Queen of the (Vintage) Kaftan

Vibrant Prints + Floaty Kaftans = Summer. 

This equation pretty much sums up summertime in Queensland. Vivid patterns & cuts that glide over the body (rather than cling) are a complete Godsend in the heat & humidity, making kaftans a popular option for a myriad of events, which is wonderful... until 4 people at the same party are wearing the same kaftan in the same mass-produced print...

Vintage solves that problem.

The ravages of time mean that it's highly unlikely that someone else at the same event would be dressed in an identical manner to you & the 1960s & 1970s "flower power" or "tribal" prints are certainly a sight to behold. Moreover, there's what I have dubbed the "vintage question mark" thing: Who wore it first? Where did they wear it & why? How did they feel in it? And it was hand-made, you may even marvel at the time, effort & skill that went into the garment's creation. Unless it belonged to a family member, friend or celebrity, it is unlikely that ANY of these questions will ever be answered - but that's half the fun! It's a garment with a history all its own & if you don't know it, you can invent all manner of scenarios that tickle your fancy...

With all that in mind, scroll down for 3 of my favourite vintage kaftans from the 1970s:

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LOOK #1

Kaftan: Vintage, 1970s satin

Wedges: Novo suede & rattan

Clutch: Fair Trade up-cycled cement bag

Beaded Cuff: Unknown (from a long-ago "Jewellery Party")

Beaded Bracelets: from Chinese markets

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Brown was never my colour - until I saw this kaftan, that is! The large patches of white with red & yellow flower design within, bordered by leaves in shades of yellow, grey, red & blue make a strong statement while the sheen of the satin fabric catches the light. Being almost autumnal in nature, it is probably best left until the end of summer, when the days become shorter & the nights cooler. 

Staying with a more neutral palette, I decided on a pair of black suede platform wedges with rattan heels mixed with a Fair Trade "upcycled" clutch made from an old cement bag. When it came to jewellery, beaded bracelets were chosen in shades of black & brown, as well as a beaded Indian-style bangle in shades of brown, red & gold to create a sense of cohesion. 

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LOOK #2

Kaftan: Vintage, 1970s Ralston polyamide

Heels: Novo patent sandals

Clutch: Cosmetics Plus vinyl

Necklace: Adorne silver & beads

Hinged Bangle: Wallace Bishop silver & elastic

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Empire-line kaftans are widely regarded as the most flattering shape, as they pull you in & give the illusion of an itty-bitty waist & long legs. In fact, this somewhat flamboyant Ralston option even has the added bonus of a print with both vertical & asymmetrical lines, further enhancing the appearance of height on this petite blogger. To capitalise on this, black patent high-heeled sandals with a t-bar strap were chosen, clashed with a bright white clutch with tassel & silver studs. 

Substantial pieces of jewellery were required to compete with such a "busy" look - a chunky silver hinged bangle & long necklace comprised of heavy, thick silver chain & large white beaded pendant in the shape of a flower.

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LOOK #3

Kaftan: Vintage, 1970s silk

Heels: Novo patent sandals

Clutch: Adorne lace & wood

Necklace: Adorne black beads

Bracelets: Adorne black beads

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Different stylists, fashion magazines & bloggers have vastly different opinions regarding the "Fashion Rules." One of these so-called "commandments" is that petite individuals should stick to small-scale prints or risk being overwhelmed & looking even shorter... I don't believe this one iota! In this case, rules are clearly made to be broken as this striking, large-scale tribal print kaftan (with empire-line cut) makes me look & feel long & lean!

In order to bring this "fashion rule-breaker" bang up to date for 2015, I added a pair of black patent sandals with t-bar strap & a black lace clutch with wooden handle for a textural contrast. When it came to jewellery, I decided to "go modern" again with this sculptural black beaded statement necklace & matching bracelet from Adorne. 

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