How Lucky I Am
When I started this website, I was in college trying to find my passion, my way, and my voice. I was working as a full-time journalism student (trust me, there are times being a student that feels like a full-time job) and I was a full-time intern making my way through the ranks of an up-and-coming (now well established) fashion website. My sense of style has been innate since the time I was able to walk and grab clothes off the shelves. Of course that sense of style ebbed and flowed and changed with me throughout the years and changed with me as I struggled to find where I fit in and what I wanted to be. I got thrown into this crazy fashion industry. I went to seminars, I went to events, I felt that sense of passion. I thought I would go into online media production for a fashion based website. I thought maybe I would work in a division of a company that integrated fashion and my other concerns and interest (see All Saints’ work for the Not For Sale campaign and Jimmy Choo’s interest in starting an anti-sex trafficking/human trafficking campaign). I thought maybe this whole blogging thing would become monetarily successful and I could work from home in my pajamas and then go out in fabulous ensembles to shows, events, meetings. I thought of the excitement that one must feel during brand-building, budding partnership meetings. I thought all of this as the way to a successful and happy life (that is what we are told the “American Dream” is at the present, right?) But things change.
I do love working in fashion, but my passion, my true passion is elsewhere and if there is something that I have learned, it is to follow passion and intuition. My passion is elsewhere. I will always want to be the girl in Elizabeth and James, LNA, TEXTILE Elizabeth and James, The Row, and more, but as for a career and a life, it is in helping women. With recent events, a lot of thinking, a lot of soul searching, and a lot of reading, I have come to the decision that it is time to put my full passion into what I know I was meant to do, which means leaving the fashion world behind.
So I am saying farewell to this life I have known. I’m saying farewell to fashion blogging. It is with a bit of sadness but a great deal of excitement that I say farewell to Breakfast with Fashion and fashion blogging in general. I will still be writing, but not for page views, career ambitions, or anything of that sort. I will write about life, what I am thinking, what is going on, things I am passionate about (which, of course, could include fashion). But before I say goodbye, I want to deeply thank everyone who has followed me for all of the support and love over the years. It truly is so incredible the connections I have made and the outreach I have received. A huge thank you to each and every person who has even read this blog once. It truly was an incredible experience that would have been dimmed without each and everyone of you. Thank you so much. To sum things up with a pretty bow (which all of my writing teachers I have ever had are now cringing over) to quote one of the smartest bears out there, Winnie the Pooh, ““How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” Until we meet again… XOXO
A Passionate Life
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotion, events, and energy. After being honest about being victimized and realizing what is most important is to be genuine and myself, while working on my health and happiness, things have taken a huge turn and only for the best. I have never felt this kind of happiness in 20+ years and I have to admit, this feeling is quite amazing. I woke up the other day smiling and giggling. It made me stop and think “Who the hell am I? I don’t giggle.” But (not-so-secretly) I loved it. Scratch that. I do love it. And while I’m not ready to tell the world or really most anyone, I have found passion again in my life. I have been fired up. I feel that spark growing in me—something I haven’t felt in years. I’ve realized that what I thought I wanted isn’t necessarily true to my current present.
As I write this, it is the technical first day of spring. As I look out my sliding glass doors, the wind is blowing the rain sideways and the rain is blowing and rolling aimlessly along the roof of the building across the court yard. The trees are bending with the wind, but never breaking, which makes me sing an Ani DiFranco song. She sings, “Buildings and bridges are made to bend in the wind// to withstand the world, that’s what it takes//All that steel and stone is no match for the air, my friend//what doesn’t bend breaks//what doesn’t bend breaks.” And just like that, the wind stopped. The rain stopped. The sun is peaking out of the clouds and the bright blue of the sky is beaming over my apartment building. And in this moment, I can breathe. I can breathe a sigh of relief. But just like nature, life ebbs and flows, just like moments, memories, and emotions. However, from this moment on, I choose to strive for happiness. I choose to allow myself to feel emotion and let things just be. You see that is all very new to me and feeling emotions is very raw and a bit intimidating, but if it allows me to feel as happy as this, then that bit of uncomfortably is worth it.
So what is next? Who knows. Well, I have a plan. I have an idea. I have a determination that had been so muddled and lost in the mess of trauma. So we shall see. Stay tuned but for now, I am just happy.
