| A caftan, or sometimes spelled “kaftan”, | | | | between men's and women's caftans. The |
| is a full-length, loosely-fitted garment with long or | | | | men's often had gores added, which caused the |
| short sleeves that have been worn by both men | | | | bottom of their caftans to flare out. The |
| and women. The caftan has had a long history | | | | women's garments were usually more fitted and |
| behind it and is still being used today through | | | | more likely to have added sashes, belts or other |
| many variations. Designers have made many | | | | accessories. Other elegant caftans had |
| changes in order to make the comfortable | | | | multi-layered sleeves and had slits on the other |
| garment more modern and more practical. | | | | layers to show off the contrasting colors of the |
| Caftans have been said to have originated from | | | | fabrics. |
| the Mesopotamia and Asia Minor regions in 600 | | | | The caftan style had only just recently made its |
| B.C. Variations had also spread through many | | | | way to the West in the 1960's. It was Diana |
| African countries and by the 13th century it had | | | | Vreeland who had visited Morocco and wrote a |
| spread throughout Eastern Europe and Russia. | | | | series of articles labeling the caftan as fashionable |
| From Russia, the caftan spread out and made its | | | | for “The Beautiful People. Vreeland worked |
| way to Turkey, who brought it to Hungary and | | | | for the magazines Harper's Bazaar and Vogue as |
| Poland when they conquered those lands. | | | | a columnist and editor in the field of fashion. |
| During the Ottoman Empire of the 16th century, | | | | Today's caftans have gone through many |
| caftans of varying lengths were made from rich | | | | changes to become more practical, though they |
| satins, velvet, silk and metallic threads. The | | | | still have some of the essence of the African and |
| different materials of a caftan were used to | | | | Moroccan caftans. Caftans have been |
| indicate a person's social status. The luxuriously | | | | customized to each person and used as many |
| made caftans were often used as gifts or | | | | different ways: from a cover-up to a nightgown. |
| “robes of honor” to visiting dignitaries, | | | | They are being worn with jewelry, sashes and |
| bureaucrats, ambassadors, and important | | | | belts, buttons, all depending on the owner. The |
| government officials and state heads. | | | | choice of fabric has varied throughout the years, |
| Variations were made throughout the years | | | | but silks and cottons are still used most. |