Celine Lamour founded, My French Elegance, a premium fashion and style consultancy offering personalized styling advice. In her spare time, she enjoys reading novels and fashion magazines and well as spending time with family and friends.
What’s your story?
I grew up in France in a family ensconced in the fashion industry. Post my graduation in marketing and communication, I began working in Bordeaux and Paris. In 2005, I followed my husband to Hong Kong, where I fell in love with this city. Once my children were old enough, I decided to return to my first love: help people reinvent their fashion sense. Thus motivated, I set up a style consultancy firm “My French Elegance”, that truly allows me to offer sustainable style advice to individuals and help them regain self-confidence reflected by transforming their first impression while connecting to their true personality.
What excites you most about your industry?
As my work heavily depends on people, the most exciting part of the fashion industry, in general, is the sheer possibility of an individual’s transformation inside and out by switching outfits and accessories by a knowledgeable image and style expert.
In my profession in particular when I see a customer’s genuine smile to see themselves in a new light after a session and automatically regain their confidence, by sublimating a new attire it is the most satisfying feeling as an Image Consultant. With their faith completely placed on the stylist, they finally take the leap to wear clothes that truly suit their personality.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I have lived in Asia for over 15 years now. My most cherished time of the day is when I get to walk in the eclectic streets of Hong Kong and get rejuvenated by sensing its contrasts between modernity and tradition, as well as urbanity and nature. For me, Hong Kong is a city in perpetual movement very welcoming and international.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Hong Kong is in my opinion, the ideal place to set up your business. The process of setting up a business is quite simplified and due to its advantageous location as a business hub, it is indeed very easy to interact with people from different parts of the world and share each other’s experiences and business knowledge.
For my business of the personal image, in particular, HK is also the apt city since it is teeming with professionals in all fields and industries who can gain a lot from learning by an experienced style consultant: how to make a mark for oneself in the professional world with a change of personal style.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
A series of life events, self-contemplation and by observing the most admirable personalities I realized that if you really want to be happy and reach new heights then, “Trust yourself, believe in yourself and dare to challenge yourself!’
It is true that I would never have imagined becoming an entrepreneur until one day, I finally became one! After working in corporate, I craved to do something in which I could truly realize myself and help others. I dared to challenge myself, get out of the comfort zone and I do not regret it!
Who inspires you?
I have always admired a number of revered personalities. But those who really inspire me to work harder are the people who are self-driven enough to pursue their dreams through the off-beaten path. They do not hesitate to go beyond the norms and barriers set by commoners to reach their goals yet by being professional, personal, philanthropic. They are always growing.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
During the summer, a Frenchman, Franky Zapata, rose to the challenge of connecting France to England in 20 minutes, flying independently over the Channel standing on his Flyboard Air. This crazy inventor believes in his dreams, clings to them and gives himself every means to achieve them. This kind of people completely awe me, they are simply unstoppable! His next challenge: the flying car
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Nothing, I live my life with the understanding that we must regret nothing in our past and learn from our mistakes. Life is made of good and bad times, you learn along the way how to get the best out of it. There might be some hiccups in my past, but they were certainly instrumental in making my story of a self-assured, well known and accomplished person that people know me as today.
How do you unwind?
I try to enjoy each minute of the day. To unwind, I read novels and fashion magazines. And most importantly, I love to spend quality time with my family and friends. What’s better than a good dinner with close ones and a backdrop of the Hong Kong bay?
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
I have traveled a lot in South East Asia and the place that mesmerized me the most, among others, is Myanmar. It is a very peaceful place and people are always smiling and welcoming. The landscape is spell bounding including the walk on Inle Lake, it’s so quiet and relaxing (when there are not too many tourists!)
Everyone in business should read this book:
“Becoming” from Michelle Obama is one of my latest read. I first bought it out of curiosity and I got caught up in the story of this little black girl from a middle-class family who became the First Lady of the US. She never forgot where she came from, what she accomplished by her own will, what she became (a brilliant lawyer), without letting go of her humanitarian commitments. She has such a charismatic personality!
Shameless plug for your business:
My French Elegance is a premium bespoke Image and Style consultancy that I established keeping in mind the needs of people to differentiate themselves from the crowd, find their renewed self-confidence yet keeping true to their personality and lifestyle requirements.
We offer highly customized services such as Styling sessions and Image consultations with a ‘French touch’ to men and women like you. We provide personalized Personal Shopping, Style Makeover, Wardrobe assessment, Style Workshops and even Corporate Lunch Workshop sessions!
Interested people can contact us for style consultation, your readers will receive an exclusive offer of free first 30 minutes consultation to discuss their goals and needs in terms of style to best customize a style consultation service that suits them the best.
How can people connect with you?
People can connect with me on Facebook; Instagram; Email; or via my business website contact us page.
People interested to know more about me or my area of expertise may visit my website: www.myfrenchelegance.com
Let’s reveal our best selves!
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This interview is part of the ‘Callum Connect’ series of more than 500 interviews
Callum Laing is an entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore. He has previously started, built and sold half a dozen businesses and is now a Partner at Unity-Group Private Equity and Co-Founder of The Marketing Group PLC. He is the author two best selling books ‘Progressive Partnerships’ and ‘Agglomerate’.
Connect with Callum here:
twitter.com/laingcallum
linkedin.com/in/callumlaing
Download free copies of his books here: www.callumlaing.com
