I Was Ready to Spend $200 on an Abaya — Then I Found One I Loved for Less
I had already made up my mind.
I was willing to spend up to $200 on an abaya.
Not because I wanted to spend that much, but because I had been looking for something that actually felt worth the money.
I didn't want another basic abaya that looked nice online and ended up sitting in my wardrobe.
I wanted something beautiful.
Something comfortable.
Something I could wear more than once.
And most importantly, something that looked like the kind of abaya I'd normally expect to pay much more for.
I Wasn't Looking for the Cheapest Option
When I started searching for abayas under $200, I realised there was a difference between affordable and cheap.
Cheap was never really my goal.
I wanted value.
I wanted beautiful fabric, a good silhouette, thoughtful details, and something that wouldn't look outdated after one season.
So I started browsing with a completely different mindset.
Instead of asking:
“What's the cheapest abaya I can find?”
I asked:
“What is the most beautiful abaya I can get without going over $200?”
That changed everything.
Then I Found Rubab's Hijab
I came across Rubab's Hijab while searching for modest fashion, and naturally, I started looking through the different collections.
The summer styles caught my attention first.
I wasn't expecting to find so many options that looked elegant while still being suitable for warmer weather.
I started browsing the summer abaya collection, comparing different styles and imagining how I'd actually wear them.
And then I realised something.
I didn't need to spend my entire $200 budget.
The Fabric Made Me Look Twice
One of the first things I started paying attention to was the fabric.
I wanted something lightweight because I knew I'd be wearing it during warmer days.
But I didn't want lightweight to mean flimsy or boring.
I wanted the fabric to have a beautiful flow and still make the outfit feel polished.
Some of the cotton and summer-friendly options immediately stood out to me.
They looked like pieces I could actually wear for hours without constantly thinking about how hot I was.
I Started Looking at the Details
Once I stopped focusing only on the price, I started noticing the little things.
The sleeves.
The stitching.
The way the fabric falls.
The colour combinations.
The embroidery.
The overall shape.
Those details are often what make an abaya feel expensive.
You don't necessarily need heavy embellishment.
Sometimes a simple design with beautiful finishing looks much more luxurious.
I Wanted One I Could Wear Everywhere
This was another reason I didn't want to spend $200 on something I could only wear once.
I wanted versatility.
Something I could wear for:
- Lunch with friends
- Shopping
- Travel
- Family gatherings
- Weekend outings
- Summer evenings
And if I could dress it up for a nicer occasion, even better.
That's why these summer-ready abayas made sense to me.
They didn't feel like pieces that belonged to one specific occasion.
They felt like wardrobe pieces.
Then I Realised I Could Spend Less
This was honestly the best part.
I had mentally prepared myself to spend $200.
But after finding styles I genuinely liked for less, I started thinking:
Why spend the full budget just because I have it?
If I can find something I love for $100, $130, or $150, and it gives me the quality and style I'm looking for, that's a better purchase.
The goal isn't to spend more.
The goal is to buy something you'll actually love wearing.
How I Would Make It Look Even More Expensive
Once I had the abaya, I already knew how I wanted to style it.
A neatly wrapped hijab.
Minimal jewellery.
A structured handbag.
Clean shoes.
Nothing excessive.
I've realised that styling can make an enormous difference.
You can take a relatively simple abaya and make it look incredibly polished with the right accessories.
What I Learned About Buying an Abaya Under $200
I used to think that if I wanted something truly beautiful, I needed to increase my budget.
Now I'm not so sure.
I think you just need to know what to look for.
Look at the fabric.
Does it suit the weather and feel comfortable?
Look at the silhouette.
Does it fall beautifully when you move?
Look at the details.
Do the sleeves, stitching, and finishing look thoughtful?
Look at versatility.
Can you imagine wearing it in several different ways?
Look beyond the price.
A $150 abaya you wear constantly can be a much better purchase than a $200 abaya you wear twice.
So Did I Still Have $200 to Spend?
Yes.
But I didn't feel like I needed to spend it anymore.
That's the difference.
I went shopping with a $200 budget because I thought that was what I needed to spend to get the quality and style I wanted.
Instead, I found something I loved for less.
And honestly, that's a much better feeling.
Browse the summer collection I discovered if you're also looking for an elegant abaya without automatically spending your entire budget.
Final Thoughts
I started with a $200 budget.
I thought I would probably spend most of it.
But after finding an abaya I genuinely loved for less, I realised that the price isn't what makes an abaya feel luxurious.
It's the fabric.
The silhouette.
The finishing.
The styling.
And most importantly, how often you actually want to wear it.
So if you're shopping for an abaya under $200, don't automatically assume that you need to spend the full amount.
Take your time.
Compare your options.
And look for the piece that makes you think:
“I would buy this even if I didn't have a $200 budget.”
That's usually the one worth getting.