The History of the Kaftan: From Ancient Robes to Resort Wear Staple
Of all the garments that have endured across centuries and cultures, few can match the kaftan for sheer longevity. This simple, loose-fitting robe — characterized by its long length, wide sleeves, and open or lightly fastened front — has been worn in some form for at least three thousand years. It has dressed Ottoman sultans, 1970s jet-set bohemians, and modern beach-goers with equal elegance, adapting effortlessly to each era's materials, aesthetics, and cultural meanings.
Ancient Origins
The kaftan's origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia — present-day Iraq — where loose robes of this type appear in sculptures and reliefs dating to around 600 BCE. The garment spread westward through Persian culture and was adopted enthusiastically by the Ottoman Empire, where it became one of the most important garments in the royal wardrobe. Ottoman kaftans, produced from the finest silks and velvets and embroidered with gold and silver thread, were given as diplomatic gifts to visiting dignitaries and remain among the most spectacular examples of textile art in existence.
The 1960s and 70s Bohemian Revival
The kaftan entered Western fashion consciousness in the 1960s, carried by the era's fascination with non-Western cultures, the hippie movement's rejection of Western dress conventions, and the emerging jet-set culture that brought wealthy Westerners into contact with North African and Middle Eastern textile traditions. The iconic image of Talitha Getty — photographed by Patrick Lichfield on a Marrakech rooftop in 1969, wearing a white embroidered kaftan against the golden light — became one of the defining images of a decade and remains the most referenced single image in the history of resort wear.
The Kaftan as Resort Wear
The kaftan's genius as resort wear lies in its combination of practical and aesthetic virtues. It is loose enough to wear over a swimsuit, elegant enough to wear to dinner, cool enough for tropical heat, and dramatic enough to make an impression. It requires no belt, no complicated fastening, no particular figure to wear well. Diana Vreeland, Marella Agnelli, and Babe Paley all understood this — the kaftan became the unofficial uniform of sophisticated international resort life in the 1960s and 1970s and has never entirely vacated that position.
Finding Kaftan Style Today
From vintage 1970s printed kaftans to our own collection of modern resort-wear kaftans, the silhouette remains as wearable and as beautiful as it has ever been. Explore our resort wear collection for kaftan-inspired pieces perfect for warm weather dressing.
