Caftans: From Classical to Camp - by Cameron Silver (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Join Cameron Silver, founder of LA's famous--and highly influential--vintage boutique Decades, leads a romp through the history and countless manifestations of the caftan, the world's most universal garment.

Gloriously illustrated with photographs, drawings, and paintings, Caftans is alternately glamorous, campy, and comfy, just like the versatile garment it celebrates.

Caftans are never out of style, and this gorgeous book by vintage guru Cameron Silver shows why: Arguably the world's oldest known garment, the caftan appears in every culture, from the chitons depicted on urns and murals in ancient Greece and Rome to diaphanous versions wafting down today's red carpets, from the flowing garb immortalized in pre-Raphaelite paintings to the striped stunner worn by Isaac Hayes on the cover of his Black Moses album.

Caftans range from loungewear to haute couture, and Silver guides us expertly through all manifestations, from ancient times on: "Endless Summer" explores resort caftans; "Caftan Couture" displays haute couture caftans by the likes of Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and Tory Burch; "On and Off the Silver Screen" addresses caftans worn in films and on the red carpet, as well as at home--think Elizabeth Taylor, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Cher, Angelina Jolie, and Rihanna; "Mantans" reveals men's growing penchant for wearing caftans; and "Caftan Capital" focuses on the iconic caftans of Morocco.

Review Quotes

"It is a fine overview of the subject, with many insightful glimpses into the past and many gorgeous photographs illuminating the text."--Forbes

"Cameron Silver is in his caftan era. On tour to celebrate his new book . . . the vintage expert has been sporting all manner of robes, thobes and other variations on what he terms 'our original gender-fluid garment.'"--Joelle Diderich, WWD

"In this lush photo-filled coffee table tome, Silver charts some of the glamorous icons who have helped make the look a favorite for rock stars, socialites, fashion editors and drag queens alike."--Tony Bravo, San Francisco Chronicle

"They say not to judge a book by its cover, but it's nearly impossible with this gorgeous coffee table book. Featuring vibrant photographs of caftans from around the world, it's a great way to add a pop of color to a coffee table or stack."--Amanda Lauren, Forbes.com

About the Author

Cameron Silver, the proprietor of the renowned vintage boutique Decades in LA, is the author of Decades: A Century of Fashion. In addition to spanning the world in search of vintage couture and dressing celebrities for the red carpet, he has curated a museum exhibition for MOCA, designed a collection of statement footwear inspired by the 1950s-1980s, written for major fashion publications, and starred in the Bravo reality show The Dukes of Melrose. He lives in Los Angeles.