Brunch sits in that fun but awkward middle ground: too relaxed for my work abayas, too public to just throw anything on. The good news is it doesn't mean starting from scratch. My abaya handles it easily. I just need to know which one to reach for, and how to dress it back.
Start With a Looser Silhouette
For brunch, I step away from the structured straight cuts I'd wear to the office. An open-front abaya in a relaxed cut, something with a bit of movement, naturally reads more casual without looking like I've stopped trying.
Kimono styles and wide-sleeve open-fronts are particularly good here. They layer easily over a simple underlayer and read intentional without being formal. If I prefer a closed cut, a straight abaya with a slightly oversized fit in a lightweight fabric works just as well.
What I'm avoiding: anything too fitted, too embellished, or too clearly "occasion." Brunch is smart casual, and my abaya should be too.
Featured Product: The Rowaida Crochet Lace Stripes Open Abaya
Fabric Makes the Difference
For weekend and brunch wear, breathable fabrics make a real difference, especially in the GCC where I'm moving between outdoor heat and aggressively air-conditioned interiors.
Linen and linen blends are my go-to: they drape well, handle the heat, and have a relaxed quality that fits the occasion without looking careless. Lightweight cotton and viscose work too. I save crepe and ponte for the office.
If I'm picking up a new abaya specifically for weekend wear, fabric is the first thing I check.
Color and Print: Where to Take a Risk
If I only wear color or prints on weekends, brunch is the time to do it. A muted terracotta, soft sage, or warm sand reads more interesting than black in a casual setting and photographs better!
Printed abayas: tone-on-tone, small geometric, or subtle floral work well here too. I keep the rest of the look clean so the print has space to land.
One rule I follow: if I'm going for a print, I keep my underlayer and accessories solid and quiet.
Featured Product: The Noorain Floral Tassel Open Abaya
Build the Look Underneath
For brunch, a relaxed underlayer beats a fitted one. Wide-leg trousers and a simple long-sleeve top in a complementary neutral give me comfort and polish without looking dressed up. If I'm wearing an open-front abaya, the underlayer reads as part of the full look, so I make sure it's considered.
Linen trousers, relaxed cotton basics, and muted slip-style pieces all work. The goal is that I look like I put thought in, without it looking like effort.
Explore our collection of under-abaya basics on the website: Co-ord Sets Collection
Finishing the Look
Accessories do more work at brunch than in the office. A simple gold cuff or small stud earrings, flat sandals or clean sneakers, and a crossbody bag in a natural material, canvas, rattan, or soft leather, give the whole look a weekend feel without making it look underdressed.
I avoid structured office bags and heavy formal jewellery. The calibration at brunch is: relaxed but considered.
An abaya for brunch works best when it's the most relaxed version of what I'd wear anywhere else. A little more movement, a little more colour, a slightly less structured fit. If I've been defaulting to my office abayas on weekends, it might be time to add one or two dedicated weekend pieces to the mix. Browse TAL's Occasion Wear pieces to find cuts that cross over easily.
A Few Weekend-Ready Picks
A couple more pieces that fit the brunch mood covered above:
