From Leisure to Luxe: The Moment I Chose Myself

 

A few months ago, I was stuck.

I’d just been rejected for two roles I really wanted. Roles I thought would be my opportunity to progress my career. I had the experience, the passion, the vision, but it wasn’t enough.

I felt lost and invisible. Like I was doing everything right, but still not moving.

One day, while scrolling through yet another online store, something clicked. Heels!

I’ve always loved heels. Not just the look of them, but the way they make me feel: powerful and confident, like I can take on anything. But, I also know the flip side. The ache, the blisters, the way one bad pair can ruin your entire day, and your confidence with it.

That was my moment. I decided I wasn’t going to wait for someone else to say yes to me. I’d create something for myself and for every woman who knows what it’s like to feel unstoppable... until her shoes stop her.

So, I created Elzandi.

 

It’s not just a shoe brand. It’s the thing that pulled me out of a rut, reignited my fire, and reminded me that I am more than my current title. It’s the space where my two worlds collide: my career in leisure and my obsession with luxury fashion. I’m not here to escape one industry for the other. I love them both. Elzandi isn’t my “exit plan” - it’s my expansion.

However, let’s be real...building something from scratch is hard.

• I don’t have a background in footwear. 
• I had to Google how to make a tech pack.
• I got ghosted by manufacturers.
• I was quoted prices that made me laugh-cry.
• And, I faced so many “maybe this was a bad idea” moments.

I’m self-funding this entire business. Every dollar, every sample, every gamble has come from me. I constantly wonder if people are judging me, if they think it’s silly, if I’ve completely missed the mark.

And yet, I keep going.

Because when I imagine a woman slipping on her first pair of Elzandi heels and feeling unstoppable, I remember why I started.
Because I want her to chase her goals without compromise.
Because I believe comfort and confidence should go together.
Because I believe that luxury isn’t about price, it’s about how you feel when you wear it.

I’m learning so much about marketing, branding, ads (meta ads scare me, if I’m being honest), but most importantly, about myself. I’ve had to let go of perfectionism and get comfortable with failing forward I’ve had to stop overthinking and trust my gut; even when it’s full of butterflies.

I’m still working full-time and figuring things out. But, I’ve made it this far, and I’m just getting started.

My first sale? That was surreal.
The messages from people saying I’ve inspired them to chase their own dreams? That’s the kind of success I never saw coming.

My mission has always been simple: leave people better than I found them.
And Elzandi is my way of doing that: one powerful step at a time.

So welcome to From Leisure to Luxe! This is the behind-the-scenes of what it really looks like to build a luxury brand from Kalgoorlie, while still clocking into a day job, battling imposter syndrome, and choosing to back yourself anyway.

Let’s build something unforgettable.

Confidence looks good on you - so do these