Kaftan Cool

By Lauren Barfoot, Founder of Holland Street

There's a kind of party where people arrive looking like they’ve stepped out of a dream. The kind that sends you spiralling into a wardrobe crisis days in advance. Except—this time—I’m relaxed. Because I already know. I’m wearing a kaftan. Not just any kaftan. A silk one. One that floats. One that flirts. One that doesn’t ask me to squeeze, tan, or teeter. It’s glamour without the drama. It’s fashion without the fuss. It’s everything.

A kaftan lets you move. It lets you breathe.  It lets you dance. And it doesn’t care what size you are. It just wants you to feel fabulous.

This summer, the kaftan isn’t just back—it’s leading the charge. Maya Rudolph wore one at the Oscars. Jacquemus opened his Paris show with one. Vintage kaftans are selling for thousands. And at Holland Street? We’ve never been busier.

Why? Because women are done with dressing to disappear. We’re done with Spanx and straps and squeezing into silhouettes that don’t serve us. We want silk. We want space. We want style that speaks.

The kaftan is political. It’s powerful. It’s playful. It’s the opposite of basic.

If last year was all about slogan tees—“The Future Is Female”— this year, it’s about wearing your values. And kaftans say: I’m here. I’m bold. I’m comfortable. Try and stop me.

Of course, I’m biased. I built Holland Street around the kaftan. But I did it because I believe in what it stands for. It’s not just a garment—it’s a mindset.

So whether you’re poolside with a glass of rosé, or dancing under the stars, or just want to feel like your best self on a Tuesday afternoon— throw on a kaftan.

It’s not a cover-up. It’s a statement.