You asked, I answered. ;)
I posted a shot of this dress on Instagram yesterday and based on the feedback I got, I decided to feature it in the first post from my summer closet! It was my very first time wearing a caftan and I ran into that funny disconnect where, you like an item on other people but, when it comes to wearing it, you become completely unsure. For example, I remember the first time I tried on skinny jeans when they were emerging on the fashion scene. My cousin (who was my roommate at the time and often mistaken for my sister) and I headed into Old Navy and tried on matching dark wash skinny jeans. Looking in the dressing room mirror, the silhouette was so foreign and uncomfortable to me, I immediately discounted them. But when we popped out of our rooms to compare notes, I loved them on her!
Sometimes we need a little view from the outside to get perspective on what we like.
The width of this caftan, and all the extra fabric kind of feels like a muumuu. The bagginess is pretty foreign to me, but it’s a style I have admired for a while on others. As soon as I photographed it for the blog, later in the afternoon, I knew the dress was a home run. It’s one of the first 100% linen items I’ve ever owned, and now I know why everyone loves linen so much! It is soft and breathable, skyrocketing temps don’t stand a chance! It almost felt like wearing nothing, haha, a statement Grechen might agree with.
In other, un-caftan-retated news, are you on Snapchat? I recently joined after listening to this podcast, and I am having a ridiculous time. There are some funny people on there, as well as some excellent story-tellers! I still don’t have a clue what I’m doing, so don’t follow me, but if you’re not on there, you should check it out!
The new and shininess of Snapchat leaves me wondering if Instagram has peaked, what do you guys think?
Outfit details:
Have you heard of Emerson Fry? They are a small-run, independent company whose goal is to ‘create strong, beautiful, functional pieces that speak to a customer seeking a connection to her clothes.’ That statement couldn’t resound with me any more. Their line is released seasonally and seems to sell out quickly. It’s all produced in the US. I was lucky enough to score this caftan at Crossroads, with tags on! I believe it’s from last season, but the caftan from their spring ’16 line is gorgeous!
My clogs are c/o Sandgrens (still trying to break these puppies in!). My drawstring bag is from Baggu (love it!!), and awesome new hair color is by Katie at Cashmere Beauty Lounge.
Hope your week is off to a great start!
xo,
Andrea
I love the print and the silhouette on you! I have several linen items in my closet and love them! I remember my first linen anything was a pair of draw-string pants from Banana Republic in 2003. I wore those until they had holes! Great look on you!
Thanks Rebecca!
I totally remember when linen draw-string pants were a thing! I wish I had some now. It seems like the styles are coming full-circle faster and faster now!
Oh, Andrea, you look gorgeous!! I have to share my skinny jean story because it’s so similar. My sister, cousin, and I went to Old Navy one evening after seeing a $19 denim sale to try the new skinny jean trend. I remember just being so thrown off by the cut and how they felt and even how my shoes didn’t look right in them. But, I LOVED them on everyone else. For $19, we all decided to try them (in dark wash, because it’s more slimming)!
Anyhow, the caftan is perfect on you. The print is amazing and you’re styling is spot on. Rock it, girlfriend!
xo,
Paige
Too funny Paige!! Too funny!!!
Thanks for the encouragement! I have to admit, it took me some balls to wear it to school pickup. ;)
I feel like this caftan is really just a flowy dress… But I’m not sure if there is even really a difference. What a fun pattern- definitely a winner! I’ve been trying to love linen- but the one linen piece I have (a linen tank I thrifted) wrinkles when I just look at it! I can’t imagine having pants or a skirt or anything that I have to sit in! Maybe its because its an older piece, but its just so wrinkly and I just can’t with wrinkles. I know its basically heresy to say I don’t like linen… but I think I don’t like linen?! Anyway, I think this look is great and I can’t wait to see the other ways that you style this caftan!
Kate
kateintheclassroom.com
Kate, I think maybe all linen isn’t created equally? It all wrinkles, but I think the thicker, more substantial linen does less wrinkling. On Grechen’s blog she’s reviewed and compared linen pieces from different sources…
I’ll have to check it out! I can’t fathom buying more pieces that I know will just drive me crazy seeing wrinkles. I used to denim and polyester, neither of which ever seem to let me down!
What a lucky score! The caftan looks perfect for summer days. I used to follow Emerson when she designed these gorgeous handmade flowers for weddings, and I love her clothing line, although I haven’t bought anything from it. Her styling is so good, yet simple. If you haven’t seen her home tour it’s worth googling!
Thanks for the tip, do you mean the one from Design Sponge? That seemed to be the most recent one I could find.
How cool that you’ve been following her for so long, I’d never heard of her until recently!
I’m obsessed with that print! I think that silhouette looks amazing on you. Especially love it with those shoes.
Thanks Erin. I thought the print was loud and crazy at first, but now I am realizing it really isn’t, yet the variety it brings to my closet is just what I need.
It looks great on you! And so comfortable as well. I’m a total smock/loose dresses convert, the air circulation is so much better in them haha.
I’d totally forgotten about Baggu until you mentioned them in this post. I reckon I’ll look to them the next time I need a bag!
Jane, I think you nailed it with the air circulation comment – so true!!!
Yes, I really like my Baggu bag a lot. If you’re into a more raw leather, FashionABLE just released a great new crossbody bag.
OH MY! I love the change to your blog! It’s beautiful! And I also love this dress. Emerson Frye is a fave for me!!
Thanks my friend! I finally found my perfect hybrid for post-truncation. ;)