Categories
Style Sessions We Recommend

Spring Moods and A Salute to Motherhood

This past week has been bittersweet as I assemble this spread for my final Style Sessions post. Choosing to say farewell to this endeavor has developed from shifting priorities and reflecting on life as a whole.

Over the past 3 years, the blog has given me a chance to meet an amazing variety of people. It was my hope to tell their story and capture their genuine style. The greatest joy was giving them images they were proud of and seeing their excitement for being spotlighted, particularly on a well-regarded platform like the Memphis Flyer. The Flyer’s cool factor proved to be universally known. I would be remiss if I didn’t take get a chance to express how forever grateful I am for this experience.

[jump]

As I thought about what my last post would be, I naturally remembered my first post 3 years ago as a contributor to Style Sessions. The “Fresh Air” spring fashion post developed from a simple photo shoot that honestly had no other intention but to get some new photographs of myself. It turned out to be a rewarding day of collaborating with local designers, hair and make-up artist Jennifer Ralda, and the incredible talent that is Dirk Olsen. In some ways, I wanted to relive that first spread by again pulling in local talent to help me venture out a bit more from my typical style. Right off the Memphis Fashion Week runway, the modern-day cape by Andrea Fenise became the foremost representation of the sophistication and strength I wanted to represent. Pulling in more patterns and dramatic shapes became the theme.

[page]

With Mother’s Day approaching, the post idea soon evolved into a photo shoot with my little one (but almost taller than me) Atticus and a few fellow style bloggers who also happen to be moms. Laura, Alexandra, and Andrea along with Leighton, Jack, and Amira shared an afternoon with us to play dress-up but mostly to celebrate the beauty of motherhood. They all exude their own unique sense of style and strong identities as both fearless leaders in style and moms to, dare I say, future leaders in style.

SPECIAL THANKS

Make-up for Sophorn, Alex, and Laura by Alexandra Nicole.
Make-up for Andrea by Marnelia Roy.
Styling for Andrea and Amira by Andrea Fenise.
Styling for Laura and Leighton by Laura Boswell.
Styling for Sophorn, Jack, and Alexandra in group photo by Alexandra Nicole.

“Spring Moods” and group photos by dirk olsen.
All other photos by Sophorn Kuoy.

OUTFIT DETAILS

Kimono, Crazy Beautiful; Jumpsuit, Anthropologie; Earrings, City & State.

Cape and sequin dress, by Andrea Fenise.

Tank, The Attic; Skirt, The Ivory Closet.

Tie-Dye Tank Dress, bracelet, and necklace on Sophorn, The Attic.

Top on Alexandra, The Attic.

Dress on Laura, Free People.

Lace top on Andrea, by Andrea Fenise.

Categories
Cover Feature News

Spring Forward!

Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes. — Carl Friedrich Gauss

At last, it’s spring! Florals make their expected appearance in pastel and dark patterns but share the spotlight with other graphic patterns, gold tones, and lots of fringe detail. South Main Memphis resident Leah-Claire Friddle Grawemeyer (and a couple of those close to her) show their personal and favorite mixes of the upcoming spring trends.

A softer approach to color works wonderfully in outfits for a day out, while darker florals or black with gold tones are dramatic statements for evening looks.

Local designers Tara Skelley of Dilettante Collection and Lauren Carlson of Question the Answer explore pastels in their latest collections, with a palette of muted coral, pink, and turquoise. Leah sees her spring wardrobe filled with plenty of white and beige with just a few pops of color. The overall mood is warm, carefree, and as blissful — as spring should be.

Dress Broken Arrow
Clutch ­ Lansky 126
Bracelet ­ Lesouque
Umbrella ­ American Apparel

Dress ­ Stock & Belle
Cardigan ­ Lansky 126
Shoes (black pumps) ­ Lansky 126
Belt (Leather Tassel) ­ Lansky 126
Rings ­ Broken Arrow

Row of shoes from Lansky 126 and Broken Arrow

At Broken Arrow

On Stephanie
Shirt ­ Lansky 126
Jeans ­ Lansky 126

On Leah-Claire
Top ­ Stock & Belle
Necklace ­ Stock & Belle
Jean skirt ­ Lansky 126
Bag ­ Lansky 126

Under bridge at new mural near South Main 2

Shirt local designer Dilettante Collection
Jeans ­ Lansky 126
Shoes (Brown strappy wedges) ­ Lansky 126
Purse ­ Broken Arrow

At City & State
Shirt ­ Lansky 126
Jeans ­ Lansky 126
Scarf Local Designer Garner Blue, Stock & Belle

At Blues Foundation
Top with Kimono Wrap ­ Stock & Belle
Shoes ­ Lansky 126
Scarf ­ Broken Arrow
Banjo Model’s own

At Blues Foundation
Dress ­ 20twelve
Necklace ­ Lesouque
Shoes ­ Lansky 126
Kimono Top ­ Free People

At Earnestine & Hazel’s upstairs
Top and Skirt ­ Stock & Belle
Necklaces Local Designer Question the Answer

Earnestine & Hazel’s Pool
On Leah-Claire
Dress ­ Lansky 126
Hat ­ Model’s own

On Olivia
Dress ­ Stock & Belle

Top ­ Broken Arrow
Skirt ­ Broken Arrow
Shoes ­ Lansky 126
Sunglasses ­ Lansky 126
Bag ­ Madewell
Bike ­ Midtown Bike

Top (white fringe) ­ Lanky 126
Jeans ­ Lansky 126
Shoes (brown leather pumps) ­ Broken Arrow
Necklace ­ Lansky 126
Bag ­ City & State