Short answer: there is no difference. Caftan and kaftan are two spellings of the same word, and they describe the same garment, a long, loose robe or dress with wide sleeves or no sleeves, pulled on over the head. Which spelling you see depends on where the writer learned English and which part of the garment's history they are drawing on.
Where the two spellings come from
The word is Persian, khaftan, and travelled west through Ottoman Turkish, where it was kaftan. English picked it up twice: once through French, which gave caftan, and once directly from Turkish, which gave kaftan. American dictionaries list caftan first; British ones list kaftan first. Fashion magazines in New York write caftan; those in London write kaftan. Search engines treat them as the same word, and so do we; our caftans and kaftans collection uses both.
Where the garment comes from
The caftan has been worn across Persia, the Ottoman Empire, North Africa, West Africa and Central Asia for well over a thousand years, by men and women, as everyday wear and as court dress. Ottoman sultans' silk kaftans survive in the Topkapi Palace. In Morocco the caftan is the formal women's gown, often worn with a belt and a second layer called a takchita. In the West it arrived as resort wear in the 1960s and 1970s, when designers and celebrities adopted the Moroccan and Turkish versions as loose, printed holiday dresses, which is the caftan most people picture today.
Caftan versus the garments it gets confused with
- Muumuu: a loose Hawaiian dress with a yoke, usually short-sleeved and in a tropical print. Similar silhouette, different origin, generally more fitted at the shoulder.
- Abaya: a long, loose robe worn open or closed over clothes in the Gulf states, usually black, usually with sleeves. Worn as an outer layer rather than a dress.
- Djellaba: the Moroccan hooded robe with long sleeves, worn by men and women, in wool or cotton.
- Tunic: shorter, to the hip or thigh, worn over trousers.
- Cover-up: a beach caftan in a sheer or lightweight fabric; the same shape in a different purpose.
Modern caftan styles (what you will actually find in shops)
- Tank caftan: sleeveless, knee to mid-calf, soft rayon. The everyday and beach version, like the Starlight tie-dye caftan or the Everyday Essentials caftan.
- Batik and tie-dye caftans: the same cut in hand-dyed-look prints, see the Moon and Stars batik caftan.
- Long sleeved caftan: bell or kimono sleeves, maxi length, crepe or georgette, often embellished at the neckline. The evening version, like the Georgettina rhinestone caftan.
- Sheer caftan: chiffon or mesh over a swimsuit.
- Moroccan caftan: structured, belted, heavily embroidered, worn for weddings and Eid.
Which spelling should you use?
Use whichever you like. If you are shopping, search both; stores and marketplaces often list under one spelling only. If you are writing for an American audience, caftan; for a British, Australian or international one, kaftan.
How to choose one
Decide where you will wear it (beach, home, dinner, event), then length (shoulder-to-hem in inches, compared against your height), then fabric (rayon for heat, crepe for evening). Our caftan buying guide walks through the measurements, and all of our one-size caftans list the maximum bust they fit.
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Frequently asked questions
Is it caftan or kaftan?
Both are correct. Caftan is the usual American spelling; kaftan is the usual British one. They describe the same garment.
What is the difference between a caftan and a muumuu?
A muumuu is a Hawaiian loose dress with a shoulder yoke and usually short sleeves; a caftan is the older Middle Eastern and North African robe, typically with wider sleeves or none and a straighter cut. Today the two overlap heavily.
Can men wear caftans?
Yes; across the Middle East, North and West Africa the caftan is traditional menswear, and long cotton or linen caftans are common resort wear for men.