Moroccan Kaftan Secrets

One of the things I love the most about my Moroccan heritage is the dreamy Moroccan Kaftan, aka the Moroccan caftan dress. Its embroideries. colors and designs always make my eyes sparkle.

In Morocco, every woman, and every little girl, have at least one Kaftan dress in their closet. The Kaftan is the first traditional dress a girl will wear in her life, and the dress she will be excited to wear in every next celebration.

Moroccan Kaftans are a Moroccan Woman Best Friend

The typical Moroccan caftan has a wide cut from the bottom, decorated with embroidery and sometimes stones and accessories. Depending on the designs, the chest, waist, bottom, and sleeves can also be embroidered and decorated. A beautiful belt, either in gold, silver, or made from the same materials as the dress completes the look.

Moroccan Kaftans are usually worn with high heels and accessorized with a clutch bag and/or a few jewelry pieces, which can be either discrete or dramatic.

A Moroccan bride will often accessorize her caftan with a mix of large traditional jewelry pieces, including a tiara or crown. The more, the better.

In Morocco, Moroccan women can design their Kaftans from scratch with the help of a tailor, which I did many times and loved doing. The process takes a little longer, but the result is literally the dress of your dreams!

When it comes to colors, there are really no rules. Moroccan Kaftan dresses can be in either pastel, dark or flashy colors, or even a mix of the three.

Where to Buy Moroccan Kaftans

The best place to buy Kaftans from is Morocco, especially if you are looking for an artisanal piece handmade and hand embroidered. As I detail in my Morocco shopping guide, the best is to shop them directly from a traditional Moroccan tailor who can customize an existing piece or create one for you from scratch.

For shopping online, you can still find good Moroccan Kaftans on Etsy. Don’t hesitate to ask the seller about the materials and where it was made. You should also negotiate a return option in case the Kaftan doesn’t fit you.