Of everything you wear with an abaya, the shella, or sheila as it is usually spelled in the UAE, sits closest to your face. It is the first thing people see when you walk in, and the thing they remember after you leave. A good one makes a plain abaya feel finished. The wrong one slips, creases, or fights with everything else you are wearing.

Here is how we choose a shella, and the simple ways we like to wear it, from an ordinary morning to an evening that matters.

Start with the fabric

A shella is worn for hours, often in the heat, so the fabric decides almost everything. Chiffon is the one we come back to. It is fine and light, so it drapes softly around the face instead of sitting stiffly on top of it, and it stays comfortable through a long Gulf afternoon.

Look for a chiffon with a little body. Too thin and it slides off the shoulder every few minutes; with the right weight it holds a fold and stays where you placed it. Our Chiffon Shella in white is cut from exactly that kind of chiffon: light, soft and fluid, but it still keeps its shape.

Choose the colour by your abaya, not the trend

The easiest way to choose a shella colour is to look at the abaya you wear most. Most of us own at least one black abaya, and black is generous: almost any shella works with it. The question is what you want the shella to do.

• To lift and brighten: white over black. It frames the face and makes a simple abaya look fresh and deliberate.
• To add warmth: a deep, wine-coloured shella. Our Chiffon Shella in burgundy is deep rather than bright, so against black it reads almost like a jewel, and against a brown or bronze abaya it feels rich without being loud.
• To keep it quiet: match the shella to the abaya. Tone on tone looks calm and elegant, and it is the look we reach for at work.

If you are not sure, start with one white and one deep colour. Between the two, you can dress almost every abaya you own.

How to wear a sheila: three simple wraps

1. The everyday wrap

Place the shella on your head with one side longer than the other. Pin it lightly under the chin, then bring the longer side across and over the opposite shoulder. It takes a minute, stays put through a full day, and works with any everyday abaya.

2. The soft drape

For a gentler look, let both ends fall loosely at the front and pin only at the side of the head. This shows more of the abaya's neckline and suits open abayas and wide sleeves. With the Wide-Sleeve Abaya in black, a white shella worn this way is one of the simplest, most beautiful combinations we know.

3. The evening fold

For a wedding or a dinner, fold the front edge back a little before you pin it, so the shella frames the face with a clean line. Keep the pins hidden and let the fabric do the work. On special days, a shella that matches the abaya looks the most considered of all.

When the shella comes with the abaya

Some of our abayas are made with their own shella, so the colour is right without any guessing. The Pleated-Panel Abaya in olive comes with a matching olive shella, which makes the whole look feel complete. For occasions, the Flower Appliqué Abaya in ivory also comes with its own matching sheila, so the flowers at the front stay the focus.

A shella is the easiest thing to give

A shella weighs almost nothing, it suits everyone, and nobody has ever owned too many. If you want to send something small to someone you love, a sister, a friend, your mother, a shella is a quiet way to say you are thinking of her. Every time she wears it, she will think of you. See all our shellas and scarves.

Caring for your shella

Chiffon is delicate, so treat it gently. Wash it by hand in cool water, never wring it, and let it dry flat or hanging in the shade. Use a low iron or a little steam to smooth it, and store it folded rather than knotted, so it is ready the next time you reach for it.

Frequently asked questions

What is a shella?

A shella (also written sheila or shayla) is a long, rectangular scarf worn over the head with an abaya. It is wrapped or draped around the face and pinned in place.

What colour shella goes with a black abaya?

Almost any colour works with black. White lifts and brightens the face, a deep burgundy adds warmth, and a black shella gives a calm, all-black look.

Is chiffon a good fabric for a shella in hot weather?

Yes. Chiffon is fine and light, so it stays comfortable in the heat while still draping softly around the face.

How do I stop my shella from slipping?

Choose a chiffon with a little weight, pin it under the chin or at the side of the head, and bring one end across the shoulder. A soft under-scarf can also help it stay in place.

Complete the look: everyday abayas · women's shoes, from loafers to block-heel sandals · handbags and tote bags

Keep reading: abaya gift for your mother · everyday abaya for work

Further reading: The shayla and chiffon fabric on Wikipedia