How to Keep Your Abaya Looking Good Through Wet UK Weather

If you live in the UK, you already know how this goes.

You leave the house and it's fine. Ten minutes later it's raining. Then it stops, you put the umbrella away and obviously it starts again. And when you're wearing something floor length, this gets annoying pretty quickly.

It doesn't mean your nice abayas have to stay inside until summer though (which in the UK could be a very long wait). There are just a few things we do differently when it's wet outside.

Check the Weather. Sorry.

Yes, very useful information from us.

But honestly, if it's going to rain all day, maybe leave the longest abaya in the wardrobe. Especially the really floaty ones that almost touch the floor. They look lovely until the bottom has travelled through three puddles and a wet Tube station.

On those days, we normally prefer something a little easier to walk in. The dramatic hem can come back tomorrow. Or next week. Depends on London.

The Bottom Is the Problem

Obviously, your entire abaya isn't usually getting soaked. Unless you've had a particularly bad day.

It's normally the hem. Wet pavement, stairs, getting on the Tube, getting out of the car. It picks up everything without you really noticing. So if the ground is wet, just lift your abaya a little while you're walking.

Seems very simple. But do we remember every single time? No. We certainly try, though!

When You Get Home, Hang It Up

This is where the chair comes into the story.

You know the chair… The one where clothes go when they're not clean enough for the wardrobe but apparently not dirty enough for the wash.

A wet abaya cannot live there.

Hang it somewhere it can actually dry and don't put it back into your wardrobe while it's still damp. If it's just wet around the bottom, make sure the fabric isn't all folded together while it dries.

That's basically it.

And Then There's Mud…

Annoying, but not necessarily a disaster.

The first instinct is normally to see the mark and immediately start rubbing it with whatever is nearby. Maybe don't.

If it's actual mud, letting it dry first can make it easier to gently remove some of it. Then deal with whatever is left according to the care instructions for that particular abaya.

And we do mean that particular abaya.

Please don't decide that because something worked on your everyday Nida abaya you're going to try exactly the same thing on the embellished one you wore to Eid. Different problem.

Speaking of the Embellished One…

Maybe don't wear her in a storm.

There. That's our advice.

Of course, sometimes the weather changes and suddenly your beautiful occasion abaya is outside in the rain with you. It happens.

If it does, just be gentle with it when you get home. No twisting it around trying to get the water out, especially around crystals, embroidery or delicate overlays.

Let it dry properly. She has been through enough.

Unfortunately, You're an Umbrella Person Now

We don't particularly enjoy carrying one either.

But from autumn onwards, having a little umbrella at the bottom of your bag is probably easier than spending the whole journey trying to protect your abaya with a tote bag.

Put one in there and forget about it. Until you need it. Which, knowing the UK, will probably be tomorrow.

That's Really All We're Doing

We're not changing our whole wardrobe because it rains.

Just check the hem when you get home, let anything damp dry properly and deal with marks before putting the abaya away.

Most of it is common sense really.

But common sense becomes surprisingly easy to forget when you're running for the bus in the rain holding an umbrella, your phone and the bottom of your abaya at the same time.

Good luck out there!