What if dashiki, but not?

March 16, 2018 7:12 PM

I really like the bright colors and wild patterns on a dashiki, and the general fit, and I LOVE the front pockets. But I'm a white woman and wearing one seems racially insensitive at best. Is there a line of shirts out there that is loose-fitting, light, 100% cotton, colorful/interesting patterns (without being just pop-culture T-shirts), and has large front pockets down low (NOT up on the boobs)? Pockets could be one-big-one or two-separate. Thanks!
posted by The otter lady to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (17 answers total)

Best answer: Scrub tops are exactly this, but the height of fashion, they are not.
posted by mollymayhem at 7:16 PM on March 16, 2018 [3 favorites]

I've seen light hoodies that would meet those requirements, but have no specific recommendations for you.
posted by quaking fajita at 7:19 PM on March 16, 2018

This might be a dumb suggestion, but if you're looking for search terms, try "hippy lady hoodie" or "hippy lady shirts" because I did that search trying to find a kind of colorful, zip-up hoodie my mom wears that fits your description. I didn't find it, but I found lots of other tops (not just hoodies) that fit your criteria. Even if you wouldn't call yourself a hippie exactly, try that?
posted by Aquifer at 7:36 PM on March 16, 2018

Best answer: This kind of thing is also filed under “tunic” by certain makers.

Honestly, if you find a dashiki that you like the fit and function of, purchasing one and having it altered, a pattern made, and several reconstructed from less traditional fabrics at a good tailor will be relative cheap if you plan on using them as anchor pieces to your wardrobe.

My wife had a couple old tunic-ish shirts done up from our tailor and they weren’t hat bad after the initial pattern making process.
posted by furnace.heart at 7:47 PM on March 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

Best answer: My friend who works at the African Marketplace in Sacramento says that as long as you go and buy from African makers and talk and get to know the makers if you would like to, it is not culturally appropriative. When people ask you, talk about where you bought it from.
posted by yueliang at 8:11 PM on March 16, 2018 [13 favorites]

Guayabera shirts have multiple pockets
posted by brujita at 8:24 PM on March 16, 2018

I'd do a search with the words tunic and pockets.
posted by beccaj at 8:27 PM on March 16, 2018

Perhaps these J Jill Tunics, many of them colorful prints, are in the right direction? Not many have pockets, though.
posted by amtho at 9:03 PM on March 16, 2018

Might some of the tunics/dresses/long shirts from Seasalt work? They are UK based by may do shipping to the US.

You might also try searching for kaftans, or tunics from India (though then you may have the same cultural appropriation issues).
posted by stillmoving at 12:04 AM on March 17, 2018 [2 favorites]

IMO, it's the fabric prints of a dashiki that pin it to a specific culture, rather than the rather generic caftan sewing pattern. You can buy the pattern and have them made up in any fabrics you provide.
posted by DarlingBri at 4:25 AM on March 17, 2018

try Zuri

I think the dresses are adorable and the makers want everyone to enjoy wearing them!
posted by catrae at 4:26 AM on March 17, 2018 [3 favorites]

Best answer: There's also Gudrun Sjoden. Funky prints and some seem to have pockets.
posted by stillmoving at 8:28 AM on March 17, 2018 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Chicos is the first thing that came to mind, they even have a few tunics with pockets.
posted by little king trashmouth at 8:55 AM on March 17, 2018

You may get some ideas by searching for "serape hoodies" also.
posted by SLC Mom at 9:21 AM on March 17, 2018

Best answer: eShakti sprang to mind for me. It's not exactly what you're looking for, but there are pretty prints, loosely fitting, with nice low pockets the rule rather than the exception, and well styled for women with lots of different body types.

And, to endorse mollymayhem's observation about scrubs, you can find some surprisingly attractive scrubs tops. It's different, but I'm completely in love with my lab coat and would wear it all over the place if it weren't so work-coded.
posted by Made of Star Stuff at 10:18 AM on March 17, 2018

Let me heartily second Gudrun Sjoden. Most of her tunics have pockets, colorful prints, and (bonus) are made of organic cotton.

Alternatively, just buy a dashiki you like and wear it. No one's going to arrest you.
posted by BostonTerrier at 11:40 AM on March 17, 2018

Best answer: I have tunics from Boden and LL Bean that fit the bill. They're both several years old and not on their sites right now. (I think the LL Bean one was sold as a dress, but I'm tall.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:48 PM on March 17, 2018