The sheila, embroidery, and small details that personalise a traditional look.
Ethnic Wear Guide
Beyond the abaya itself, a range of accessories shapes how a traditional look comes together for women — the sheila, embroidered detailing, and the pins and finishing touches that hold everything elegantly in place. The Dubai Mall offers a genuine starting point for these pieces. Here is where to buy women’s traditional accessories at The Dubai Mall.
Mauzan — The mall’s dedicated abaya and modest fashion house offers coordinating sheilas and traditional accessories alongside its clothing range, plus its own perfume line, making it possible to build a complete, coordinated traditional look in a single visit.
Choosing a Sheila
The sheila, or headscarf, is typically selected to either match or elegantly contrast with the abaya it accompanies. Lightweight chiffon and jersey versions drape easily for everyday wear, while satin and silk-blend sheilas add a more formal sheen suited to special occasions and evening events.
Accessorize & Claire’s — For simple, affordable finishing touches like decorative pins, hair accessories, and small everyday jewellery, mainstream accessory stores such as Accessorize and Claire’s offer versatile pieces that work well alongside a traditional look without a large investment.
Talli and Traditional Embroidery
Talli, a traditional hand-embroidery technique using metallic thread, has long been used to decorate the edges and cuffs of traditional Emirati dress, historically a valued craft passed through generations. Pieces featuring genuine talli work, where available, tend to carry a distinct richness and cultural weight beyond machine embroidery.
Traditional Jewellery Pairings
Delicate gold pieces from the mall’s jewellery houses — a simple pendant, small hoops, or a slim bangle — pair naturally with traditional dress, echoing the region’s gold-giving heritage in an everyday, understated way. Statement jewellery is generally reserved for more formal occasions rather than daily wear.
Pins and Practical Fastenings
Simple magnetic pins keep a sheila secure without damaging delicate fabric, while more decorative pins featuring subtle crystal or pearl detailing can add a small styling accent, particularly for occasion wear. Keeping a small collection of pins on hand is a genuinely practical habit, since they are easy to misplace during a busy day.
Fragrance as the Finishing Touch
Traditional Emirati dressing often incorporates fragrance as a final step, with oud, bakhoor, or a signature perfume completing the look. Mauzan’s own perfume line offers a coordinated option, while Arabian Oud and Ajmal elsewhere in the mall provide a broader range of traditional scent options to personalise the finish.
Bags and Footwear to Complement
A structured handbag in a neutral tone tends to complement an abaya’s clean lines well, while comfortable flats or low block heels suit the garment’s flowing length better than very high heels, which can catch on the hem during regular movement. Neutral tones such as black, nude, or metallic pair most versatily across different outfits.
The Details That Make a Look Complete
From Mauzan’s coordinated sheilas and fragrance to the broader accessory offerings found throughout The Dubai Mall, the small details genuinely shape a traditional look. Take time choosing pieces that complement your abaya’s colour and detailing, and the finished outfit will feel considered from head to toe.
Contributed by GuestPosts.biz
