Where to find a good kaftan
Dvora Photography
Every summer, I operate a two-tier kaftan system: cotton versions that go over a wet bikini on the beach (try Boden and Zara for these), which get softer and better with age, and the posher kaftan dress for an easy, elegant everyday outfit. Think wafting around holiday markets, putting one on for a passeggiata and wearing to work during a British heatwave. As with pyjama dressing, kaftan dressing takes a relaxed, decadent approach to daywear but is not the same as going out in your actual pyjamas/beachwear. No one wants that. Extra bonus points, then, to the multitasking frock that works just as well in the Mediterranean as on the Metropolitan line.
But apart from chic holiday markets in the Med, where do you find a good kaftan? First off, If you’re looking in the beach or swimwear section of department stores then you’re in the wrong place. By kaftan I don’t mean flimsy, bedazzled, polyester, doesn’t-cover-up-anything bit of nonsense. No, the kaftan has had a grown-up makeover. Head straight to the dress section instead or take the search online. The key is to find one in a substantial fabric – natural fabrics such as heavyweight linen and cotton poplin are always a good option.
This full-length linen number is by Cyprus-based label YUMEworld available via Etsy. I’ve spoken about it before on That’s Not My Age, and at £150, it wasn’t cheap, but then it doesn’t live in my holiday box for 50 weeks of the year. I’ve worn it around town, to festivals and it’s always a great throw-on-and-go option for that all-important “business coffee”. Just add a pair of doorknocker earrings and flat leather sandals to take the look from holiday to home again. (This kaftan of dreams is called the JEFF and comes in several different colourways).
Toast is a great place to look for a cosmopolitan cover-up. Check out the black/parchment patterned Ikat kaftan dress and the ecru/charcoal textured stripe smock dress. Olive’s shirt dresses could go from sightseeing to business meeting; the red-striped cotton style has an easy-breezy vibe, while the linen button-down version looks like it’s not going to wilt halfway through the working day. Arket is the home of monastic, pared-down style with the relaxed silk dress and the cotton embroidered (or plain) shirt dress being perfect for the minimalists among us.
Jigsaw navy tie-front kaftan dress
If colourful embroidery is a requirement, try Jigsaw’s navy tie-front kaftan dress. For an Aegean colour palette, go to Kin at John Lewis for the printed kimono dress.
The kaftan dress is also the perfect, faff-free solution to the Post Holiday Dilemma (PHD) – or, what to wear when you’re back in town but your brain is still in Skiathos. Is it a dress or is it a cover-up? If it makes getting dressed in the morning easier, who really cares?
This post is based on a piece I wrote for The Pool. Read the full feature here.
And now for a fine selection of kaftan dresses…
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Discussion (29 Comments)
Margo says:
Hi. These look just what I need to cover veiny legs. How are the sizing s. I am a 14. Would love to order one
Thanks
MargoI order the MENS…………same size as you in USA sizing and am 5 foot 11 inches tall they are perfect!
Beverley Stellas says:
I’m with you with the kaftan love. A good site is http://www.joinclothes.gr … a great selection of kaftans in linen and cotton.. silk and other…some on sale.. Kaftan Trigono in 100% linen is delightful… very easy to wear… . when in Greece and all that!
Mrs Tonia says:
I’ve always liked you in this blue dress in front of the Serpentine pavilion of last summer. Sure dress is still going strong on holiday.
The overlap shirt dress/kaftan in opaque fabric is a good look for warm weather this summer. Some form of this in linen/cotton my go-to way of getting dressed throwing it on with some comfortable walking sandals and silver bracelets and watch. Enjoy your holls.That’s a beautiful kaftan. I recently was fortunate enough to thrift a lovely soft cotton denim-look kaftan with 3/4 sleeves; it’s so comfy and cool.
Are you somehow in my head??
I was doing a very deep internet search yesterday trying to find the perfect kaftan … and still searching.
I find it difficult since I am a petite size 2 …Julia says:
I am very petite height wise but not quite size 2, ha ha. Have you ever thought about sewing your own clothes? Kaftans are just the easiest thing and so many beautiful fabrics around these days. (My favourites Stone Fabrics of Totnes, Merchant & Mills, Ditto of Brighton) So many tutorials out there on the internet too, and a wonderful sewing community.
I do buy the occasional garment (I have just this minute bought one from Arket!) but my Mum and Gran teaching me how to sew, more years ago than I care to remember, has been an absolute godsend as everything bought has to be altered anyway.
