Baserange Shaw Kaftan Dress Review

An old outfit from our autumn – months ago – but feels just as relevant today. There’s been a cool change; a swift departure from the spring/summer temps we’ve been enjoying, which has prompted me to pull out some of my favourite winter cosies. Today? It’s all about the Baserange Shaw Kaftan Dress. And given I’ve thrown it on, I thought it fitting to share this look, and also a review as I’ve received a number of DMs about it since adding this dress to my wardrobe.

Wearing Baserange shaw kaftan dress (worn in size XS, and also available here); Kindersalmon coat (10% off with code ‘mademoiselle10’); Golden Goose sneakers; Polene numero neuf bag; Missoma earrings; Country Road chain necklace

It’s the kind of dress which elicits questions. And it’s not hard to see why. Constantly sold out (particularly in white, grey or black – when released), and of course there’s that unique apron style tie at the back. So hopefully this quick take on the dress, after owning it for a good six months plus, will be helpful for those of you thinking about splurging on it.

SIZING + FIT

I thought I’d touch on the sizing and fit of the Baserange Shaw Kaftan Dress first. I’m a true AU8, and 172cm tall. The obvious choice in sizing for me would have been a small. But I searching high and low, and came up trumps every single time. In the cream, it was completely sold out. I managed to get the advice of someone I knew who owned the dress, who mentioned it was a generous cut. I could size down and shouldn’t have any issues. So, when I spotted it available in an extra-small, I jumped on it.

I will say if you’re between sizes, then definitely, go with the smaller of the two if you don’t want too much excess fabric. If you can’t track down your size, but the smaller one is available, again, that should be fine. I think the same goes for sizing up – if you’re happy for an even slouchier fit.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind having a bit of extra fabric around the waist. I find that the wrap design at the back has to be tied fairly carefully to avoid exposing any skin (that or wear a slip underneath for modesty), and I might have felt a little more comfortable with the size small. That said, it doesn’t stop me from wearing the dress. The entire design is quite relaxed. There’s a lot of ease in how it hangs on the body, and the sleeves are long, even on me. With my arm and fingertips fully extended, the sleeve just falls just below my pinky finger, leaving only my middle three fingers semi-exposed. I don’t mind this; great on days when it’s cold. Plus, it’s easy enough to do a slight fold and push the sleeves up if needed.

QUALITY

I also wanted to touch on the quality. It’s made from `100% organic cotton jersey, and the hand feel is incredibly plush. Unlike any other cotton I’ve felt before. Essentially, it feels like luxury – what you’d hope for given the price! And it washes really well, with the texture remaining the same. I haven’t had any noticeable pilling yet, but looking at the fabric on the sleeves, I get the sense with continued and vigorous wear, it will show the signs of age.

The other thing I wanted to mention was that the cream is ever so slightly sheer. I have to wear skin-coloured knickers with it, or else they’ll show through the fabric. So worth keeping in mind when selecting which colour to go with.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I think the Baserange Shaw Kaftan Dress is lovely, but it’s also a very specific style. Slouchy and relaxed, it feels a lot cooler than many of the other dresses I have in my closet. Which might be why I often find it challenging to pair it with the right shoes. I’ll often look in the mirror at my outfit and feel like something is “off”. It all comes down to finding that right balance, which can feel like an exercise in of itself.

Given the scope and scale of my wardrobe, combined with the fact that I have a very specific uniform I tend to wear daily during the colder months, I didn’t find myself reaching for this dress as often as I would have liked. Something to keep in mind; unless dresses form a huge part of your daily uniform, you may find the CPW over time isn’t as great as you were anticipating. Food for thought, really.

As I said earlier, I do wish I’d managed to get my hands on the Baserange Shaw Kaftan Dress in a size small, but the sizing hasn’t really affected the wear of the dress enough for me to consider it a substantial element in my purchase decision. And the quality exceeded my expectations. The plush organic cotton jersey is a dream to wear, and feels lovely against the skin.

If you have any further questions about this dress, please feel free to leave them in the comments below! x