The Creative Alliance may have relied on the past for its Andy Warhol’s Factory theme of its Marquee Ball. But for Erica Nickel, 31, it was all about trying something new. Not only had the Federal Hill resident never been to Creative Alliance, she’d never tried the 1970s throwback boho style that has made a big return to current fashion trends.

“I like the clean and classic look; Calvin Klein has been my go-to,” the Keller Williams Realty client relationship manager explained.

Fashion hasn’t been a high priority for Nickel these days.

“Trying new things, having new experiences is important. Every weekend I’m trying something new. This was my first time at the Creative Alliance. I thought it was super cool and funky,” she said.

In the spirit of the event, Nickel stepped outside her usual fashion comfort zone — and liked that, too.

“I really liked going outside the box. I’m not frilly. I don’t like flowers. But I really liked what I had on,” she said.

“I met a ton of new people. It was a new place, a new style, and I liked them both,” she said.

HER ENSEMBLE: Boho-style white crop top with multicolor embroidery top with bell sleeves from Vintage Loyalty. Gold and seafoam tassel necklace, gold braided headband and big gold hoop earrings from Target. Hollister bell-bottom jeans from when “I was way younger.” Braided brown leather belt she’s had for years. Michael Kors brown suede strappy platform stilettos from Macy’s. Brown crocodile textured clutch with tassel zipper from Express.

Sloane Brown is a freelance contributor to The Baltimore Sun and runs baltimoresnap.com. If you are planning a fundraiser you’d like considered for coverage, contact her at sloane@sloanebrown.com.