rather than above it.
Order on Cash on Delivery
Place the order with free Cash on Delivery, so you pay only when the parcel reaches your hands. Nothing leaves your pocket until you can see and feel the abaya at home.
Try it on, then exchange the size if needed
Try it on the day it arrives, in your own mirror. If the fit or length is a little off, use the 7-day size exchange for the next size. That is what makes a first try safe.
The words you will hear, in one line each
- Abaya
- A loose full-length outer robe with sleeves, worn over your ordinary clothes, with the head left to a separate scarf.
- Hijab
- The headscarf worn with an abaya, and more broadly the practice of covering; it is a personal act of faith, never a rule anyone else places on you.
- Nida
- A soft matte medium-weight fabric that holds its shape, resists creasing and stays opaque, which makes it the easiest first-abaya cloth to live in.
- Crepe
- A lighter fabric with a fine crinkled surface and a flowing fall, lovely for occasions and humid weather, and a natural choice for a second abaya.
- A-line
- A cut that skims outward from the shoulder to a wider hem, roomy through the body without clinging, which is why it flatters every shape.
- Tilla and resham
- Metallic-thread and silk-thread hand embroidery added to the fabric; beautiful on an occasion piece, best kept off a plain everyday first abaya.
- Revert
- A common word for someone who has recently embraced Islam; many first-abaya buyers are reverts, and every question you have is a normal one.
First-abaya questions people are shy to ask
Is an abaya hard to wear if I have never worn one?
No, an abaya is one of the easiest garments to wear. You put it on over whatever you already have on, fasten the front, and you are dressed. A closed-front A-line needs no pinning, no holding and no special skill. Within a week it feels as ordinary as reaching for a coat.
Do I have to wear black for my first abaya?
No, black is simply the most versatile, not a requirement. A soft mocha, stone or navy matches nearly as easily and can feel gentler to begin with. Choose whichever neutral you would happily wear most days, because the one that pairs with your existing scarves is the one you will actually reach for.
How many abayas do I need to start?
One is enough to start. A single neutral Nida abaya that goes with everything will get worn far more than several you have to plan outfits around. Once you know your rhythm and what you like, a second in crepe or a colour is an easy, confident next step rather than a nervous guess.
Can I wear an abaya over jeans or normal clothes?
Yes, that is exactly how it is meant to be worn. An abaya goes over your ordinary clothes, jeans and a top included, and a Nida abaya is opaque enough that nothing shows through. Keep a long-sleeve top underneath so your wrists stay covered when you push the sleeves up.
Is it normal to feel nervous buying my first abaya?
Yes, it is completely normal, and you are far from alone. Many first-abaya buyers are new to covering or have recently reverted, and every small question is one plenty of people have asked before. Free Cash on Delivery and a size exchange exist so you can take that first step without the fear of getting it wrong.
More abaya guides
Fabric guide
Nida vs crepe abaya: which fabric is better?
The two fabrics almost every Pakistani abaya is made from, compared on weight, drape, heat and washing.
Styling guide
What to wear under an abaya, layer by layer
The slip, the innerwear and the seasonal layers that make an abaya sit right, from summer breathability to winter warmth without bulk.
Buying guide
The best black abaya: how to buy one that stays black
Why black is the default, how to tell a good black abaya from a cheap one, and how to keep it black wash after wash.
Ready to choose
Every Zee & Zaa abaya is Rs. 6,800 in sizes S to XL, with free Cash on Delivery across Pakistan in 3 to 7 working days, depending on your city and a 7-day size exchange.
Shop all abayasSize guideDelivery times by cityAll questions
Last reviewed 22 July 2026.