Scorpio/m_daylight, yes mine are handmade although you can get ready made but usually not the same quality. Best to have a tailor show you swatches of black material so you see the difference. Some materials are heavy, others lightweight, some are jet black, others a lighter shade of black, etc, etc. Shayla material should be lighter in weight than the abaya material. Again ask for the shayla material swatches. A good starting point for a first abaya would be Souq Faleh, I think, as it's full of abaya shops. I don't use that place but I've heard it's reasonably priced (+/- QR400 for abaya and shayla I believe). Just check the quality and try to bargain. They have ready made which you could try on and then have it altered to your sepcific size. Typically we wear the abaya just brushing the ground (with our high heels on) and the shayla wrapped in a certain way with no pins stuck in it. It's a practiced art!!! Any woman can wear this attire...you will not be reprimanded, m_daylight. Though it may be assumed you are a Muslima or just a conservative dresser. I thouroughly encourage you to have a go..it's lots of fun designing your own abaya!!!

Also good if you're in a hurry to get out the door as it doesn't matter what you wear inside or if you're having a bad hair day!