It’s a Caftan Affair
Hello lovelies! I know it's been almost a whole month since I last posted. Life has been a bit hectic for me. I costume designed back to back shows at Near West Theatre (1776 and recently co-designed Chess), took on a new job, and had many challenges in my personal life that I am overcoming. But there is a lot to look forward to and I am very excited to announce upcoming endeavors for Gal Friday Vintage. Generally speaking my life feels as if it is in a transitional phase (for the better) and Gal Friday will be too! Bear with me as I have A LOT planned and have been working hard to sustain myself through freelancing as a Costume Designer and work on Gal Friday in my spare time. I promise you the wait will be well worth it when you see what I have in store!
In other news, summer is near its end but there's still time to make the most and show off the best of your summer wardrobe! In summertime, my personal style typically shifts from 1940s - 60s inspired to more 60s - late 70s. My main inspirations are the incomparable Diana Ross, Minnie Riperton, Millie Jackson, Mary Tyler Moore, and Megan Draper (played by Jessica Paré) in Mad Men. I love wearing longer hair and normally I opt for a big curl reminiscent of Ms. Ross, but lately I've been rocking the long and bone straight variety with a part down the middle. I keep my makeup pared down from its usual red toned blush and shadow to a lighter pink tone but I still love to put on a red lipstick when I can (or a lipgloss with red undertone) to give some glamour!
Currently my favorite lipstick is the one that I'm wearing, Milani's Amore Matte Collection #14 Devotion. Accessories are bare minimum as I feel that my outfit is really all that is necessary. I just wore my good luck ring (my mom's engagement ring from my late father) and two beaded bracelets in white and yellow that I bought many years ago in Mexico when I was young.
OKAY, ON TO THIS DRESS. I don't even know where to begin with this beauty! I have been on the hunt for the perfect caftan dress because I have been HEAVILY inspired by Diana Ross circa 1970s era. Think of all of her fabulous caftan moments in Mahogany (1975) or the infamous marabou-feathered sparkly caftan she donned while pregnant in 1976 (can be viewed here). I knew I had to find the perfect caftan for myself! I came across many but couldn't find the ONE. They were either too plain or too neutral of a color--no funky prints, sparkle, or marabou feathers to be found.
I came across this little number at one of my favorite vintage shops in Cleveland called Vintage Fashion Cleveland in Lakewood, Ohio. I stumbled across this 1970s pleated dream caftan and instantly fell in love with the dramatic flare that the pleats offer it, the funky leaf print that makes me think of islands, and the color palette (light teals, cyan, and golden green). This was well worth the $47 that it cost me. This will be a summer staple for me!
I hope you all enjoyed this Outfit of the Day post and I hope you are having a wonderful summer! Let's make the most of what we have left!! I will see you all next Friday for another post.
Photographs taken by Briana Young.