A good kaftan earns its place through weight and drape, not print alone. The ones worth packing are cut from cotton voile, viscose or a heavier silk blend that falls straight from the shoulder and moves when you walk, rather than clinging or ballooning. Hold it up to the light before anything else: too sheer and it needs a slip beneath, which changes how it wears entirely. The best have some structure at the neckline, a proper placket or embroidered yoke, so the whole thing doesn’t collapse into a shapeless sack the moment you sit down. Length matters more than people admit. Ankle grazing suits the beach and little else, while a knee or midi length does far more work, taking a kaftan from resort into everyday territory without anyone questioning it.
Styling one well is about adding definition it doesn’t have on its own. A leather belt at the natural waist turns a loose silhouette into something with shape, and it’s the easiest way to wear one away from the pool.
Underneath, a good kaftan takes well to a fitted vest or a swimsuit for beach days, but it also layers over tailored trousers or straight denim once the sun goes down, especially in a heavier fabric that reads more like a jacket than a cover up. Sandals keep it relaxed, a stacked heel and simple jewellery push it towards evening, and that range is really the point of the category. Few pieces move that comfortably between a lunch on holiday and a warm evening out without a full change of clothes.
Occasion wise, this is where kaftans consistently prove their worth. They belong on a boat, by a pool, on the walk from villa to restaurant, but the good ones don’t stop there. A plainer, more tailored version works for a summer garden party or an outdoor wedding where the heat makes anything fitted unbearable. What separates a considered piece from a throwaway holiday buy is usually the finishing, French seams, a properly weighted hem, buttons that sit flat rather than pull. Print helps it earn attention, but construction is what determines whether it still looks like something worth wearing by the third or fourth summer.
Top Picks
KAFTANACCESSORIZE UKFloral Chiffon Mini Kaftan Multi, Size:
$35.00
$24.50 ACCESSORIZE UK
KAFTANTHE LUXURY CLOSETVersace Multicolor Floral Printed Silk Kaftan Top
$117.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
KAFTANACCESSORIZE UKCrochet Mini Kaftan Multi, Size:
$45.00
$31.50 ACCESSORIZE UK
BLUEBELLA USBluebella Darla Kaftan White
$135.00 BLUEBELLA US
ZEAGOOZeagoo Women's Art Kaftan Black And White Linen V
$34.15 ZEAGOO
SELDOM SEEN STYLESWomen's Boho Linen Maxi Dress Oversized Kaftan Beach Cover Up Vacation Resort Dress
$45.06 SELDOM SEEN STYLES
CERQULARCropped Kaftan
$79.00 CERQULAR
HARVEY NICHOLS USTory Burch Stripe-trimmed Cotton Tunic Kaftan, Kaftan, Navy
$405.72 HARVEY NICHOLS US
ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Tiana One-Shoulder Satin Kaftan Maxi Dress
$278.00 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)
RENT THE RUNWAYCarolina K Taiel Kaftan Multicolored-print
$555.00 RENT THE RUNWAY
ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Purple Charmeuse Fringe Kaftan
$498.00 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)
THE LUXURY CLOSETHermes Blue Printed Sheer Cotton Kaftan Mini Dress One
$937.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
ZEAGOOLoose Boho Cotton Maxi Kaftan Dress Layer Casual Long Tunic Dress - Yellow / 2XL(14)
$25.90 ZEAGOO
ZEAGOOZeagoo Women's Button Down Maxi Shirts Dress Long Sleeve Collared V Neck Kaftan Loose Long Dress Coat - Khaki / S(4)
$29.99 ZEAGOO
THE LUXURY CLOSETStella McCartney Green Floral Print Silk Kaftan Style Shirt
$163.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
ACCESSORIZE UKCream/brown Floral Embroidered Mini Kaftan Ivory, Size: XS, Women's
$60.00 ACCESSORIZE UK
ZEAGOOZeagoo Women's Button Down Maxi Shirts Dress Long Sleeve Collared V Neck Kaftan Loose Long Dress Coat - Rose Red / S(4)
$29.99 ZEAGOO
