Petite Challenges

Happy Tuesday, ladies. I am back today with another collaborative post with a few blogger friends. We decided it would be fun to challenge ourselves to style something we each thought we would never, ever wear.

Last month, Cindy Hattersley and I styled eyelet here …which was a first and last for me. As cute as some of the looks were, the eyelet is just not my style. I don’t feel confident wearing it, and that’s an important criteria for me.

This month, Cindy from Cindy Hattersley Design and I are joined by my friend Susan, who writes une femme d”uncertain age. I’m sure most of you follow Susan, but if you don’t, you are in for a treat. It was surprisingly easy for us to agree on which garment to style. We are all petite, and none of us wear caftans. I’ve long admired the look of caftans on other women, so game on!

Caftans make great bathing suit coverups, but I seldom go to the beach or pool, so I bought mine to stay cool in the beastly heat we get during the summer. This one is from

The challenge with a caftan is not having it make you look much larger than you really are. All three of us are petite so that posed an issue too. Most caftans are also made with printed fabric, which I seldom wear.

When the temperatures go crazy here, nothing but loose cotton or linen will do. Even when I hide in the AC, I need loose, loose, and looser and took a chance on this one because I adored the color.

My husband is not used to seeing me in this shape so he kept saying, “couldn’t you belt it or something?”. I think that would defeat the whole airy and cool purpose so I just let it flow.

Most caftans are made from very sheer or semi-sheer fabrics so you need a slip. I knew a polyester slip would defeat the whole purpose of wearing something cool so I ordered

Was I able to prevent this caftan from making me look larger than I am? In a word, no. But when our temperatures are muggy and sweltering, there is nothing comfier than a light cotton caftan.

No one in my family thought this caftan was flattering on me, including me. But here’s the thing… I feel confident wearing it and it has a distinctive purpose so I will happily wear it all summer.

Now, let’s go over and see what Susan wears her caftan. I have a feeling she will knock it out of the park. Then come back so you go over to see how Cindy styles hers.

Do you love caftans? Do they evoke and stylish age when women dressed to impress and drama was the name of the game?

Be well, be kind, and wear what makes you feel confident.