
Sizes run UK 8 to UK 24 on blocks we draft ourselves, so a UK 14 abaya and a UK 14 trouser set fit the same body. On floor-length clothing the finished length matters as much as the size label, so every product page lists it.
RUQYAH cuts every garment on one set of blocks drafted in the London workroom, so a UK 12 abaya and a UK 12 trouser set sit on the body in the same way. Sizes run UK 8 to UK 24 across the range, and each product page repeats the exact finished length for that style. Read this guide once and you should not need to think about sizing again.
Measuring yourself
Use a soft tape and measure over the underwear you normally wear, not over a jumper. Keep the tape level and snug without pulling it tight, and stand relaxed rather than holding your breath. It is easier if someone else reads the numbers for you.
- Bust — around the fullest part, with the tape flat across the back.
- Underbust — directly beneath the bust; this is what decides fit on our belted robes and yoked tiered dresses.
- Waist — the narrowest point of the torso, usually about 2 cm above the navel.
- Hip — the fullest part of the seat, roughly 20 cm below the waist.
- Shoulder to hem — from the top of the shoulder beside the neck, straight down to where you want the garment to finish. Compare this figure with the finished length printed on the product page.
- Sleeve — from the shoulder point, over a slightly bent elbow, to the wrist bone.
- Inside leg — from the crotch seam of trousers that already fit you, down to the floor, barefoot.
Body measurements, in centimetres
| UK size | Bust | Waist | Hip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 82 | 64 | 90 |
| 10 | 87 | 69 | 95 |
| 12 | 92 | 74 | 100 |
| 14 | 97 | 79 | 105 |
| 16 | 102 | 85 | 110 |
| 18 | 108 | 91 | 116 |
| 20 | 114 | 97 | 122 |
| 22 | 120 | 103 | 128 |
| 24 | 126 | 109 | 134 |
Those are body measurements, not garment measurements. Our abayas, robes and overtops are cut with 18 to 26 cm of ease through chest and hip so the cloth skims instead of clinging. Column dresses carry 10 to 14 cm, which is close enough to read as a clean vertical line and loose enough to sit and pray in comfortably. Trousers are cut with 8 to 10 cm at the hip above a deep covered waistband.
Lengths
Standard length is drafted for a height of 168 to 174 cm barefoot. Finished centre-back lengths are 142 to 148 cm on abayas and robes, 138 to 145 cm on long dresses, 100 to 104 cm on longline and kaftan tunics, and 76 to 78 cm inside leg on wide-leg and palazzo trousers. If you are under 165 cm, expect roughly 6 to 9 cm of extra length; the double-turned hems on linen and twill styles carry enough allowance for a tailor to shorten them cleanly. If you are over 178 cm, size up one step for length on dresses and abayas rather than buying your usual size, because the shoulder-to-hem measurement grows with the size while the ease stays generous.
If you fall between sizes
Take the larger size if your hip is the deciding measurement, or if you wear layers underneath. Take the smaller size on the belted robe and the shirt dress, which both have adjustment built in. For trouser sets, buy for the hip and trust the elasticated or pleated waistband to take up the difference at the waist. If your bust and hip land two sizes apart, buy for the bust on abayas and overtops, since they hang from the shoulder and the hip measurement rarely matters.
Shawls and headscarves
These are one size. Rectangular shawls measure 200 cm by 75 cm. Square headscarves are 110 cm by 110 cm, which folds on the diagonal to a comfortable close wrap with the points crossed at the neck. Jersey wrap scarves are 180 cm by 60 cm and hold without pins.
Still unsure
Email support@ruqyahi.shop with your bust, waist, hip and height plus the style code and we will tell you which size we would post. Full charts for every series are at https://ruqyahi.shop/size-guide. Returns are open for 30 days, so ordering two sizes to compare is perfectly reasonable — keep the one that works and send the other back.
RUQYAH LTD
Company number 17291326, registered in England and Wales.
Registered office: 3 Pasteur Terrace, Credon Road, London, E13 9BH, England
Email: support@ruqyahi.shop
RUQYAH LTD is not currently registered for VAT. No VAT is charged on the prices shown on this website.
