“YOU can find them in lightweight cotton, poly-cotton, peach skin, georgette or the finest silk and many are decorated around the hem, sleeves and neckline with embroidery, beading, sequins, ribbons or lace. Some are downright diaphanous, and many of them are expertly pinned and tucked to suggestively show off the shapes beneath. They come in a myriad of styles; buttoned, zipped, fold-over, with tie-closures, front-panelled, with tucks, all-in-one hijab-and-abaya creations, with flared sleeves, slim-fitting, with finger loops. While some really look like nothing more than over-sized graduation gowns, others are perfectly beautiful and are worn with pride...” enthuses Laura of Arabia, an expat blogger from South Africa on Women24.com in a blog entry titled ‘My Beautiful Abaya.' While the mind-boggling variety of abayas available in the Kingdom make them a much sought-after item abroad, with online stores competing to ship orders to eager customers in the US, UK and Europe, the prices can send you reeling. A quick visit to the friendly neighborhood mall reveals rows of designer abaya shops where salesmen unfurl a variety of expensive fabrics and stylish cuts, smothered with Swarovski crystals, dusted with diamontes or encrusted with eye-catching embroidery ...ranging from a couple of hundred riyals to thousands. Earlier this month, celebrated British couturier, Bruce Oldfield unveiled what he calls “the world's first red-carpet abaya” rumored to be the most expensive abaya ever made. The hefty £175,000 ($350,000) price tag that elbowed out the erstwhile most expensive abaya -- a measly Dh364,000 in comparison -- is the result of 359.7 grams of white gold and 4,668 individual diamonds. The diamonds, with a total weight of 85.13 carats, were supplied by Harriet Crosley of Crosley Diamonds. A portion of the sales will go to the Islamic Relief charity. The sale will take place during ‘The Saudi Gulf Luxury Trade Fair' at InterContinental London Park Lane on Saturday, 2-3 August 2008. The fair will also offer exclusive pieces by famous designers and brands, such as Harrods, Sotheby's Realty, Aston Martin, Mathaf Gallery, Kashket & Partners, Asus, Louise Mariette Hat Couture, Soane, Donna Karan, James Purdey & Son, HSBC Premier, and Conduit Capital Liquid Funds. __
