The kaftan, which has been worn for thousands of years, was introduced to the west in the 1890s by the last Tsarina of Russian, Alix of Hesse who wore the traditional Russian kaftan during her coronation.

It made a comeback in the late 1960s and 70s with the hippie movement.

Later this month high-end kaftans will be showcased at the Forster library with a fashion parade hosted by the Friends of the Great Lakes Library Service (FOGLLS).

Kicking off at 10am on Monday, September 30 the parade of Kaftans - silk and poly-crepe kaftans and jackets - will be presented by Megan Sutton.

Megan lived in Europe for more than 30 years, operating Anchor House Kaftans Resortwear, in London until moving to Australia in 2017.

The kaftans will be for sale on the day, featuring floor length or day dress length kaftans - which are very comfortable and are non-transparent in an array of glorious colours.

"You'll also be able to enjoy a famous Friends morning tea, secure in the knowledge that the beautiful kaftan you've bought will cover a multitude of delicious sins," says MidCoast Council's Manager of Library Services, Chris Jones.

The Friends are a fun group of people dedicated to supporting the Library through fundraising, and a range of worthy social events that support the creative arts, local community groups, and sometimes thought-provoking education on issues that matter to MidCoast locals.

One thing is guaranteed - a Friends event is always good fun, and always a chance to meet new and interesting people.

The fashion parade event is free of charge, please call Forster Library on 6591 7256 to book your place for catering purposes.

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