An evolution of personal style
As blogger opened up about her life, her interest in self-care and fashion flourished
AS A KID GROWING UP in Burlington, Layne Kennaley had never really been one for church or religion. Sure, she dutifully accompanied her mom to Christmas and Easter services, but she personally didn’t feel a connection to the words, the prayers or even the people in attendance. A little over a year ago, everything changed.
Because that’s when Kennaley, now 26, accompanied her mom to a new church — one that offered a different perspective on God than she had previously known. And that’s where she found herself, with a likeminded community of devotees who were honest about their lives, their dreams, their struggles.
And that’s when Kennaley started thinking bigger, feeling stronger, taking better care of herself. But it was a journey she kept private until this past New Year’s Eve, the day she came clean about her own personal struggles and new-found faith to a couple of thousand followers in an Instagram post.
“I posted it and then I put my phone on airplane mode and I went upstairs and I was like, I’m going to throw up. I was so nervous,” says Kennaley, who works at the Saint James Espresso Bar & Eatery on James North.
“Because it is a vulnerable thing. But then the outpouring of love and support and people I haven’t talked to in years that I didn’t even know would really see it, like I’m so proud of you …”
Knowing that she wasn’t alone in feeling not perfect, Kennaley felt better about herself, she says, more grounded, more rooted in her faith.
And with that came a new interest in self-care and fashion, which naturally led to many style-centric Instagram posts featuring new looks from a closet filled with frocks in navy, blush pink, cream and powder blue.
“I always saw things that I liked on Pinterest or Instagram or even just in commercials … but my ability to tie things together just never really
“I think it’s important for people to share their struggles,” says Kennaley, who gained confidence to be open from her faith.
clicked,” says Kennaley, who is determined to share all aspects of her new self — the good and the bad — with her Instagram followers.
“And so I think just really spending the time and wanting to present myself in the way that I’m now feeling. I don’t know if I really cared before.”
Kennaley says her journey in style has led her to a classic look, gravitating toward clean lines and simple geometric patterns like the ivory and navy striped Kenar jacket she wears here over a black sleeveless shell, both from Style Encore. She pairs them with distressed skinny jeans and nude Calvin Klein flats she scored recently from Hudson’s Bay.
“I always had a really hard time with putting accessories and shoes (with) an outfit,” says Kennaley, who is also a trained esthetician and does waxing part time out of her home.
“So I could wear jeans and a top but then I wouldn’t go any further … I was trying too hard to match everything which then just looked matchy-matchy and not co-ordinated.”
Here she expertly accessorizes her look with on-trend hoop earrings from Forever 21, a blush pink Pixie Mood crossbody bag from La Bichette, oversized sunglasses from Le Château and a silver cross ring that was a gift from her mom.
Most eye-catching piece
I have this yellow dress (from Style Encore) and I bought it for my uncle’s wedding — it’s a pale yellow, but it’s the perfect amount of fit and flare and it’s just really beautiful. It’s kind of like a halter (style) but it also has a back … and then it’s got this beaded belt and it’s just flowy ...
Quirkiest wardrobe item
I just got this — I haven’t even worn it yet. It’s a blazer. It’s three-quarterlength sleeves and then it has six inches of brown fur at the cuffs and it’s mustard yellow with this Japanese kimono print.
I saw it and it’s one of those things that was like, that looks really weird on the hanger but I believe it’s really cute. And I put it on and everyone was like, wow. So I haven’t worn it yet but I’m really excited to pull that one out.
That’s a hand-me-down but it’s a oneof-a-kind piece. I get a lot of my stuff from thrift stores and hand-me-downs.
Wardrobe must-have
Sunglasses, definitely. Because you can wear a basic T-shirt and jeans and Converse, but if you have a really eyecatching pair of sunglasses, ones that really work for the outfit, it just makes it from nothing to something. I have these (Le Château) ones — right now they’re my everyday sunglasses. They’re really big. I like really big sunglasses.
But then I have small ones, like the John Lennon (style), I have a pair that are really ’60s or ’70s. Your basic RayBans ...
Best purchase
It’s probably the three pair of shoes I just bought. I’m size 9, so I find when The Bay has sales, I go — and it’s already picked through, and I’m not even kidding, I went in there and I was like, ‘Mom, these are so cute!’ Like, 17 times. I really had to break it down. And then when I went up (to pay) they were, like, almost $100 cheaper than I was expecting to purchase and an additional 15 per cent off.
So, it’s these Calvin Klein leather nude ones and then baby blue pumps with a peep-toe — they’re so cute, they’re suede. And then the other ones were slip-on Chaps canvas boat shoes.
Regrets buying
I don’t think I regret buying anything. I’m really particular and really kind of picky so even if I’m like, ‘Oh I like this but the zipper should be on the other side,’ I won’t buy it.
Favourite place to shop
(Hudson’s) Bay. I really love The Bay ... just the variety, and you can go in there and buy really good-quality stuff and they have amazing sales … and good quality, good names. So, I really love The Bay. And Style Encore and La Bichette — I buy all my purses there.
Ridding her closet of
Just poor-quality things. I was really bad for buying really thin material Tshirts from, like, Forever 21 instead of Aritzia. So they just get holes and they don’t last. So, I’m just trying to get rid of all that kind of stuff. And just things that I’ve been hanging on to because I think that they’re going to come back, but like, how long do you hang on to them?
Splurges on
Shoes and purses. Because it’s something that you use every day … and it just can either make or break — like, even if there’s a little wear on it. It just kind of dulls the outfit.
Must-have beauty products
(Anjou) makeup brushes and (L’Oréal) beauty blender and (Ouai) dry shampoo, because even when my hair is clean, I have dry shampoo in it.
Special to The Hamilton Spectator