A caftan or kaftan is a long, loose garment with long sleeves, resembling a robe. Fabrics range from lightweight textiles for the summer months to richer velvets and brocades. Traditionally made with silk or cotton, caftans are frequently adorned with colorful patterns, and many individuals wear them with a coordinating belt or sash.
It first appeared in Persia around 600 B.C.The Kaftan trend have re-emerged throughout the fashion history many times; in the fifties where it was first introduced to the western culture then most notably in 1967 when the Beatles made a trip to India where they were hugely influenced by their yogi and guru Maharishi Mahesh. They shared their “India Experience” with their fans by setting new trends in music and fashion.In the United States Diana Vreeland discovered it during a trip to Morocco and later wrote a series of articles about it for Vogue.
Enjoy the visual history of the kaftan :
Photo by Barry Lategan 1970 Dresses Valentino Vogue Italia, March 1970
Photo by Bugat 1969 Dress Galitzine Vogue Italia, March 1969
Photo by Bugat 1971 Dress Ken Scott Vogue Italia, October 1971
Photo by David Bailey 1967 Dress Carole Austen Vogue Italia, January 1967
Photo by Franco Rubartelli 1968 Dress Marucelli Vogue Italia, February 1968
Photo by Giampaolo Barbieri 1966 Dress Naka Vogue Italia, November 1966
Photo by Henry Clarke 1965 Dress Krizia Vogue Italia, November 1965
Photo by Ugo Mulas 1967 Dress Dorothèe Bis Vogue Italia, July August 1967
Photo by Albert Watson 1989 Dress Prada Vogue Italia, July August 1989
Photo by Barry Lategan 1970 Dress Balestra Vogue Italia, February 1970
Elizabeth Taylor
Grace Kelly
Lee Radziwill in an Ottoman style Kaftan
Talitha and her husband John Paul Getty taken by Patrick Lichfield
Yves Saint Laurent and Talitha Getty in Marrakech
Alberta Ferreti
Emilio Pucci spring/summer 2011
Etro
Missoni
Naeem Khan
Temperley London
Reem Acra spring/summer 2009
images via vogue.it ; pashionmagazine.com
the CITIZENS of FASHION 
Reblogged this on SamSammysWorld.
Fashion is just a cycle. With good research u will discover that most trend are copcats of the past with a little fine-tuning.
It looks amazing but unfortunately no relation with Kaftan
Don’t even ask me cos i love the way kaftans are been made in the old times than now and that’s one of the reason why i still have some of my grandma’s kaftan all i have to do is just make some little adjustment and they are ready to wear. like the post xoxo.
Love these looks – old and new. Adore the pic of Lee Radziwell. It’s alll about the fabric here.
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