BY BETH SHUGG | PHOTOS BY BRUCE DeBOER
Beautiful art inspires a change in perspective, just as our clothing and accessories motivate how we move through each day. Fashion designers account for these influences annually when they reinvent light, airy spring ensembles—inherent tenants of warm weather fashion—to match seasonal shifts in attitudes and trends.
This year, collections remain vibrant while also embracing pastels. Marie Claire’s spring 2023 trend report spotlights “joyful, mood-boosting” cobalt blue, mellow yellow and true red. InStyle favors “every shade of unconventional blue,” pastel pink, lavender and blood orange.
Collections blend touchable textures with tailored cuts to create what Vogue calls a “perfectly imperfect” neoclassical look. Think: silky, pleated fabrics light to the touch; ruffled maxi dresses with billowy sleeves; a white, cinched blazer over a vibrant crop top; chiseled angles cloaked in mesh or lace; a draped dress with bright, white footwear. Add slip-on platforms, crafted or chunky jewelry, and a sculptural bag to achieve what Vogue fashion editors call a modern boho look.
Our annual spring fashion feature explores five ensembles created by Sofia Lujan that blend art with style and showcase spring’s most prominent trends. Model Kama Laxton of Wake Forest—styled by Raleigh hair and makeup artist Michelle Clark—was photographed by Bruce DeBoer at CAM Raleigh wearing clothing, accessories, footwear and jewelry from C.T. Weekends, Fleur Boutique, The Gatorbug Boutique, Monkee’s of Raleigh, Swagger Boutique, Rangoni Firenze Shoes, Main & Taylor Shoe Salon, Nazz Ares, Bailey’s Fine Jewelry and Ginger Meek Allen.
Allow these looks to transform you to an elevated sophistication in celebration of the art of style, and embrace spring as you step out in fashion across the Triangle.
Kama is wearing a blue dress from The Gatorbug Boutique, a scarf that is being used as a belt from C.T. Weekends and multicolor sandals from Main & Taylor Shoe Salon. From Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Kama is wearing a Bailey’s Heritage Collection World’s Most Perfect signet ring, a Bailey’s Icon Collection Weaver ring, a Bailey’s Icon Collection bamboo band, a Bailey’s Goldmark Collection diamond X ring, and a 14 karat yellow gold 3-by-50 millimeter plain hoop. She is also wearing a Julie Vos 24 karat yellow gold-plated coin crest ring, a 24 karat yellow gold-plated Catalina large link bracelet, a Savoy bangle bracelet, a Sheila Fajl gold-plated chain necklace, a Wendy Perry Finisterre moonstone necklace and a Wendy Perry pearl bamboo cross necklace.
Kama ponders artwork titled “Cult of Personality” by Alena Mehic while wearing a pleated multicolor top and pleated navy pants from C.T. Weekends with white platform sandals from Rangoni Firenze Shoes. She is carrying a Nazz Ares oversized silver clutch. From Bailey’s Fine Jewelry she is wearing Seaman Schepps Canton pearl earrings in 18 karat gold, an 18 karat Italian gold intertwined band, a 14 karat yellow gold herringbone band, an 18 karat yellow gold diamond and moon quartz ring, a Seaman Schepps 18 karat gold and lapis classic link bracelet, a Roberto Coin Love in Verona narrow pavé diamond bangle and a Miseno five-row thin bangle bracelet. She is wearing the following Ippolita items: a Classico sterling silver flat hammered bangle, gold Glamazon Reef bangle bracelet, diamond pavé bangle bracelet in sterling silver, five-stone mother-of-pearl lollipop bangle bracelet, Classico crinkle hammered bangle in 18 karat gold, Stardust five-station bangle bracelet in 18 karat gold and Stardust five-flower station bangle.
Kama is wearing a white blazer and white shorts from Swagger Boutique, an orange crop top owned by stylist Sofia Lujan, and white and beige platform sandals from Main & Taylor Shoe Salon. She is carrying a crossbody handbag from Nazz Ares and wearing rings crafted by Ginger Meek Allen. From Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Kama is wearing Bailey’s Club Collection tapered oval diamond hoop earrings in 14 karat yellow gold, a Compass pendant necklace in 14 karat yellow gold, a Three Stories diamond-and-turquoise reversible ring in 14 karat yellow gold, a Jude Frances pyramid bangle, a gold Moroccan star bangle with diamonds, an Open Kite quad bangle and a Bailey’s Heritage Collection pavé edge ID bracelet. She is also wearing a Monica Rich Kosann two-tone large “Lock”-inspired locket set with white sapphires.
Kama is wearing a white and blue lace detail dress from Fleur Boutique, a belt owned by stylist Sofia Lujan and light blue mule sandals from Rangoni Firenze Shoes, which also provided the silver handbag she is carrying. From Bailey’s Fine Jewelry Kama is wearing 2.92 total weight mixed-shape diamond inside-outside hoops, a 4.75 carat cushion-cut sapphire and diamond ring set in platinum, a 34-inch 26.24 total carat weight diamond Riviera necklace, a 22-inch 3.27 total carat weight Diamonds by the Yard necklace and a 17-inch 17.01 total carat weight graduated diamond Riviera necklace. From the Bailey’s Club Collection she is wearing a Lauren ring in 14 karat white gold, a diamond bezel tennis bracelet, a pavé diamond squared link bracelet, a diamond station bracelet, a pavé diamond edge bracelet and a double-wrap diamond flex bracelet.
Kama stands in front of artwork titled “The Black Hole” by artist Alena Mehic while wearing a yellow dress from Monkee’s of Raleigh and sandals with pearl white flower detail from Main & Taylor Shoe Salon, which also provided the pearl white wrist clutch she is carrying. From Bailey’s Fine Jewelry she is wearing 14 karat yellow .43 total carat weight squiggle hoops, a Bailey’s Club Collection Big Girl X ring and the following Sydney Evan items: a pavé happy face ring, a rainbow charm gold stretch bracelet, a happy face turquoise stretch bracelet and an open cross icon sand moonstone stretch bracelet. Also from Bailey’s Fine Jewelry, Kama is wearing a double cobra elastic bracelet, a Ti Sento milano sterling silver ribbed bangle, a sterling silver polished bangle bracelet and a sterling silver rope link bangle. Necklaces from Bailey’s Fine Jewelry include a 14 karat diamond, a yellow and white gold paperclip necklace, an 18 karat 36-inch diamond link necklace and a Sydney Evan cloud nine coin necklace.
Thank You
We are grateful to the talented professionals and vendors who provided the venue, styling, photographs, clothing, footwear, accessories and jewelry for our spring fashion feature. All jewelry is provided by Bailey’s Fine Jewelry unless otherwise noted.
Bailey’s Fine Jewelry | baileybox.com
CAM Raleigh | camraleigh.org
Michelle Clark | karenmichelleclark.com
C.T. Weekends | ctweekends.com
Bruce DeBoer | brucedeboer.com
Fallon’s Flowers | fallonsflowers.com
Fleur Boutique | fleur-boutique.com
The Gatorbug Boutique | thegatorbug.com
Ginger Meek Allen | gingermeekallen.com
Main & Taylor Shoe Salon | mainandtaylorshoes.com
Monkees of Raleigh | monkeesofraleigh.com
Nazz Ares | nazzares.com
Rangoni Firenze Shoes | rangonistore.com
Sofia Lujan Styling | sofialujanstyling.com
Swagger Boutique | shopswaggernow.com
Special thanks to artist Alena Mehic for allowing her art to be photographed, Crystal Watts for providing coordination assistance, and Bella Braswell for making her canine modeling debut with us!
