Caftan vs Kaftan: The Difference, Explained (2026)

Caftan vs kaftan: there is no difference in the garment, only in the spelling. “Kaftan” is the common British spelling and “caftan” the common American one, and both describe a long, loose robe that reached English via Turkish from Persian. At Coveti the label we reach for first is Taller Marmo, a house that began in Dubai making fluid kaftans.

Is there a difference between a caftan and a kaftan?

No. They are two spellings of one word, and they name the same dress.

The word travelled into English from the Turkish “kaftan”, which in turn came from Persian. Over time British writers settled on the K spelling while American magazines and department stores leaned towards the C. Both turn up in shops on each side of the Atlantic. French usage favours “caftan” as well, which is one reason the C spelling is so common in fashion writing from Paris.

So if you are searching for a caftan dress in New York and a kaftan dress in London, you are looking for the same thing. On Coveti we use “kaftan” throughout, because we write in British English, and you will find every style in our designer kaftan edit.

What exactly is a kaftan?

A kaftan is a long, loose robe with wide sleeves that falls straight from the shoulders and skims the body rather than fitting it.

The classic shape is cut from wide panels of cloth, so the arms are part of the body of the garment and the fabric falls in long vertical drapes. Most kaftans slip over the head through a slit at the neck, though older court versions opened down the front. Length runs from the knee to the floor, and the most formal versions sweep the ground.

Modern designers play with every part of that template. Taller Marmo, for instance, keeps the generous volume and the long line but adds a scarf-like high neck, fringe, feathers, buttons and asymmetric hems. The Mrs Ross Kaftan in Midnight Blue is the clearest example: a house classic since 2019, cut in crepe cady and framed by more than seven metres of fluid fringe.

Where does the kaftan come from?

The kaftan has a long history across Persia, the Ottoman Empire and North Africa before it became a Western evening staple in the 1960s and 1970s.

Ottoman court robes

At the Ottoman court, the kaftan was a robe of rank. Sultans and officials wore long kaftans in silk brocade and velvet, and the finest were given as robes of honour. A large collection of these garments survives at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, and their bold, oversized motifs still feed into how designers think about pattern on a kaftan.

The Moroccan caftan

In Morocco the caftan became the country’s great formal dress. It is worn for weddings and family celebrations, often belted at the waist and finished with fine braid and closely set buttons down the front. The layered version, the takchita, adds a sheer top robe over a fuller dress beneath. That idea of a sheer layer over a solid one is exactly what you see in several Taller Marmo pieces today.

The 1960s and 1970s jet-set revival

From the late 1960s the kaftan moved into Western wardrobes. Travellers brought them home from Marrakech, Yves Saint Laurent, who kept a house in the city, worked the shape into his collections, and the kaftan became the easy, glamorous uniform of the Riviera, Capri and the private party. Taller Marmo was born from that mood. Founded in 2013 by Riccardo Audisio and Yago Goicoechea, who met as students at the Istituto Marangoni in Milan, the label launched in Dubai making fluid kaftans inspired by 1960s and 1970s jet-set style. You can read the full story in our profile, who is Taller Marmo.

How is a kaftan different from an abaya, a kimono and a tunic?

All four are loose garments with deep cultural roots, but they differ in origin, closure, length and the occasions they suit.

The quick way to tell them apart: an abaya is an outer layer you wear over clothes, a kimono wraps and ties, a tunic is short, and a kaftan is the dress itself, long and loose. Some kaftan styles borrow from their neighbours. The OOO Kaftan and the Mila Kaftan in Ivory sit in our kimono edit because of their relaxed robe-like shape.

How do you wear a kaftan now?

Treat it as a complete outfit: one piece, one good pair of shoes, jewellery chosen for the neckline. Our detailed styling guide, how to wear a kaftan dress, covers the day-to-night basics. Here is how the kaftan works for four specific moments.

At the beach

A short kaftan is the easiest piece to pull over swimwear and still look dressed at lunch. The California Kaftan in Juniper has a high-low hem, two sleeve lengths and a fringed scarf neck, so it moves in a sea breeze without feeling like a cover-up. Add flat sandals and a straw bag.

For a resort evening

Pack a floor-length kaftan for the evenings. It packs small in crepe cady and needs no fitting. The OOO Kaftan in Emerald Green, named for Out Of Office, pairs a plunging neck with a front slit and a high collar that frames the face. Our guide on how to style the luxury kaftan for evening goes further on shoes and jewellery.

As a wedding guest

A kaftan suits a summer wedding, a destination wedding and a relaxed evening reception, provided the fabric and length match the dress code. Choose floor length for evening and something with surface interest. The Sphinx Kaftan in Antique Gold layers metallic organza woven in Como over a matching crepe cady slip, which reads formal without a single sequin. For more on etiquette and colour, see how to wear a kaftan to a wedding, and browse our wedding guest dresses.

