9 Kaftans We’re Living In This Summer Because We’ve Given Up!

Just kidding. Kaftans are chic. And they allow us to eat copious amounts of bread.

Image from  Diarrablu

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by The Candidly Team


There are very few items of clothing that solve the riddle of “I would rather walk barefoot over my stovetop than wear anything tight around my stomach” and “I also refuse to live another day as a tent-sized-t-shirt-wearing slug.”

And yet, we continue the hunt.

Because whether we’re apple, pear, or banana in shape, we’re all looking for clothes that do two things: 1. Look effortlessly chic (aka like we tried) and 2. Feel unshakably easy/ comfy/ unrestrictive.

Enter the kaftan.

The kaftan can oft be misfiled as a mumu (not that there’s anything wrong with that) or some other big, tented item we equate with “giving up.”

But, my friends, we’re here to prove the exact opposite to be true.

A kaftan? Is chic. Sophisticated. Sexy.

But most of all, a kaftan is so easy, so un-needing (a word, no?) of fuss, that we get to throw it on, look good, and feel entirely unself-conscious.

And, perhaps most important, kaftans are not designed for the male gaze. They are designed for our own gaze, as we catch a glimpse of ourselves in the shop window on the street, looking impossibly chic, gloriously untrendy, and entirely ourselves.

Here our 9 favorite kaftans on earth:

 
 

1. The “Sirens” Kaftan

Amidst all the pastel-colored yoga sets in Netflix’s hit series Sirens was this ethereally chic, white kaftan. And while the original is over $1k and completely sold out, we found two equally beautiful versions that we’d happily wear to any summer soirée.

 

 
 

2. Bella Flor Embroidered Kaftan

Beautiful and billowy and yet, the shorter length makes our waists look smaller and lengthens our legs. We’ll be packing this one on every warm vacation we ever take.

Price: $298

 

 
 

3. Tnuck Beach Navy Prism Embroidered Gingham Long Sleeve Salty Paloma Caftan

The magic of this dress is that we can put it on, feeling our most bloated and sandbaggy, slip into a sleek sandal, and poof, we look light, lovely, and entirely put together.

Price: $198

 

 
 

4. Omika Pia Kaftan

This is really the look we picture when we envision our lives in a kaftan. The floaty sleeves. The delicate waist. The kind of thing we can wear to the pool or a party, looking our best-dressed without ever having to think about it. It comes in so many pretty prints, it’s dizzying.

Price: $325

 

 
 

5. Leem

Monochrome Woven Kaftan

A luxe, day-to-night option. Wear it with nude block heel sandals* and elongated pearl earrings* and poof, you’re the chicest one in the room.

Price: $205

 

 
 

6. Velvet By Graham & Spencer amira dress

The silhouette skims our belly without adding bulk, making it ideal for an apple-shape … but, honesty, pretty much any shape.

Price: $168

 

 
 

7. Pomander Place Black Finley Flutter Sleeve Dress

We’ve covered the sheer bliss of having our stomachs utterly unregarded when in a kaftan. But this one has the added bonus of showing off our legs. Black is a staple we turn to on repeat but it comes in every color we could want. Also sizes up to XXXL.

Price: $128

 

 
 

8. vitamin A Cerise Caftan

Should doubt creep into your mind over whether something so gloriously spacious could also be chic, picture strolling along a boardwalk in this, with a gorgeous sandal* and a summery basket tote*. It reads White Lotus, while yes, feeling like PJs.

Price: $103

 

 
 

9. Diarrablu Satu Dress

There is so much handcrafted care that goes into this jaw-dropping dress, which is masterfully made by a small atelier in Senegal. The print selection is the stuff of dreams. You can order it in up to 3XL, but most amazingly, the brand will tailor it to your height without adding a minute to your delivery time.

Price: $295

 

 
 

At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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