It may be the unsexiest article of clothing ever invented, and one can feel distinctly Mrs Roper wearing one, but I do love a good caftan, so I was pleased to create this post when a reader named Lori suggested I cover “Gorgeous caftans that don’t cost $800 and up (because: a) it seems ridiculous to pay that much for something that’s going to get wet and sandy; b) you *know* those Oaxacan weavers, Indian block-printers, and Moroccan silk-dyers are *not* getting paid such princely sums)”. Good point, Lori, and now let’s move on to the actual goods: Emerson Fry makes an different-colored iteration of this wonderful caftan seemingly every season, and I especially like it in dark blue.
I showed you this leopard print number back when I bought it at the beginning of the summer, but I’m doing a repeat because it has become a truly beloved item—I wore it every time I hit the beach—and the linen gets softer with every wash.
And here’s a cute striped and short one that’d be great to sleep in too.
I dig the bold and retroish geometric print on this one.
This has a really appealing color combination, and I like the plunging neckline.
This is from Lemlem and isn’t cheap, but boy, is it gorgeous; here’s another Lemlem caftan that’s been marked nicely down.
The stripes here are so good and beachy; here it is in extended sizes.
The eyelet and embroidery details here are just glorious.
A slightly sheer option that’d be perfect for the beach.
This is just so cute with all the little mini tassels.
I am a big fan of the poppy orange here, and the stripes give it a slightly Mexican feel.
And finally: I found this pink number on Etsy, and it’s pretty well-priced and especially comfortable-looking.
Channeling Mrs. Roper is one of my fashion goals!
I adore her style, just as I adore Maude: strong female fictional characters with an iconic, highly personal sense of style. Hurray for (risqué) Helen! Mad about Maude!
i cannot get the theme song to Three’s Company out of my head now….
My mother actually thought it was “too suggestive,” so we had to watch it in secret. It was my fantasy of grown-up life.
Same here. Mom kiboshed the Regal Beagle for us as well.
On a caftan note, this timing is incredible in that after years of being on the fence after first seeing the ink Emerson Fry caftan here and thinking it was gorgeous but expensive, it arrived last night. I love it. I will never be as alluring as the model but it is very pretty, not nearly as sack-like as I feared and it just makes me happy.
I do vintage for caftans. I started out wearing my grandmother’s from her travels, but now I look for them everywhere (also, they are the easiest thing to sew if you find fabric you love).
I bought the Emerson Fry caftan last summer and it ended up in my daughter’s closet. It is LOVELY, but LARGE and I looked ridiculous in it, she looks brilliant.
I’m thinking I might try the Etsy one since it comes in a “size” and the ones that are “one size fits all” are simply too big for a short shrimpy person.
This summer each time i went shopping at my favorite farm stand there must have been a bazillion women there wearing fresh-off-the-beach caftans looking put together, tanned and relaxed. I admit to being jealous.
Great selection, Kim!
I own 2 out of 3 of the Emerson Fry lovelies you have posted here. The first one in your post (of which I own the short AND the long version) is the first caftan I ever bought, and the one that turned me into The Caftan Evangelist. I’ve looked for other versions of the same thing, but I’ve found nothing that is as light and wonderful as the Indian cotton they use. #caftanlife! #fuckyeahhh
Agreed! I have every caftan Emerson Fry has made and can’t say enough good things about them.
Ugh, something about wearing a caftan makes me feel like the beds are unmade and the sink is full of dirty dishes. Wish I could get over this! These are beautiful.
Splurged on an Emerson Fry caftan a few years ago and love, love, love it! It’s one of my favorite things to put on when I come home from a long day at work.
I purchased this caftan and LOVE it. She will custom make one in any color you like!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/621268197/indigo-dye-kaftan-l-summer-dress-tie?ref=shop_home_active_6
I bought two caftans from this etsy shop, run by a woman in India. They are fantastic and I sleep in them in summer, but they are more versatile than that. Very inexpensive, good quality, and straight from the maker. (I see she is now offering to add POCKETS for about $3!!)
https://www.etsy.com/shop/mommyrobeclothing?ref=l2-shopheader-name
I’ve never commented. I got a couple of these kaftans based on a previous comment recommending this shop. (Maybe, it was you? If so, thank you!) The pockets are some of the most functional pockets I’ve ever encountered. I also like that the owner has a penchant for hand blocked prints and ikat. Plus, she offers different lengths for height ranges.
Thank you! (-: