Where do
you work? What is your occupation?
Public Relations
- Full-time beauty publicist that also works in fashion events and social
media.
I am contracted full-time through an agency based in Los
Angeles, Light Years Ahead (www.lightyearsahead.com) where I work remotely as a publicist for national
beauty/lifestyle and consumer product clients.
I also work in Kansas City on several projects and events. I am
the Director of Media for Kansas City Fashion Week (www.kcfashionweek.com), co-founder of Go Blog Social (www.goblogsocial.com) and serve on the board for several
non-profits focused on fashion and art including Kansas City Fringe Festival
“Fringe Fashion” and The Arts Asylum.
I also occasionally write for my personal blog, Everyday Chic
Style (www.everydaychicstyle.com), which is all about living a stylish life, while on a budget.
Who have
you worked with and/or worked for? Who would you like to work with and/or work
for?
I started my career as an intern and assistant in New York City.
This is where I truly learned about the PR industry and garnered my passion for
working in beauty and fashion. I worked at a fashion PR agency/showroom and as
a production assistant, where I had the opportunity to work on the Tiffany
& Co. Holiday advertising campaign and a multitude of major fashion brands.
Although it was a starting point, these experiences truly shaped my career path
and my skills.
From there, I worked for a small PR agency based in Kansas City
where I was the first PR Coordinator to join the two-person team. This
opportunity challenged me to multi-task and manages multiple projects for
clients in the hospitality, retail and entertainment industries. I helped
launch store openings, coordinated on-site events, managed social media and worked
with the media. My favorite client to
work with at the time was Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, because it involved
styling opportunities for photo shoots and TV segments.
Nearly two years into working at the agency, I was offered a
unique opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Working with entrepreneurs and
start-ups interested me and motivated me to become self-employed. I never
expected for it to happen so early on in my career.
Now, I work with national beauty and skincare beauty brands
through an agency I am contracted through based in Los Angeles. My favorite
part of the industry is getting to test new beauty products and learning about
the upcoming trends. Beauty and fashion really go hand-in-hand and it has been
a fun industry to work in. I’ve also had the opportunity to travel for beauty
launches and attend expo trade shows, which is a definite perk! This job also
allows me the opportunity to work on the other projects I love, like Kansas
City Fashion Week.
What was
your motivation behind starting your career?
I’ve always seen the potential for Kansas City’s fashion
industry to evolve, and knew I wanted to focus my career in this market. After
experiencing agency life and gaining the skills I needed to go off on my own, I
kind of just took a giant leap of faith. It seemed like everything fell into
place once I set my mind to just go for it.
How do
you balance your business and personal life?
It’s tough. Some days (and weeks) I work long hours and then
have to go to events in the evening. Especially during KCFW events, I am home
only a few short hours! Luckily, my fiancé is incredibly supportive of
everything I do. I wouldn’t be able to do anything without the support of my
friends and family! An easy tip to balance business and personal life on a
daily basis is to stick to a schedule. Pencil in time for things like going to
the gym, grabbing coffee or drinks with a friend, etc. It’s important to do those
things and if you don’t make time, it won’t happen.
Where do
you find inspiration?
Working from home,
I often get creative “mind blocks.” I turn to Pinterest for instant visual
inspiration. I’m kind of obsessed! I also have a real life inspiration board
that I (literally) pin clippings from magazines, inspiration quotes and other
pretty things. Being surrounded by things I love is always a source of
inspiration. And when that doesn’t do the trick – I head out for fresh air, a
little coffee and sometimes, a shopping trip!
What is
your biggest dream or aspiration?
Is it crazy to say that I feel like I am living my biggest
dream? I have a few other big things I’d like to do and achieve, but right now
am appreciative of everything I already have. I’ve also become more interested
in giving back to the community and would like to devote more time to
charitable work.
What fashion
story describes you in a nutshell?
I’m all about accessories. So, a LBD,
statement necklace and pair of heels in a bold color are my go-to.
Who is
your style icon?
I’ve always loved Audrey Hepburn;
she is a classic to me. Olivia Palermo, Miroslava Duma and Jenna Lyons are
current favorites that I love to follow and often attempt to re-create their
looks, which are the perfect mix of modern and feminine.
How would
you describe your overall style?
Modern, yet ladylike with a mix of classic and
trendy pieces.
Name your
favorite pair of shoes.
Just picked up the J. Crew
Etta pump (in metallic gold) and can’t stop wearing them.
Who is
your favorite designer? Why?
Must I pick one? I
love the personality of Oscar de la Renta and the fact that his gowns are the
most gorgeous. I also have a personal love for DKNY, Tory Burch, Kate Spade and
other designers that keep in mind the modern, working girl.
Do you
prefer couture or ready to wear pieces?
Although
I love looking at couture, I lean toward Ready-to-Wear, as it’s more fun to
pull looks from the runway to real life.
Do you
prefer modern or vintage styles? Why?
A mix of
both. I love a classic look that has a hint of modern flair; it just feels
fresh and not overdone.
What is
your favorite fashion publication? Why?
I am
constantly reading magazines for work and my favorites are Allure (for beauty,
of course), ELLE, Marie Claire, and Vogue.
Where is
your favorite place to shop?
I do a lot of online
shopping. Zara, Piperlime and ShopBop.com are favorites. I occasionally stop by
J. Crew and Ann Taylor, but also love a good Target find!
What career
advice do you have for TheeFashionStories readers?
Find
what you are passionate about and go for it!
If you
could relocate, where would you move? Why?
I love
my hometown of Kansas City and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else at this
moment. I still hold a special place in my heart for New York City and do my
best to travel there at least once a year. I also often travel to Los Angeles
for work and love it, but couldn’t imagine calling it home.
Do you
have any upcoming events or projects that TheeFashionStories readers should be
on the lookout for?
Right now I am gearing up for the planning of Kansas City
Fashion Week’s spring events. I also am the getting ready to make a few
exciting announcements for Go Blog Social’s next conference.
How can
TheeFashionStories readers contact you?
You can contact me via Twitter at @kathrynelise or Instagram
@kathryn_elise. I am also available by email at kathryn.mansur@lightyearsahead.com.
Thank you for an awesome interview Kathryn. You are an inspiration to many. I hope to one day be as successful as you are. It is awesome to see someone thrive doing what they love. I wish you more success and great times. You are fabulous and this interview was pleasure!
Thank you for an awesome interview Kathryn. You are an inspiration to many. I hope to one day be as successful as you are. It is awesome to see someone thrive doing what they love. I wish you more success and great times. You are fabulous and this interview was pleasure!
Much Love,
Jas
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