We were lucky to catch up with Alena Le Blanc recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alena, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
Growing up I was raised in a very supportive home. My parents have always instilled confidence in my brother and I. We were always told we were “born to be grea”t. As a child I thought that was normal and what all parents would tell their kids. The older I got, the more unique I knew it truly was. After you are told something so many times you start to believe it. Luckily for me, I believed it too. As an adult I am proud of who I am, and know there can always be improvements and we can always grow and evolve. I am fortunate that I have self love and respect for myself. Starting a business is always a long lesson of personal development and I am glad I was able to borrow the confidence others had in me to make some uncomfortable moves that have paid off. Now I gain confidence in myself by learning more about myself, and building trust in my decisions. I am grateful for the love and support surrounding me, and also grateful for the fire and drive within me to do better and to help others. I know showing up confidently helps other people see what’s possible for them. As a personal stylist, the number one thing clients want is to feel more confident. I get to use style as a tool to help them. Style is a guide to help you uncover who you are, how you want to show up, it’s a way to express yourself and learn your likes and dislikes. Educating clients in the process and helping them dig deeper and celebrate their uniqueness helps them gain confidence.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am Alena Le Blanc the stylist and founder of Le Blanc Label. I have been in the fashion industry for 9 years. Previously I was a womenswear designer for all categories including lingerie, cut and sew knits, wovens, sweater knits, and outerwear. ) for fashion based tech companies Thirdlove and Le Tote. I also was Head of Styling for a men’s rental company Taelor. I also have designed menswear blazers, denim and woven shirting.
Before the pandemic I was focused on creating designs our customers would love. Due to the global pandemic our offices shut their doors for good, and designing for another company was not something I was interested in anymore. I knew it was time for me to take a leap and create something that made a true impact. That was when Le Blanc Label was born. I began helping people I know hone in on their style, helping them edit their wardrobe and bring intention to what they had and what they could add to create a cohesive and exciting wardrobe.
With a background of working in the fashion tech industry I understand the importance of making the fashion industry more sustainable, and intentional and see the benefits of using client data, customer service and education to create a great experience. As a personal stylist I am able to utilize my design background to help clients make better decisions with their wardrobe. I help clients understand their bodies, fabrics and silhouettes and teach them what to look for in quality pieces.
Since starting a business, I became keenly aware of how many roles business owners play. I style people who are the face of their brands, entrepreneurs and professionals and help them create a personal style to attract more visibility and opportunities. By helping them create wardrobes that are aligned, expressive and authentic I bridge the gap from where they are to where they want to be. By creating a style that is personal, my clients make more intentional decisions moving forward which is better for them and the environment.
I am passionate about helping people feel confident. Everyone deserves to feel good in their bodies, regardless of shape and size and fashion is a way to help people celebrate who they are and their uniqueness. Style is a form of personal development. Le Blanc Label clients learn to dig deep. We focus on how you want to feel, how you want to be perceived and use style as the transformative tool it is to help clients reach their goals.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The most important skills I have learned on my journey are staying open minded, creating good habits and the importance of community. I associate being open minded with dropping your ego and really welcoming in knowledge. As you start your business journey it’s important to realize you don’t know everything, and that’s OKAY. You do need to be open and willing to learn, to try new things, and make mistakes. It’s all a learning process. You get better as you go and as you grow. The second skill is creating good habits. This is a huge one for me. I changed up my routine, I started with small tweaks that have paid off over time, like daily meditation, journaling and reading. When I first began I felt overwhelmed and would rush through them, now I love taking the time to sit in silence, taking time for myself before I do any of my tasks for the day. I get outside for a bit to clear my head and practice gratitude, these small habits create a massive impact in how I show up in both my business in life. The third area to focus on is community. Investing in a mentor was an intimidating step for me in my journey, but it was instrumental in helping me grow. You get to learn from someone who has more knowledge than you do and who is there to help guide you. Another large part of community is connecting with peers. I love networking, meeting new people and creating strong connections. I have plenty of stylist friends now and we are able to reach out to one another, bounce ideas off each other and cheer each other on. Why waste time comparing and competing with others when you can collaborate and grow together? Establishing a supportive community is a total game changer. As an entrepreneur, if you are not around other entrepreneurs it can be isolating. Most people don’t know what it’s like to start a business and may think you’re a little crazy for doing so, do not get discouraged, instead surround yourself with other people who are taking risks, who are putting themselves out there and expanding their impact!
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is a business owner, an entrepreneur or a professional that is client facing. I love working with clients who have already done some personal development work and are ready to dive even deeper. My ideal clients are also looking to grow and expand their business, and their brand. My ideal clients want to look professional, and are ready to stand out as an expert in their field. They are building trust, showing up on social media and at events. Maybe they have a big photoshoot coming up, or they are being featured in articles, TV, and on podcasts. They are putting themselves out there by networking, they are hosting or attending events and they want to show up to attract their ideal clients and collaboration partners. They are great at what they do, but their style isn’t doing them justice. They are ready to use style as a tool to become magnetic! They are ready to level up their image and brand and understand it’s a process and they are ready to invest time, money and energy into themselves to make lasting change.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.leblanclabel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leblanc_label/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alena-leblanc/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/le-blanc-label-castro-valley-2
Image Credits
Lisa Vortman Andrea Vollmer Nicole Ruiz Jennifer Taylor Michelle Archuletta
