Check Out Alicia Rau’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Rau.

Alicia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Since I was young there was no question that fashion was my strong suit. My mom and grandmother were both incredible seamstresses and encouraged me to be creative. I received my first sewing machine for Christmas at age 6 and that started it all. Halloween was my outlet, there were no boundaries to the costumes we would make.

Having a solid foundation, upon graduating high school I decided to pursue my dream. Armed with an arsenal of formal gown designs, I was accepted into the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and I moved to Los Angeles. This part of my story doesn’t go the way you think, though. The next decade consisted of abusive relationships, alcoholism, and overcoming heartbreaking traumas mostly inflicted by myself. If you had asked me about my dream job then, without a doubt I still would have responded with fashion design. At that time never did I think that was achievable.

At 27 I got sober, met my husband, and did all the “normal” things society praises. I still didn’t feel complete. It wasn’t until the passing of my grandfather in 2017 that I took a deep look inward. Being no stranger to darkness I vowed to take my pain and make it beautiful. With my past to guide me, I realized the only thing holding me back from accomplishing adding the title of the designer to my resume was myself. Just like that, Bête Noire was born.

Since opening in 2018, we have achieved many milestones including grossing 6 figures, designing for notable clients, and gaining 98k followers across 3 social media platforms. When I tell my story I always like to remind people that no matter your current path – you can never truly abandon your divine purpose.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been smooth overall, but we’ve had our detours. One of the biggest challenges has been having the courage to stay authentic to myself and my vision in an industry that isn’t always accepting. Growing up in a biracial family, Bête Noire was founded on inclusion and diversity. I’ve found those who remain true to themselves and values have a harder time getting mainstream opportunities.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Bête Noire specializes in a high-quality and upscale dark fashion. We are known for our avant-garde couture gowns and accessories. Clients often contact me searching for someone to understand and support their vision. I love making the “impossible” come to life. We also produce clothing for other brands. Our line “Glam Goth – fabrique Par Bête Noire” dropped last month exclusively at Glam Goth Beauty. We sold out within the first 3 weeks and received rave reviews. I think all of these elements truly set us apart from the others.

We all have different ways of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
To me, success is possessing the courage to show up as your authentic self and maintaining gratitude even when life doesn’t go the way you planned.

Pricing:

• Off-the-rack wedding gowns range from $149-$2000.
• Couture/custom design wedding gowns start at $1800 and go up based on difficulty.
• Accessories range from $40-$180.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shopbetenoire.com
• Instagram: @betenoireshop
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/betenoireshop
• Tiktok: @betenoireshop

Image Credits
Mackenzie Lenora Photography, Whiskey Shotz Photography, and Michael Anthony Photography