15
and 13
th
centuries,was a starting
point for theapparel.Male
sultansworeCaftans aswell as
other dignitaries andgenerals to
represent status. Thesecaftans
weremore likecoats,with
buttons in the front andflared
at thehips. Theyweremade
in richcolours, patterns and
embellishments. Thehotweather
of the regionallowed thegarment
tobe recycledand reinventedas
itwas comfortableandallowed
for someairybreeze.
Thecaftans that exist inour
modernday timehavebeen
madepopular during the60s and
70s. Designers started to look for
inspiration inexoticdestinations
suchasMoroccoandTurkey.
During thisperiod, the interest
incomfortableandethnic styles
paved theway forCaftans to
make theirway intoeveryday life.
Oneof theearliest designers to
takean interest inCaftanswas
YvesSaint Laurent,whowasborn
inAlgeria. HecreatedCaftan style
designs that eventuallybecame
popular ashostessgowns for
formal andcasual houseparties.
Thecomfortableandethnic
styles alsoappealed to thehippie
movement in thewestmaking it
quite iconic.
Celebritieswerealsopart of the
appeal asmanyof themchose
todress inCaftans. Elizabeth
Taylor isoneof themost famous
supportersof the trendas she
quitwearing tailoredclothes and
favoured the loose fabric. The
legendaryactressevenworea
caftan for herwedding toRichard
Burton. Her collectionwas
rather fascinatingandwas later
auctionedoff or kept inmuseums.
The influenceof Vogueeditor,
DianaVreeland,waspretty strong
when she introducedcaftans to
theworldofHauteCouture in the
early 1960safter a trip toMorocco.
Shepublisheda seriesof articles
inVogue rooting for thecaftanas
adress for “thebeautiful people”.
Through thepast centuries, the
Caftanhas attracted theattention
of royalty, sultans, celebrities
and thosewithabohemian style.
Thepurposeof thedresswas
altereddependingon individual
styles and thecurrent trends.
Whether used topresent status
or for elusivemodest allure, it is
obviouslyoneof thedesigns that
will continue to last andevolve for
centuries tocome.
