When international trade in ready-to-wear garments and accessories increased as other regions of the world opened to European business in the sixteenth century, caftan like garments such as the banyan or Indian gown for men, and the mantua for women, were imported to Europe as informal dress.

After a visit to Morocco in the early 1960s, Diana Vreeland published a series of articles in Vogue championing the caftan as fashionable for "The Beautiful People". Yves Saint Laurent and Halston were designers who included caftan-styled clothing in their lines. Since that time, caftans continue to have a market for evening and at-home wear. The caftan is now marketed globally as "fashion."

With a long and elegant history- worn by emperors and kings, contemporary use of the term "caftan" can be broadened to encompass a number of similarly styled garment types. Today caftans may be worn with a sash or belt. Some caftans are open to the front or side and are tied or fastened with looped buttons running from neck to waist. Depending on use, caftans vary from hip to floor length. The choice of fabric is limitless, though silks and cottons are still the most used. Embellished, embroidered, bejeweled and other wise decked out, the caftan flatters any figure.

WIKIPEDIA SAYS-Most fabrics for royal Turkish caftans were manufactured in Istanbul and Bursa; but some came from as far as Venice,Genoa, Persia,India and even China.

We had never known how interesting writing about caftans for plus size would be, until we wrote this article. Hope you feel the same too.

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