If you've been browsing my site, you may already know that Kaylie Dawn jewelry began in 2020 as a way to creatively pass time during the pandemic. Luckily, I had a friend and boss willing to take a chance on me who, without hesitation, agreed to carry my first collection of stretchy bracelets in her stores, which are still our bestselling items. It took a year of practicing new styles, ordering more beads than I should have ($$$), and testing supplies and materials before I mustered the courage to ask her to carry them in 2021. But that version of the story skips all the lovely details. Let's rewind...
I moved to Alexandria, Virginia for a fresh start in fall 2019. I had been living in Boston for almost 14 years and was ready for a change. To meet new people, I returned to my retail roots and offered myself up as the weekend part-timer for D.C.'s best shoes and accessories store, The Shoe Hive. Women from all over the DMV flock to this place for their footwear. Take one look at their selection and it makes total sense. The store manages to be sophisticated and charming at the same time—it's truly a women's paradise.
It was there that I immediately bonded with then-store-manager Penelope, who is now undoubtedly one of my best friends. She is kind, extremely intelligent, and the girl can make me laugh. There have been times I'm sure we were useless to our customers, engulfed in our own dramatics. I will never forget receiving a warm invitation from Penelope to join her family's Thanksgiving dinner. I had moved to the area just before the holiday, and she knew I hated long drives and wasn't planning to return to New England on account of a turkey. We'd only ever hung out once when she extended the invite. It was the sign of a true friend.
It was Penelope of course who encouraged me to ask the owner and buyer of The Shoe Hive to carry my bracelets. "You have to be selling these!" she said. "These would be the perfect add-on item at the desk!" So I wrote an e-mail to the owner, Elizabeth. Then I took a deep breath and listened to that signature iPhone swoosh noise.
Elizabeth gave me a simple, no-frills "yes" and Penelope was right... They sold! Since then, I've continued to work on the jewelry line, adding styles, focusing on the best sellers, and eventually expanding to necklaces. I even added a bunch of other great retail partners along the way.
Within that timeframe, I re-met and fell in love with a boy from my hometown. After more than a year and a half of back-and-forth between Virginia and Rhode Island, we decided to give living in one place a try. Our friends and family reside in that corner of the country, plus New England summers are pretty tough to beat, so Rhode Island it was. Once again hovering over "send" with an important message for The Shoe Hive, I felt hesitation, but it was different from the last time. I didn't want to quit; I loved the job. And they were 100% pivotal in helping me build Kaylie Dawn Jewelry.
"Happy for you!" "We will still carry the bracelets, so a piece of you will be here." "Want to do stylebook?" The response was as sweet as I could have imagined.
Alexandria Style Book is a contributor-run online resource for the latest trends, tips, and insight on all things style, beauty, design, fitness and wellness in Alexandria, Virginia. I think of it as an online magazine that only shows me stuff that is relevant to me. I was surprised and honored that Elizabeth asked me to be in it. This meant I would dress in the store's clothes and answer a few questions about myself. It was a glowing opportunity for which I gladly dressed in a yellow one-shoulder dress on a windy 37º morning!
In true serendipity, the Style Book article came out on my last day living in Alexandria. What a wonderful parting gift. Enjoy the article here, and I'll paste the Q&A in another blog post.
Thank you Elizabeth and Penelope for supporting me through this amazing chapter of my life living in Alexandria and for believing in Kaylie Dawn Jewelry. The world needs more people like you.
Must-go-shopping:
Stylebook Peek:
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