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The Arts Beat is a weekly deep-dive into Memphis arts, music, dance, theater, fashion, film and events. Keep scrolling for a roundup of the best arts and culture stories from the week. Have a story idea? Send it to eperry@dailymemphian.com.
“May the good vibes find you free, fabulous and flowing” is the tagline of the Lucky Lady Caftan Club of Memphis.
Launched this spring, the social club aims to bring joy, positivity, and lightness to women and the city of Memphis, according to founder Lauren Short.
 From right: Lauren Short (Lucky Lady Caftan Club President/Madame Caftan), Rhonda Treadwwell (Dress for Success Memphis Executive Director) and Erika Smith (Lucky Lady Caftan Club Vice President/ Second in Silk), (Courtesy Lauren Short)
Short is president, aka the madame caftan, while Stock & Belle boutique owner Erika Smith is the vice president, aka second-in-silk.
Caftans are an ankle-length tunic or robe with long sleeves, dating back to ancient times. They often include a belt.
“‘If you haven’t worn a caftan, you are sleeping on them,’ I tell everybody,” Short said. “Because they are so comfortable and you feel so fabulous.”
Short, who is from Memphis, lived in New Orleans for four years and enjoyed events while living there.
“I’ve always wanted to find a way to bring that magic here to Memphis,” she said of New Orleans.
She said she wanted to showcase the positive side of Memphis. She wanted to create a space for women to come together and have joy, community and “lightness.”
A friend joined a caftan club in New Orleans. Short thought it was something Memphians could appreciate, too.
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Originally, Short thought that she and a group of friends would don caftans while walking in the Beale Street St. Patrick’s Day parade. She decided to slow down and think through the idea.
The name, Lucky Lady Caftan Club, is an ode to that origin story as well as a question prompt:
“Why do you feel lucky to be in Memphis?” and “What does being a lucky lady mean to you in Memphis?”
“I am a Memphian and I have so many friends from high school, elementary school (who) have moved back to Memphis,” Short said. “I have also met many people who have the choice of where to live and they want to live in Memphis.”
Each year, Short plans for the group to support a women-oriented nonprofit. This year’s is Dress for Success Memphis. The group plans to fundraise, volunteer, and spread awareness of both the nonprofit and what it does.
Though the caftan club hasn’t started taking dues, about 30 people are interested in membership, Short said. The eventual annual dues, $150 a year, will go towards costs of riding in a parade (likely the Beale Street holiday parade), and social events, she said.
At the first members’ meeting in June, women included those working in education, marketing, and business as well as stay-at-home moms, who mingled, talked about the club’s vision, and planned for the July 17 fashion show.
Short is an education consultant.
“I think meetings in the future will be a mix of coming together, really again, just leaning into getting to know one another and making those connections, all while dressed in caftans, with cocktails and mocktails,” Short said. “And then rallying around a cause that we know can uplift women in our community.”
Short also plans a Friends of the Caftans subgroup for folks not ready to become financial members, where they can attend non-public events, be substitutes for parades, and generally be connected to the group.
The fashion show is a runway show at Stock & Belle featuring caftans and flowy looks. Cocktails, mocktails and wine will be available.
The event is free, but $75 VIP tickets will benefit Dress for Success.
Janet Wilson will DJ.
Wilson, who likes “dressing fabulously,” says she bought her first caftan at Stock & Belle.
She’s now a member of the Lucky Lady Caftan Club. The club hosted its first meet-up at her DJ set at Central Station’s Eight & Sand bar in April.
Wilson said she joined because of their shared desire to dress up and lift up one another.
One of her favorite mottos is “Don’t wait for the occasion. Be the occasion.”
Info on the club will be available via Instagram, and later member newsletters.
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