Break the Fashion Rules: Why Your Style Deserves More Than Outdated Advice
- Alena Le Blanc
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
(By a San Francisco Personal Stylist for Female Founders & Entrepreneurs)
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak to a mothers’ group here in the Bay Area about style. I shared the stage with another founder whose approach to fashion couldn’t be more different than mine. She focused on rules, what women should and should not wear- the kind of dated guidance that keeps your style muted, bland, and watered down.
In that moment, it reminded me exactly why I do the work I do.
Women are constantly told to tone down to be “more professional.” They’re scared to stand out because they worry they’ll look “too much,” or “distracting,” or that someone will make them feel wrong for wanting to shine, but dimming your light is not the path to confidence or authority, and I have zero interest in shrinking women.
We deserve to be seen. We deserve to stand out. We deserve to feel proud of who we are. And not everyone wants a wardrobe that is beige, minimal, or “quietly elegant.” If that’s your aesthetic, amazing. But many women crave color, personality, vibrancy, and power in the way they dress. That’s where I come in.
How I Actually Style Women (Spoiler: It’s Not About Rules)
As a San Francisco Personal Stylist and Bay Area wardrobe stylist, I start with you, not with rules.
I want to know:
Who are you becoming?
What do you want in your life and career?
What are your business goals?
How do you want to feel when you walk into a room?
What does your daily lifestyle actually look like?
There is no cookie-cutter method for style. There is no formula that works for every woman. That’s why PERSONAL is the heart of Personal Styling.
My job isn’t to pick out “cute looks.” My job is to understand you deeply. Your identity, your aspirations, your comfort, your energy, and help you express that through intentional, elevated style.
This is exactly why women in leadership roles, founders, executives, and entrepreneurs in the Bay Area work with me. They’re not looking for trends. They’re looking for transformation.
Let’s Talk About Color Analysis in the San Francisco Bay Area
I get asked about color analysis. All. The. Time.
The trend is massive right now — everyone and their mom is booking a color analysis in the San Francisco Bay Area. And listen, I think it’s fun. I think it can be insightful.
But…
It can also be extremely limiting.
I’ve worked with so many women who feel boxed in by their palette, believing they can only wear four shades of blue or avoiding colors they love because they were told they are a “Winter” or a “Soft Autumn.”
Don't get me wrong, there are colors that look better or worse on you, but telling women they should only wear a tiny curated set because of their undertone? That’s outdated. And it’s another form of shrinking.
We’re not meant to blend in.
Instead, I help women tap into:
What colors make you feel something?
What shades bring out your confidence?
What speaks to your personality?
What aligns with your brand as a female founder or leader?
This isn’t just fashion, it’s self-awareness.
The Psychology of Color (And Why We Lost Our Joy Around It)
I recently watched a TED Talk by Ingrid Fetell Lee where she shares how deeply children are drawn to color and joy. As we become adults, that fades, replaced by the belief that neutrals are safer, more “professional,” and more acceptable.
But here’s the truth:
We were never meant to disappear.
And female founders especially know this in male-dominated spaces (from boardrooms to stages to investor meetings) showing up with clarity, confidence, and presence matters.
Style is not vanity.
It's visibility. It’s strategy. It’s leadership.
You’re not just building a wardrobe. You're building a personal brand.
And the way you dress has the power to shift how you’re perceived and how you feel stepping into rooms where big things happen.
The Business Case for Breaking the Fashion Rules
This is where intentional style becomes transformative.
When you’re a founder, entrepreneur, speaker, or leader, people see you before they hear you. Your outfit communicates authority, creativity, alignment, and readiness before you ever say a word.
This is exactly why my clients choose to work with me as their Bay Area personal stylist for female founders:
They want to stand out in their industry.
They want to feel confident at events, conferences, and speaking engagements.
They want a wardrobe that actually supports the life they’re building.
They want visibility — the kind that attracts opportunities, clients, and connection.
And none of that comes from following outdated rules.
Full Circle: Why Breaking the Rules Is the Most Powerful Style Move You Can Make
At the end of the day, breaking the fashion rules isn’t about rebellion — it’s about returning to yourself.
It’s choosing expression over restriction. Intention over outdated advice. Visibility over shrinking.
When you step into rooms with style that reflects the woman you’re becoming, everything elevates:
Your energy.
Your presence.
Your confidence.
Your opportunities.
This is why I do what I do as a San Francisco Bay Area personal stylist. Because style is so much more than clothing. It’s a catalyst for a woman’s next level.
So go ahead:
Wear the color. Break the rule. Take up space.
Stop dressing for who you used to be. Start dressing for the woman you’re becoming.
And if you’re a female founder or entrepreneur in the Bay Area ready to elevate your presence- in your business, your brand, or your day-to-day life, I’d love to support you on that journey!
Book Your Free 30 minute Style Discovery Call today.
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