Join Cameron Silver and The Caftan Caucus!

As the heat of summer rises on Rodeo Drive, how better to stay
cool and chic than in the most versatile, enduring and fluid
garment of all time –– the Caftan! So says the man with more than
thirty of them, Cameron Silver, author of the new book Caftans:
From Classical to Camp.


Silver talks with Rodeo Drive - The Podcast host Lyn Winter about
the history, design and appeal of the caftan, which he says is
the most universal and ancient garment in the world. 


“It is this wonderful garment of comfort that’s size inclusive,
that's gender fluid, that can be modest or sexy. It can be
voluminous or follow the lines of the body, it can be luxurious,
or very accessible.”


He points out that the caftan, essentially a square of fabric
with holes for the head and arms, kept plain or highly
ornamental, has been worn by Jesus, Moses, Muhammad and Buddha.
“It is this cultural garment of incredible reverence in Morocco,”
says Silver; it was worn with high camp by the singer Demis
Roussos and extraordinary grace by Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly
and numerous other celebrities. It has been styled by the likes
of Fortuny, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Marc Bohan for Dior,
Karl Lagerfeld, Emilio Pucci, Rudi Gernreich, and Oscar de la
Renta. 


Silver, who conducted the interview wearing a lightweight,
hooded, 100% cotton caftan designed by Trina Turk, has taken his
book on the road from Texas to Mykonos. He notes that wherever he
goes he finds an enthusiastic “caftan caucus” of people wearing
and talking about caftans, which he says is the quintessential
Athleisure garment, counterintuitively more glamorous than body
hugging clothes.


It’s not “just a sack,” says Silver. “The reality is that when
you wear it, you have to really move your body; you become a
Martha Graham dancer, even if you have two left feet like
me.” 


SIlver, who was previously Fashion Director for H by Halston for
QVC, adds that “Halston famously did his first runway shows
featuring caftans and in the late 60s and 70s they became even
more popular.” Right now, he says there is a caftan renaissance,
with variants appearing at all the runway shows. “It may have
taken a Western and European fashion several decades to really
understand that it's a good idea to have a caftan in your
collection.”


Even though Silver wears his caftans in all seasons, he says this
floaty garment, that can be worn from day into evening, is
especially appealing in the summer. “It is the garment of the
people. Regardless of your size or your gender, or your means or
your location, there is a caftan waiting out there for you.”


Season 5 of Rodeo Drive – The Podcast is presented by the Rodeo
Drive Committee with the support of The Hayman Family, Two Rodeo
Drive, Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, and the Beverly
Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau.


Season 5 Credits:


Executive Producer and Host: Lyn Winter


On behalf of the Rodeo Drive Committee: Kay Monica Rose


Scriptwriter and Editorial Advisor: Frances Anderton


Editor and Videographer: Hans Fjellestad


Theme music by Brian Banks


Production Assistant: Isabelle Alfonso


Visit the website:


https://rodeodrive-bh.com/podcast/


Join us on Instagram:


@rodeodrive





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