Good luck!SC says:
I’m late in reading this and am not sure if anyone will see this, but just in case… I am American and the seller on Etsy that I’m about to recommend is in India so apologies in case I’m about to suggest an option that isn’t feasible shipping-wise in your location. The very nice lady who makes the kaftans on Etsy that I buy does custom work. Her shop’s name is Mommyrobeclothing (an option for every item is making it have a maternity/labor/nursing cut, thus the name). If you email the seller with your requirements and location, she’ll let you know if it’s do-able. Her specialty is using hand-blocked fabrics, so take time to check out the interesting fabric options. Her customers love her pockets, most functional I’ve ever had, so if you do order from her, ask for pockets to be added. Her kaftans usually run about $25 USD and shipping for me is $10 USD. It takes a little less than a month to get to me in Alabama from India. I first learned about this shop from a reader on Kim France’s blog. Even if you don’t get something from her, I think you’ll enjoy looking at the interesting fabric selection–the owner has a really good eye.
Ruth says:
Replying to this VERY late having re-read the whole article recently. I ordered from Mommyrobeclothing as a result and am delighted – lovely kaftan and lovely seller. Thanks for the tip!
Food for fashion planning here… thanks. I’ve never owned a caftan, thinking they would not look good on me. But I am in favour of wafting, as you say… so maybe I’ll have another think about them.
Rosemary says:
I lived in kaftans when I lived in the Gulf in the 70s. Sadly they all wore out long ago and I have been searching for the perfect replacement ever since. Now you have found it for me. Thank you Alyson!
Lesley Somerville says:
The John Lewis kaftan is so nice that it’s now completely out of stock! Agree with you on Toast – they are marvellous for grown-up minimalist style, and good value in the sale.
Sally says:
A minority voice here- While I agree that kaftans are great for hot weather and the beach, I don’t wear them in public. I think of them as something to sink into at home on a hot day or evening but I don’t feel “dressed” in them — and this in Southern California. But each to her own – enjoy!
This is the time of year I become obsessed with Kaftans and want to figure out a way to integrate them into my year round look. I’m yearning for that Kaftan lifestyle, inspired by the queen, or I should say the Countess of Kaftans Marta Marzotti, who I just posted a story about yesterday.
Lesley says:
I bought a JEFF kaftan – the beige stripe – as a result of seeing them in last summer’s blog entry. It has been HOT in Canada and I have been basically living in it and a pair of sandals. I do get where Sally’s coming from – sometimes when out and about I didn’t quite feel “dressed”, especially on windy days 🙂 Recently I bought another one, in navy. I also bought a pair of the same company’s linen pants (the men’s – they currently don’t make women’s pants) that I can wear underneath. The pants are loose up top and have narrower legs. Still breezy and cool but feels like an outfit.
maudie says:
Spent The Best Day today at V&A Frida Kahlo exhibition. Fantastic. So……….might take to the enagua (long Mexican skirt – learnt that today) and float about in glorious, breezy technicolour. Also bought a teeny badge that says ‘I am my own muse’!!!! ha ha
Let’s all be our own muse.
Glad you enjoyed the Kahlo exhibition Maudie as did I. Have been experimenting a bit with that look. Necklaces especially worn with everyday dresses plus swapping matching sash belts for striped grosgrain ribbons which I happened to have from VV Rouleaux bought long ago. Does that great shop still exist now ?!Yes, VV Rouleaux is still there is all it’s glory. I found some skinny long silk scarves (some a bit Pucci-esque) in a charity shop and use those as sash belts.
Toomanyshoes says:
Love them but strictly for sunny hols only or the garden for me. I’m with Sally on this one. Not quite dressed.. For work, I don’t think you’d get away with this outside of a creative or self employed work environment.
Goddessinthedetails says:
Not a kaftan but my holiday dress, which can slip on over swimsuit or go to markets etc, wear to travel, dress up or down, is Toteme’s Belize dress in cream.
Zoe Borrowdale says:
I made one using a Prima pattern , a soft vintage Linen sheet and some trim . Coolest thing I ve worn all summer. I made it in one morning whilst waiting for my teenager to get up ! The hardest thing is finding suitable fabric
SO HAPPY YOU ARE HAPPY!
I LIVE IN MINE TOO…………I think I own about SIX YUME CAFTANS maybe MORE!
XXKelly says:
love the Jeff from Yume. Thanks for telling me about them.
It was my gift to myself on turning 70
VC 
Jody 
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Your navy kaftan is probably the Most Perfect Kaftan that I have ever seen. Classic, plain and looks sooo soft. I have the same sandals as you are wearing! The Kaftan – never too tight, always fits, can be dressed up or down as the mood takes you, wonderful cool and breezy clothing solution. Plus you can always have fun plonking on jumbo earrings and/or Ibiza style long jangly necklaces and swan about feeling like Jade Jagger. As an aside, the summer sandal and comfort conundrum – two great websites to check out are The Natural Shoe Store (foot bliss and stylish) and a US blog called Barking Dog Shoes. Now if I could just solve the (grim) fungal toes I would be Ibiza ready!!!!