RENT THE RUNWAYLa DoubleJ Kaftan Dress Multicolored-white-print
$385.00 RENT THE RUNWAY
ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Sequin Sheer Kaftan
$158.00 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)
THE WEBSTERLumiere Stones Kaftan Gold
$300.00 THE WEBSTER
BANANA REPUBLICLinen Kaftan Mini Dress
$160.00 BANANA REPUBLIC
HARVEY NICHOLS USTory Burch Pleated Linen and Silk-blend Midi Kaftan Dress - Bright Green - L (UK14 / L)
$637.56 HARVEY NICHOLS US
HARVEY NICHOLS USCharo Ruiz Ibiza Gerba Floral-print Cotton-blend Kaftan - White
$476.56 HARVEY NICHOLS US
RENT THE RUNWAYCarolina K Valerie Kaftan Dress Blue-white-print
$189.00 RENT THE RUNWAY
HARVEY NICHOLS USTory Burch Pintucked Linen and Silk-blend Kaftan - Black - M (UK12 / M)
$637.56 HARVEY NICHOLS US
HARVEY NICHOLS USEmporio Sirenuse Jenna Embroidered Linen-blend Midi Kaftan Dress - White - 48 (UK16
$895.17 HARVEY NICHOLS US
ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Botanical Sheer Kaftan
$158.00 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)
CERQULARWomens Kaftan Dress White Crazy Pattern Short Sleeve Midi
$16.37 CERQULAR
THE LUXURY CLOSETVersace Multicolor Floral Printed Silk Kaftan Top
$117.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
THE LUXURY CLOSETBy Reem aldhaheri Pink Satin and Tulle Embellished Kaftan Set
$351.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
RENT THE RUNWAYThebe Magugu Fingerpaint Kaftan Dress Blue-white-print
$104.00 RENT THE RUNWAY
ZEAGOOZeagoo Women's Button Down Maxi Shirts Dress Long Sleeve Collared V Neck Kaftan Loose Long Dress Coat - Blue / 2XL(14)
$29.99 ZEAGOO
HARVEY NICHOLS USFrame Crochet Cotton-blend Kaftan - Cream
$721.29 HARVEY NICHOLS US
THE LUXURY CLOSETJust Cavalli Blue Tiger Print Satin Belted Kaftan Tunic
$187.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
ZEAGOOPrint Beach Kaftan Dress Short Sleeve Plus Size Bathing Suit Cover Ups - White / One Size
$34.89 ZEAGOO
ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Printed Drawstring Getaway Kaftan
$148.00 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)
ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Sarina Kaftan Dress
$495.00 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)
ZEAGOOLoose Boho Cotton Maxi Kaftan Dress Layer Casual Long Tunic Dress - White / M(6)
$25.90 ZEAGOO
HARVEY NICHOLS USMissoni Metallic Fine-knit Maxi Kaftan - Red - 44 (UK12 / M)
$940.25 HARVEY NICHOLS US
ACCESSORIZE UKAccessorize Mini Kaftan V-neck Casual Short Sleeve Regular Shimmer Gold, Size:
$35.00 ACCESSORIZE UK
THE LUXURY CLOSETRoberto Cavalli Black & White Printed Silk & Knit Tie Detail Kaftan Top
$216.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
ZEAGOOZeagoo Women's Button Down Maxi Shirts Dress Long Sleeve Collared V Neck Kaftan Loose Long Dress Coat - White / XL(12)
$29.99 ZEAGOO
BANANA REPUBLICLightweight Cotton Kaftan Maxi Dress
$198.00 BANANA REPUBLIC
ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Annette Dew Pia Kaftan
$325.00 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)
RENT THE RUNWAYCarolina K Valerie Pleated Kaftan Multicolored-print
$106.00 RENT THE RUNWAY
−50%
ACCESSORIZE UKAccessorize Mini Kaftan Print Cotton Floral Blue, & White, Size:$45.00
$22.50 ACCESSORIZE UK
−30%
ACCESSORIZE UKFloral Chiffon Mini Kaftan Multi, Size:$35.00
$24.50 ACCESSORIZE UK
−30%
ACCESSORIZE UKAccessorize Mini Kaftan Zig Zag Crochet Multi, Blue, Black & White, Size:$42.00
$29.40 ACCESSORIZE UK
−30%
ACCESSORIZE UKCrochet Mini Kaftan Multi, Size:$45.00
$31.50 ACCESSORIZE UK
−30%
ACCESSORIZE UKLace Midi Kaftan White, Size: L, Women's$45.00
$31.50 ACCESSORIZE UK
−30%
ACCESSORIZE UKCream/blue Shell Patchwork Mini Kaftan Ivory, Size: XL, Women's$55.00
$38.50 ACCESSORIZE UK
−50%
HARVEY NICHOLS USCharo Ruiz Kayla Lace-trim Cotton-blend Kaftan, Kaftan, Black$291.10
$145.55 HARVEY NICHOLS US
−30%
ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Pia Printed Kaftan$298.50
$208.95 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)