Bringing Out The Brash Cat
When it comes to my personal style, I am low-key and a bit more basic (but with leather, studs, and attitude, of course. I like to bring out the badass side of myself.) I live for and in LNA gear (I mean, come on, it is fabulous), which I like to think of as basics with spunk. But sometimes basics can get a bit too, well, basic on their own so jazzing them up with bold accessories is key and ideal. Enter Brash Cat. This Brooklyn-based company is to die for. One, it is reasonably priced for a high-quality and high-end design. Two, it is unique. Three, it makes a statement and adds the right ounce of pop to a basic outfit and compliments an elaborate ensemble.
I had the pleasure of receiving (and subsequently not taking off) the Geom Stackable Rings. I have never gotten so many compliments on a set of rings (and I am a ring-a-holic). I continuously play with the rings, look at the rings, and feel a bit more put together with them. I’ve never been one for a ton of bracelets at once (unless they do together and are designed that way), I much prefer an eclectic cuff bracelet (side note: OBSESSED with the Brash Cat Fish Cuff).I love long necklaces in a brushed gold. So it is rare that I come across a collection that so accurately reflects my aesthetic like Brash Cat does.
Honestly, I don’t think any photo could do Brash Cat justice. I know the photos that I take of my rings don’t do them justice. Even the gorgeous photos on the Brash Cat website don’t justify how truly incredible these rings are. While they may seem simple, they are more intricate than I could describe. They are so fun, so funky, so fresh. The Geom rings alone made me a believer: I’m ready to bring my inner Brash Cat out. Are you?
Geom Rings c/o Brash Cat, Photos after the article from Brash Cat
The No Makeup Look
I’m not that great with makeup and it really is due to a lack of effort. The fact is, I just don’t care that much about makeup. I know I will probably never master the smokey eye. But beside that, I know that I will never be able to wear eye makeup without rubbing it or forgetting it is on. Now for special occasions, I will attempt to do makeup, but for day-to-day, I go for little to no makeup. I am more about skin care rather than makeup and coverup. And, let’s be honest, I would rather get a tan from a bottle and have my skin breathing, rather than hidden behind foundation.
Now, back track a moment. I don’t like high-maintenance skin care. I don’t like having to use 10 different steps everyday. I’d rather wash, moisture, and go. Let’s put it this way, I HAVE a lot of skincare products, but I don’t use each one everyday. My favorites? Jan Marni products, Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Lush eye cream, and rms products. Why? They are high-quality and really make a difference with my skin. From closing my pores to purging the impurities, they are wonderful (plus, Lush has amazing face masks. Oh, and, side note, I live for quality hair masques.)
So when I see celebrities out and about without makeup, I love it. I don’t really care, honestly, about celebrities and what they do. I have more important things at this point in my life, but I’m no stranger to looking through People.com when I have a spare moment. I guess what I am saying is this, I’m over the overly done look. I’m over all the goop and clump. In attempt to get everything in line in my life, my skin is of the utmost importance. I mean, hey, even if you love makeup, you have to start with a fresh and clean foundation, right?
TEXTILE Elizabeth and James Spring 2013
My love for TEXTILE Elizabeth and James (and Elizabeth and James) is no secret. It is a love I would yell from the mountain tops. Well, wait, that would require hiking and that wouldn’t happen. It is a love I would yell from the top of the Empire State Building after an elevator ride to the top. And the great thing about this love is that it never disappoints me. It never leaves me unsatisfied. It doesn’t make me cry at the price like some lines can. It is a great, all-absorbing, true love type of love. Is this extreme? Is this an over zealous hyperbole used to enhance or impress some line and/or designer? No. How do you know I am telling the truth? Because I don’t really aim to impress anyone except myself. I know this sounds a little vain or narcissistic, but the older I get, the more true it becomes. And if I didn’t really like the lookbook, I wouldn’t be posting my favorite images from it. (In Twitter lingo #TrueShit.) So with that love out there and on the line, I must say, I am rather loving the spring 2013 lookbook from Elizabeth and James. From the graphic tees to the ever-so-perfect sandals, there are many looks and pieces from this collection that just exude youth, fun, fashion, and cool.
Property
If using images, ideas, text, or anything from Breakfast with Fashion, please credit the site, include a link, and let me know. If you don't, well, that's just not cool. In fact, it is, indeed, very lame.
I will always credit photos that I did not originally take. In addition, all photos used in my banner are credited on the Questions Answered page. Banner is c/o Kaylyn Parrish
