Every Zayana abaya comes with a matching scarf, and a matching scarf is always a safe, polished choice. But sometimes you want a different look, or you're pairing an abaya you already own. Here's how to choose hijab colours that work with two of the most wearable abaya colours: brown and mauve.
A simple rule first
There are three reliable ways to pair a hijab with an abaya:
- Tonal: a lighter or darker shade of the same colour. Calm and elegant.
- Neutral: ivory, beige, grey or black. Hard to get wrong.
- Contrast: a colour that sets off the abaya. More striking, best kept to one contrast at a time.
Hijab colours for a brown abaya
Brown is warm, so it pairs best with other warm or soft tones.
- Tonal: camel, caramel, taupe or a deep chocolate.
- Neutral: ivory, cream and warm beige look especially fresh against brown. Black works for evenings.
- Contrast: dusty pink, sage green, mustard, rust or a soft teal. For a wedding or dawat, a deep emerald or burgundy looks rich.
- Use with care: very bright, cool colours like electric blue can fight with brown.
Our Opal in mocha brown comes with a stone-embellished scarf in the same shade. If you'd like a contrast, an ivory or dusty pink hijab keeps the focus on the stonework.
Hijab colours for a mauve abaya
Mauve sits between pink and purple, and it's soft rather than bold. It looks best with gentle colours.
- Tonal: lilac, dusty rose, a deeper plum or a greyed purple.
- Neutral: soft grey, silver-grey, ivory and blush. Grey is especially elegant with mauve.
- Contrast: sage, olive or a soft navy. For occasions, a champagne or pale gold hijab adds a little light.
- Use with care: warm oranges and bright yellows usually clash with mauve's cool undertone.
Sofia in dusty mauve comes with a matching scarf. For a different look, soft grey or ivory lets the cutwork on the sleeves stand out.
Match the occasion
- Everyday: neutrals and tonal shades.
- Umrah and travel: muted, practical colours that hide dust.
- Weddings, nikkahs and dawats: richer contrasts, or a hijab with a subtle sheen.
A final tip
Try the hijab against the abaya in daylight before you decide. Indoor lighting changes how brown and mauve read, sometimes quite a lot.
Browse our fancy abayas and signature abayas.