The caftan is a dramatic and periodically fabulous garment that can sit in stores and closets everywhere for lack of occasion to wear such a thing. I can sense a couple of you thinking... what is a caftan again? The Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion defines the caftan (or kaftan) as a long, full robe with a slit neckline that is often decorated with embroidery and has long or three-quarter length sleeves that widen at the hem. It is based on a garment worn by men in North Africa and/or the Middle East and was adopted by American women in the 1960's.
As with any traditional garment or trend, once it is introduced to a foreign culture, designers must revisit and rework it time and time again to make it modern and fashionable, while still having some semblance to the original Meditarrenean garb. A glorious example is this Temperley London piece. The slits up the sides, square neckline, short sleeves and art deco pattern has brought the caftan into the fashion forward ranks.
Now, when do you wear this extraordinary Temperley London caftan? I adore a women that throws a party in a caftan. Any kind of party: bridal, tupperware, cocktail, house warming, birthday - you name it. Nothing is more fabulous then a hostess in a dynamite caftan. Barefoot in a caftan with flowing hair and chic make-up creates an ambience of comfortable glamour.
