Our 33 Favourite #RockTheAbaya Photos

With National Emirati Women’s Day not far behind us, it seems an old hashtag has resurfaced on Instagram – #rocktheabaya.

As part of this fashion-focused challenge, the Middle East’s Instagram community is taking to the streets to snap all kinds of artsy photos championing the beautiful Islamic dress that is the abaya.

In a year where Emiratis were warned not to wear national dress abroad for fear of false accusations, and the burkini was banned from France’s beaches, it’s heartening to see women taking to social media to prove that dressing modestly doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style.

The #rocktheabaya hashtag – created by Dubai-based Instagrammer Mary-Claire Doubleu – has proved popular on the app over the last 12 months, with women regularly posting snaps of themselves in a range of colours, prints and fabrics.

Read:
Dolce & Gabbana Launches Its First Line Of Hijabs & Abayas
Celebrating Emirati Women’s Day: “What The National Dress Means To Me”
Why Do Muslim Women Cover Up?

Whether styled with trainers, oversized sunnies or elaborate embroidery, the images prove there’s a multitude of ways in which the flowing garment can be worn.

While the abaya is traditionally black, everything from pale pink to monochromatic checks can be found on the photo-sharing site.

High-end designers have also cottoned on to the abaya’s beauty, with Dolce & Gabbana launching their first hijab and abaya collection earlier this year.

Brands including DKNY, Oscar de la Renta, Tommy Hilfiger, Mango, and Monique Lhuillier have also branched into Middle Eastern dress, regularly creating one-off Ramadan collections.

So without further ado, here are 33 of our favourite #rocktheabaya photos.