Turbans and Kaftans
Kelly: I’m not sure whether it was Jessica Holmes or Lisa Sanchez who first typed the words “turban and kaftan party” in a facebook comment, but it was Jessica who offered to have that party at her house and on my birthday. Last Friday night, garments of improbable square-yardage were paired with the world’s most forgiving hairstyle and we ate, drank and made merry. The turban/kaftan combo is comfy as pajamas and chic as shit. Black satin turban and cross-stitched embroidered kaftan.
K: I watched this video to learn how to tie a turban, then did it half-assed.
K: This antique pendant is from Armor Bijoux. I jangle when I wear it. People take notice. You might even say it’s disruptive. How marvelous. The diamond infinity band belonged to my great-grandmother.
K: I constantly marvel at the embroidery on this while I wear it – all the way down to the cuffs.
K: With a garment this epic, the accessories have to be correspondingly larger-than-life. This woven leather belt has a medieval feel to me, like I could hang a broadsword off it.
K: Platform sandals with socks.
N: The nice thing about the weight of the kaftan is that you don’t necessarily have to wear tights with it in the winter, socks will keep your tootises warm and the bed sheet…ahem…kaftan…will keep your legs warm.
K: I have four kaftans, two for warm weather and two for cold weather.
N: The sad thing is that a lot of people have no kaftans. We used to be some of them. And there are sad, giant kaftans in thrift stores everywhere looking for you to take them home!
K: Again, the intricacy slays me. Especially because I got this kaftan for only $8.00 at the Good Samaritan thrift store at 19th and Washington. The tag doesn’t tell me much, other than that it’s from Jordan. Does anyone have cheap calls to Jordan? Call that number and report to me what you learn!
Nicole: Just because I was in New York for my boo’s birthday doesn’t mean I was gonna let the opportunity to dress on a theme pass me by! I threw on my thrifted electric orange kaftan and butterfly turban (because yes, you literally can just throw on a kaftan) and my lovely roommate Sarah shot some pics of me in our hood.
K: The best kaftans at thrift stores are always in the large, extra-large, XXL, etc. If you ask me, the bigger the better. Drama, drama, drama.
N: And if you’re wearing highlighter orange, you really can’t afford to back off the drama. So, might as well add a parrot necklace. When I got this necklace at a thrift store it had a big-ugly-gold-metal-bead-thing on it. So Kelly and I pried it off and, voila! Now it’s not over the top at all!
N: These sandals were left behind by the former resident of my room. I rescued them and gave them a loving home paired with purple tights. They’re very happy not to be stuffed in that bag of give-away clothes anymore.
N: I didn’t think parrots and flowers are enough for one outfit. So I added a butterfly scarf turban, too. Gift from Kelly many moons ago!
N: I think this kaftan was actually hand made. You can see the seam down the middle here, and if you look inside the seams are unfinished and look home pressed. Plus, there is no tag. I seriously love whoever made this ridiculously colored garment!
K: Here’s a few pictures of the party:
There’s something inherently intimidating about a woman who has the guts to wear a kaftan.
