Lalla Salma : the Moroccan first lady , the best ambassador of the Qaftan

The Qaftan  is not only traditional but also elegant, chic,exotic, and comfortable. Early jet-setters  wore it in different  corners of the world. Haute couture designers like the late Yves St. Laurent and Christian Dior introduced the qaftan into Western fashion.

As early as the 1950s, the qaftan and jellaba were translated into the “it” item suitable for glamour dressing, backyard party dresses, or casual house robes.
Fashion legend Yves St. Laurent (who was born in Algeria and lived out the second part of his life in Marrakech) made the qaftan an elite garment by putting finely patterned and embroidered versions on swank models.

But there isn't better than members of Moroccan Royal familly to introduce the qaftan to the world in state events and family weddings. Princess Lalla Salma, the wife of King Mohammed VI of Morocco, is the best example. A former class valedictorian with a degree in computer science, the princess is a pale, red-haired beauty who looks especially stunning presiding over formal royal evenings always  in a Qaftan.

Lalla salma when she was first introduced to the people of morocco....

on her wedding day  to the Moroccan king  Mohammed VI

Presenting to the world her new addition to the family: Princess Lalla Khadija

 in state events and royal weddings......

 

The reopening of the somptuous La Mamounia in marrakech

After three years of renovation , La Mamounia has opened its doors to its first customers on the 29 September 2009 . they have discovered a whole new atmosphere created by the interior designer  Jacques Garcia combining the Moroccan tradition with the Andalusian accents.

La mamounia is one of the most prestigious hotels of the world :Winston Churchill painted there and Alfred Hitchcock shot some scenes of  "the man who knew too much" there . From Charlie Chaplin to Lelouch through Jean-paul Gautier , Elton john, Jacques Brel , Barbara Hendrix or Hillary Clinton the elite of the entire globe stayed in there.

the gala of the reopening drew to it all of Hollywood (Jean-paul Gautier , karl Lagerfeld, Jennifer Anniston ,Guinet Paltrow , Julia Binoche..... etc)for an evening ultra glamorous

and a qaftan fashion show from the designer Albert oiknine was on the menu .......

Albert oiknine : another big moroccan designer

Albert oiknine: Cut from the finest materials and fabrics and encrusted with swarovski the qaftans of this designer  are simply magnificent ......

some of the prominent moroccan designers of the qaftan ......

Dahab ben Aboud :  A real arabian nights story ,with all it's magic , narrated by this stylist .....

Ihssane ghilane : Baroque inspiration , flashy colors , this stylist oozes of extravagance....

Nabil dahani :More to the modern romantic side , this stylist loves the qaftan refined and sophisticated with a glamour touch ...

CAFTAN : THE CHEIF EVENT OF MORCOCCAN AND EASTERN FASHION

Launched in 1996 by the magazine "Femmes du maroc" the fashion show CAFTAN is for fourteen years now the main event of the moroccan and arab haute couture and it's becoming since then an essential reference in the fashion industry.
Since its begining the fashion show CAFTAN worked toward the emanation of the moroccan and the eastern creativity and chooses to be part of a real revolution in the traditional dress, thus supporting the development of the moroccan women.

Each edition is devoted to the development of moroccan and eastern haute couture through innovation and artistic creation , and is enhaced by the massive paticipation of famous designers of the moroccan qaftan ;these designers contributed and gave so much to this art attempting to link the past to the present and to ensure that the qaftan while being innovative , retains its original and traditional appearance.

Here comes the bride ...