When Courtenay Bullock opened her English Village women’s boutique, Lé Weekend, she had one goal: to make every woman wearing her clothes feel like they were stepping into the weekend, no matter the day of the week. With the shop’s curated selection of clothing and accessories and a range of personal styling services, Lé Weekend offers Birmingham an infusion of New York City style, which the Birmingham native brought home with her after a stint in the Big Apple. Read more about this Birmingham boutique’s offerings and signature look!
Meet Courtenay Bullock, the creative mind behind Lé Weekend, a women’s clothing store in Birmingham’s English Village.
Tell us about the journey of developing Lé Weekend, including how and why you chose your location in English Village.
After I got married, my husband and I moved to New York City. He was in accounting, so I spent most of my Saturdays during his busy season walking down Madison Avenue on the Upper East Side and popping into all the shops. I loved walking through specialty stores like The Westside and the best of the best department stores like Barneys, experiencing their customer service and seeing the lines they offered.
I worked in wholesale during my time in NYC, and when we moved back to Birmingham, I truly didn’t know what I was going to do. I had a lot of downtime during the pandemic to figure out exactly how I wanted to bring those New York experiences to Birmingham.
When picking a location, I knew I wanted to be in one of the quintessential villages of Mountain Brook. And I have always been drawn to the charm of English Village! It felt up and coming, with a lot of different entrepreneurs looking to start their businesses here as well, so it seemed like perfect timing.
At Lé Weekend, clients can find stylish and classic pieces for every occasion.
Describe Lé Weekend in three words.
Approachable, timeless, and hopefully, fun!
Beyond your retail boutique, Lé Weekend also provides styling services. Can you describe the range of available offerings?
We found a huge need for styling services when our clients would come in and shop for certain events or just everyday life. Most people are willing to invest in a nicer piece of clothing if they know how to style it in multiple ways. So that’s how we created The Closet Edit! We have styled clients for The Scout Guide and other magazine features, as well as events that they are attending. But our favorite and most popular option is everyday styling.
I firmly believe in loving what you wear every day. Even if it is the simplest thing in your closet, it’s important to feel confident throughout your day.
What trends are you most excited about for the coming months?
When we go to market appointments in NYC, our brands always show the latest and greatest pieces for the upcoming season. It shocks us every time that designers can continue to reinvent the wheel. We try to choose pieces that are timeless and not necessarily trendy. Fall 2023 is filled with classic pieces that will last in your closet for seasons to come. Investment pieces are always our favorite trend!
Lé Weekend brings a unique NYC-inspired shopping experience and atmosphere to Birmingham. Image: Lé Weekend
What has been your greatest challenge as a small business owner?
Work-life balance. Ha! I love our clients and want to be present as much as possible, but I have to take breaks. That was the hardest thing for me to realize.
What are your current favorite sources of inspiration?
I adore traveling with my husband. It refreshes my soul in so many ways! It can be a quick trip to 30A, a weekend getaway to New York, or a longer trip to London or Paris. I always come back feeling so inspired and reenergized.
What are your favorite places to eat, drink, and shop in Birmingham?
We love to bring our friends here. We live in such a vibrant city filled with so many amazing entrepreneurs. It’s not always great for my wallet, but I love having so many things at my fingertips.
To eat, anything Frank Stitt, of course! But I also frequent 2nd Ave North: El Barrio, Bamboo, East West, Lé Fresca … so many amazing options! And I cannot forget about Slim’s Pizzeria in Crestline Village. Our new neighbor in English Village, Key Circle Commons, has become our go-to for after-work drinks.
For jewelry, I will always love Etc. For all things home, Details by Liz Woods, Home with Hechart, Alkmy, and Amano. These places make it easy to keep my party closet fully stocked.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, and from whom?
Before opening the store, my dad, who owns Harrison Limited in Mountain Brook Village, told me to stay in my lane and I’ll be fine. I think it’s so true! Know who you are and what you bring to the table, and don’t worry about what the other lanes are doing.
And, our final lightning round of questions:
Last delicious meal: Hot Honey Pizza from Slim’s Pizzeria
Last book you read: Verity by Colleen Hoover
Go-to birthday gift (to give): A good coffee table book
Favorite vacation destination: Rosemary Beach if we’re driving, London if we’re flying
Three things you can’t live without: Sheets, shoes, and skincare. I like to call them “the three S’s to invest in.”
All photography is provided by Scout Guide Birmingham and Caroline Bramlett Photography unless noted otherwise.
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