Emerson Fry linen caftan | I got mine from the EF Outlet (sign up for access to releases)
Rachel Comey Moon wedge slides | size 9 & 9.5 on sale at Shopbop, wood heel on sale at Rachel Comey, size 7 on sale at the Dreslyn
No, this isn’t really an outfit. I mean, it is, but I didn’t wear it, I just wanted to show you the Emerson Fry caftan. I have no idea how to wear a caftan, outside of home/beach/pool. It seems a bit strange to wear it just to run errands, or about town, with no water in sight…
A few notes on the caftan: I got it last week after it popped up on the EF Outlet (you have to sign up for access) for less than $100, which is a fraction of their retail price. Uh…no brainer! And I’d been wanting a caftan forever. Just because. Not that I take a lot of beach vacations or spend my summers by the pool, but it’s one of those things I just wanted to tick off my list, you know?
Anyway, the caftan is linen, made in India, and it’s pretty substantial, very well made. Honestly a little heavier than I thought it would be, and sort of itchy, but I know it will soften up a lot with wear. This particular one is supposed to be “imperfect,” but I haven’t found anything off about it. I love the pattern. And it’s hard to tell from any of the photos, but there’s a panel just under the bust that has a tie inside where you can cinch it it a bit to give it a nice subtle shape, so it’s not just a draped square. Maybe all caftans have that? I have no idea, but it’s a nice touch.
Now that I have it though, I don’t know what to do with it. I can wear it at home, and probably will. I will take it with me when we travel to my dad’s in Florida to wear as a house dress. And of course, it would be perfect for a beach vacation, but we’re not going to the beach this year. But other than that, I can’t imagine wearing it to lunch, or out shopping; seems a bit too “much” for that.
Do you own a caftan? Do you save it for the beach? or wear it all summer, out and about?
I think it looks great on you! Why don’t you just wear it anytime you would wear a dress. If you hadn’t labelled it as a caftan that’s what I would have called it. I was interpreting the photo as an avant garde dress until I read the title of the post.
thanks robin. it’s just so…big? and in my head, i guess i just associate caftan with beach. but you’re right, it’s just a dress 😉
Well, I’m planning on wearing mine like I would any other dress–but, you know, I don’t get paid to run a fashion blog. 😉
The fashion “rules” we get stuck in our head are pretty funny. I was talking to a colleague at work–and whom I consider to be someone who pretty much says f**k it to the rules–and she still felt weird about wearing white shoes before Memorial Day!
lol
i don’t know what it is about this dress though, maybe just that it’s a “caftan” – and don’t give a shit about rules. i know if i saw a woman wearing it i would think it was awesome 😉 but people here aren’t like me ….
damn..now i think i need to wear it for real today!!
Definitely wear it as a dress, out & about! I have a caftan that was sold as a dress (banana republic, silk, thrifted for $3) I can’t wear it out and about because it’s tank style and shows bra straps. And wearing a camisole defeats the “light & airy” caftan feel I appreciate, so….
I love the substantial wedge shoe – I think it makes the outfit! While I’d probably prefer to wear my birkis, the wedge makes it look more intentional and “appropriate” for errands, lunch, etc.
oh, i want to wear it with my birks! 🙂
I agree def wear as a dress. Looks great.
i love it on you! i do have one. it is one-size and HUGE. i wore it mostly when i was pregnant. i brought it out again for bra-less lounging at home. sometimes i wear it out for quick errands. i love caftans but i think i need to buy it in a more fitted style next time.
It actually looks pretty decent on you., but I agree, it’s tricky finding enough reasons or places to wear it to justify it., well that would be my rationale & thinking. The little cinched bit seems to be making it less a shapeless wonder & more like an actually wearable item. The shoes seal the deal ,
The problem with caftans for me also is I grew up watching Three’s Company as a kid. Kinda can’t shake the image of Mrs. Roper no matter how hard I try.
http://ritournelleblog.com/2011/12/12/the-collection-of-elizabeth-taylor-at-christies/
Channel Liz Taylor instead of Mrs Roper when you think 70s glamorous caftans!!
Umm, this is all kinds of fabulous and if the material is substantial enough and not see-through like some caftans can be I say totally rock it as a dress.
I’ve really wanted a caftan this year and I don’t know if it’s because I have an actual vacation coming up or the fact that I plan to spend more time at the pool this year but I’ve been on the hunt. I actually bought one from Off Fifth and it had shape to it but there was seeming underneath the bust that made it look slightly maternity on me. However, it was one of those things that if I didn’t wear it by the pool, it would have been great to just wear around the house. There’s something kind of lady who lounges vibe about it. I did find one at a consignment shop that’s from H&M. The material is gauzy though so it doesn’t have the same level of versatility but for $10, it serves a purpose.
It looks like a very cool and funky dress. The color/print are much more urban than beachy. I understand though – that it FEELS strange to you. But I’m betting that after a day or so of wearing it around the house, you’ll be used to its volume and confident enough to wear it out. It looks fantastic with those shoes. No one would mistake it for a house dress with those. Also the length is perfect. Not overwhelming at all. It looks way better on you than on the EF model. Own it 🙂
Contrarian here… While I think it looks good, it would be better if it were longer. I love the shoes with it but I think a caftan needs some length.
Gretchen, I LOVE this look so much, i know what you mean about only wearing caftans to the beach or on vacation and while i often feel the same (they’re so light and airy that i feel a little vulnerable wafting around in one) I really think this one needs to be worn more than that! It could totally work for lunch dates and shopping trips!
I second Robin’s sentiment that this looks like an avant garde dress. Especially suited to one who “likes to play with shapes”!
I have a couple of caftans and I tend to slip into them after a long, hot day at the beach, a cool shower and a slathering of lotion, margarita in hand. But mine are longer…so they look more “caftan-like.”
Ha!! Fantastic, Kelly!
thanks niki 🙂
I love it!!!
at first, i agreed with you, i wished it was longer. and maybe i still do, sort of, but i also think if it was longer it would be COMPLETELY overwhelming on me…and i’d be lost underneath!
thanks christine!! i haven’t had the guts yet to wear it out…but it was hot enough yesterday, and will be this week that I think i just might !!
nice! it is pretty substantial – i will wear boy shorts underneath though, i don’t *think* it needs a slip…
haha! yes, but my mind always goes to mrs. roper. my twitter handle is “greedygrechen” after the “grechen” character on three’s company – i have many many memories of that show 🙂
ha! yes, me too, wrote that in my reply to kelly…
yes. bra-less lounging. if i’m home, i don’t have a bra on if i can help it. problem is my step-son arrives in a couple weeks… LOL
Hahah! I remember her character! She was Larry & Jack’s object of desire. She had the helmet-head hair like Loni Anderson.
Ok, it’s rather disturbing to me how much knowledge I have retained about a random 70’s sitcom.
YES. we didn’t actually see her very often, but she was a topic of conversation quite frequently LOL
I seriously LOVE this dress on you. I’m really into the flowy/boxier silhouettes and I just love the pattern, it’s really unique and the shoes you paired it with are PERFECT. I feel like the sleeves and the neck are the perfect way to keep your shape and the length is just amaze. I’m obsessed with it on you!