Hello Ramadan! Hello Knafeh, Kibbeh and most importantly Kaftans. I have tried really hard since the beginning of lockdown to not look like a slob. I still get up in the morning, get out of my PJs and into real clothes and get to work (in my living room, but still). Part of my regular rotation of outfits are dresses that have no defined waist, which are basically kaftans .
I think most of us have an imaginary aspirational self that we all work to become. Mine is comfortable in a flowy dress, slaying it in her home office while cookies are being baked in the oven. The kaftan has a long history and it makes sense that it is the semi-official garment in the region. It doesn’t make you feel hot, it is easy to sew and construct, can be made from the locally available fabric and can work in any season.
And it has also been a declaration of cultural pride. Almost every community has found a way to adorn it to make it theirs such as using embroidery or intricate beads. Regardless of the finer details, this ubiquitous dress has always been a fashion and social statement. Despite the introduction of modern manufacturing and making their way to mainstream fashion, there’s something magical about a seasonal darra’a. Every year, as Ramadan starts sneaking up on us, local designers start sharing their Ramadan collections.
We’ve been seeing them pop up on our social media feeds for months. Even though we’re not going to Iftars, Suhours or Ghabqas, we are still coveting and buying them because they are timeless. We wear our kaftans for gatherings, at beach resorts and lazing around in our homes. In Ramadan they also have the added benefit of accommodating our food babies.
Some clear trends have been slowly emerging over the weeks. And there’s definitely something for everyone or more realistically, there’s a kaftan for every occasion in your life!
Black and White
The classic color combo looks fabulous when given large spaces to work on. We’re mostly seeing more white with black accents which makes these options perfect for mornings and hotter weather.
Shiny!
The world definitely needs more sparkly things right now. We love it all, from the use of metallic thread embroidery to sequins, and glittery shimmery fabrics.
Throwback to Traditions
Using classic techniques to embellish a kaftan pulls at our heartstrings.
Monochrome
The single color kaftan game is really strong this year. Designers are making use of draping and layering fabrics to create stunning looks without adding colors for visual interest and they’re killing it!
Mashups
Take a tuxedo, a belt and lots of tulle….. Where did you think we were going? We weren’t expecting these amazing kaftans either.
Jumpsuits
Yes, we know, these aren’t kaftans. But they are sort of like giant onesies pretending to be just that! And since we’re staying home and aren’t worried about bathroom breaks, we’re loving the creativity.
Photo by Oliver Sjöström from Pexels.