For Eid

The kaftan has always been festive dress across the Muslim world, and a floor-length style with a high neck is a natural choice for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha gatherings. The Iman Kaftan in Royal Blue is a maxi in brocade made in Como with an internal crepe cady dress and an adjustable inner belt. We cover coverage, layering and colour in detail in our guide to Taller Marmo kaftans for Eid.

How do you choose the right kaftan length and fabric?

Choose length by occasion and fabric by climate: short for daytime and the beach, floor length for evening, light weaves for heat and heavier cloth for cooler nights.

• Short and high-low: best for daytime, lunches and beach clubs. The California Kaftan in Midnight Blue is the house version.
• Short and rounded: a cocktail option. The Velvet Vegas Kaftan in Midnight Blue is cut in viscose and silk velvet with a band of ostrich-feather boa at the hem.
• Ankle length: the most versatile. The Mrs Ross Kaftan in Emerald Green falls in a clean, generous line with fringe that moves with every step.
• Floor length: for black tie, weddings and gala nights. The Firefly Kaftan in Multicolor is covered in iridescent three-dimensional sequins on sheer tulle, with a matching belt to mark the waist.

On fabric, Taller Marmo works mainly in viscose-blend crepe cady, which drapes softly and resists creasing in a suitcase; double viscose satin, which has a liquid sheen; velvet for colder months; and silk fil coupe and metallic organza woven in Como, which are sheer and light. The Mila Satin Kaftan in Midnight Blue shows how satin changes the mood of a classic: the same sixty working buttons along the neckline, but a richer, evening finish. The Barths Kaftan in Midnight Blue keeps to crepe cady with a cold-shoulder neckline and sleeve slits, and the 1910 Kaftan in Black borrows Paul Poiret’s cocoon shape for the Fall 2026 collection.

Many of the house kaftans are one size, which the brand says comfortably fits between an Italian 36 and an Italian 48. Sized styles follow the usual Italian scale. Our Taller Marmo size guide converts every size to UK and US equivalents.

Why is Taller Marmo the label to know for kaftans?

Because the kaftan is where the house started, and it still sits at the centre of every collection.

Taller Marmo now works between Milan and Dubai, makes its pieces in Italy and was a finalist for the International Woolmark Prize in 2016. The name joins the Spanish “taller”, meaning workshop, with the Italian “marmo”, meaning marble. Signature pieces include the Mrs Ross, the Mila with its sixty functional buttons, and the OOO. For a style-by-style breakdown, read our guide to Taller Marmo kaftans and our close look at the Mrs Ross Kaftan. The Fall 2026 collection adds new kaftans in midnight blue, juniper, emerald and antique bronze, and if you want to compare the house with its peers, see brands like Taller Marmo.

Kaftans around the world

The kaftan is worn in very different ways depending on where you are, and the spelling shifts with it.

• United States: searches use “caftan” most. The caftan is a resort and summer party piece, with floor-length versions worn to gala season events in autumn and spring.
• United Kingdom: “kaftan” is the norm. Expect them at summer weddings, garden parties and holidays abroad, with floor-length styles in crepe cady and velvet for evening.
• France and Spain: “caftan” is the usual word in French. A kaftan is the classic Riviera and Balearic evening look, worn with flat sandals for long summer dinners.
• Morocco: the caftan is formal dress for weddings and family celebrations, often belted and richly finished.
• India and Pakistan: kaftan dresses are popular for festive gatherings and wedding functions, often in jewel tones and embellished fabrics.
• The Gulf: kaftans are part of Eid, Ramadan evenings and wedding dressing, with long, high-necked styles preferred.
• Australia: a short kaftan is a summer staple for the beach and long lunches in the heat.

Coveti ships worldwide from hubs in the UAE and Australia, with duties calculated at checkout.

Frequently asked questions

Is it spelled caftan and kaftan?

Both spellings are correct. Kaftan is the common British spelling and caftan the common American spelling, and they describe the same long, loose dress.

Where does the word kaftan come from?

The word reached English via Turkish, which took it from Persian. It has named long robes across the Ottoman world, Persia and North Africa for centuries.

What is the difference between a kaftan and an abaya?

A kaftan is a loose dress worn on its own, while an abaya is a long outer cloak worn over clothing, usually opening at the front. Both are floor length in their formal versions.

Can you wear a kaftan to a wedding?

Yes. Choose a floor-length kaftan in a formal fabric such as satin, metallic organza and sequins for an evening wedding, and avoid white and ivory unless the couple has asked for it.

What size kaftan should I buy?

Many Taller Marmo kaftans are one size, which the brand says comfortably fits between an Italian 36 and an Italian 48. Sized styles fit true to size on the Italian scale, IT 36 to 48.

Who started the modern kaftan trend?

The kaftan moved into Western fashion in the late 1960s and 1970s, when travellers and designers brought it back from Morocco and it became a jet-set resort look. Taller Marmo launched in Dubai in 2013 with kaftans inspired by that era.