Hello there, I am absolutely thrilled that you have chosen to visit with me in this space! Who am I? The short story is that my name is Breyana and I am a daughter, sister, friend, style devotee and lover of all things luxury. I also happen to be an Attorney with an Administrative Law and Labor & Employment background, as well as an avid Writer with a degree in Journalism and Creative Writing/English. Yea, that last bit of information is where the long story comes in, and unfortunately, it is a bit long (my apologies in advance). So, here goes nothing….
In the final week of November – 2016, I voluntarily exited the legal practice at my then-law firm armored with nothing more than a love of fashion and a desire to find true fulfillment. You see, I was in desperate need of a satiety which I’d become certain I would never find based on that career trajectory. I hungered for a true “wake up in the middle of the night to check who acquired which company” or “research what sustainable materials were now being implemented at which luxury brand (Ferragamo for the win with the orange fiber at that time!)” love of fashion, but I digress. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the practice of law. But I could not have been more unhappy with the way that I was practicing. One day I literally drug myself out of bed to find myself simply going to WORK each day, when what I really desired was to go to LIFE. I knew then, that only I could make the change that I needed to realize my true destiny. That meant a drastic move. Otherwise, I’d potentially remain on the same hamster wheel indefinitely.
Everyone said that I was nuts. Hell, I felt nuts. And I STILL often feel nuts for this decision. I mean, I’d worked my gonads off (figuratively, of course) to get a position that I just could not bring myself to keep. And so I left. Blah, blah, blah – I know, but I have a point — I promise. Following this departure, I found it harder than ever to not only find what I deemed satisfactory employment, but to also find the fulfillment that I yearned for and kept me awake at night. I wondered if I did x, y , or z – as suggested by every self-help book and article I could possibly be bombarded by, I’d finally find my purpose (and for the record, I’m still not sure who moved my cheese or what color my parachute is, but I’m not saying that you should not read those books as suggested by hundreds of readers and strangers alike on our favorite online book buying sites).
The “sensible” folks gave me endless advice, and for that I am forever grateful. Yet, no matter what was suggested – even if it were to start my own legal practice, all I heard was: SETTLE. In my mind, success would be finding a way to merge my passions with my current skill-set, AND make a significant income in the process. Yet, what seemed like such a simple equation turned out to be the hardest arithmetic of all. Because truthfully, I had no earthly idea what that even meant. So there I was, unemployed, uninspired, and seemingly unremarkable (at least in my own eyes). The only thing that I knew for sure was that I had a TRUE love of fashion, a TRUE love of film (Clark Gable will forever be the husband that I’ll never have), a passion for the way of words, and an undisputed love of music (be it electronic, country, trip-hop or R&B). These outlets are the fabric of my life, and I would not be who I am without the artists who provided the soundtracks, seasonal collections and catch phrases of my life. However, I realized that I was not alone in this feeling. So, like every loud-mouthed, type A personality with a shoe addiction as well as a pension for sparkling rosé – I decided that I should put my thoughts on paper. And while I was well aware that paper was becoming an archaic medium and that my words may only reach a person or two in the future, I knew that one or two was all that it took to truly mean that my life’s purpose was fulfilled.
So what is this that we are embarking upon here my friend? Is this a blog, a column, an emotional outlet, or a memoir? Only time will tell, but I like to think of this as the start to building the brand that is “me.” The one that I have always carried around with me from job to job, but that I never began to actually market.
I admit that I have never fit perfectly into just one category and I assume, by your reading this, that neither do you. So until it is all “figured out” (whatever that really means) – here’s to everyone who’s ever been misunderstood and overlooked; to every English major who, like me, could care less about Strunk & White’s rules when simply sending a text to a friend (how dare others attempt to auto-correct the lining that is our lives???); to anyone who has ever put a monetary gain before a spiritual one (we have the closets to prove it so take that!); whose mind constantly wanders when told to be permanently fixed; who is unsure of the sure; who has ever had champagne at 9:30am on a Tuesday just because (you were born with that palette so embrace it); and for those that have been told that the only constant in your life is the spiral of a path that you’re on……NO, it doesn’t make sense to the “buttoned-up” all of the time, but we are who we are. And guess what, we are pretty-freaking-fabulous! Even if we don’t feel it each and every day. So, even if we never interact again, please stay true to yourself, not because I said so, because at the end of the day who am I (that is – aside from this lengthy “about” section I’ve provided)? No, do it based on the simple fact that no one else could look as impeccable in pajamas at a black tie affair than you my dear. You respect the rules of fashion, of life and of love, but understand that they will always be broken, and as a result, you march to the beat of your own electric guitar (sorry, Prince didn’t get his point across on the drums). Cheers to you babe, may you forever interpret “business casual attire” as a means to wear a button down coupled with a ball skirt – which in my opinion, is the perfect uniform for any occasion (I love you Carolina Herrera!!!). If even an ounce of you can agree, then you and I are kindred spirits. But even in the event that we are not, I cordially welcome you to Button Downs & Ball Skirts. You are now officially inducted into the “I may just be too smart for this,” and simultaneously too inexperienced as well, and the oh-so-fly for that, but still kinda weird and supremely outspoken – private society for the true lover of creativity who may have been caged up in a not-so-creative world for FAR TOO LONG. I am still manner-able enough to tell you that I am pleased to meet your acquaintance. Now, seeing that we have all of the formalities out of the way, what do you say that we suit up and get lost together?!?
Feel free to unbutton that top button,
*BAP*
P.S. Please forgive me for leaving my button down and ball skirt at home on this day in the late 80s, but this one picture sums up this entire “about” section – with a ribbon, of course.
Button Downs & Ball Skirts 