The Kaftan - a wardrobe essential?

This Summer I fell head over heels in love with the Kaftan, and since the beginning of September, my adoration of this item of clothing has hardly wavered. On Holiday, the Kaftan is the answer to ‘what to wear between the Beach and the Hotel?’ if you wish to avoid travelling through the restaurant, bar and children’s club in a Bikini - something I have unfortunately seen people do. 

The Kaftan is a light and easy way to feel covered, but not overdressed or clammy, while sitting on the beach, admiring your fine white legs (why do they refuse to tan?) like the strange roots of an unknown tree growing in the sand. The Kaftan is an excellent tool for when you are feeling bloated and surviving the awkward Summer *cough* scarlet wave, not to mention the lovely feeling you experience when (if) a rare gust of winds hits you, flinging your hair wildly around your face and causing your kaftan to stick to you like glue – without intending to sound dismally cliché, it is a magic moment. Similar to something out of Arabian Nights, without the ‘Arabian’ part

 

How does the Kaftan find its value in an Autumn Wardrobe? It is an excellent asset on those lazy Sundays when it is too warm to wear a jumper, you are too proud to wear jeans and t-shirt and too civilized to spend the day in pyjamas and negligee.  They are so easy and, if you can get your hands on the right one, manage to be so stylish at the same time. Pair your Kaftan with a loose bun – already you look the height of chic ‘au repos’.

A note on my Kaftan and here, dear Ladies and Gentlemen, is one of the Keys to dressing well. This Kaftan was bought approximately twenty years ago (so a few years before I was born) by my Grandmother while on Holiday in Tunisia.

Genuine, Vintage and Ethnic - it does not get much better than that.

 
These Photos were taken by my ten year old brother for me, in the ten minutes we had between my asking him to do them, and the arrival of his tutor.