A B O U T T H E I M A G E D
I R E C T O R
It’s
an unlikely road from tomboy to one of Metro Washington,
DC’s most fashionably dressed women, but Kara Allan has
made the journey. A young girl who loved building forts
and climbing trees, the “fabulous fashionista” is now Image
Director of Kara Allan and Associates, LLC, her busy, eight-year-old
image consulting business based in Fairfax, Virginia. The
company specializes in servicing upscale clients with fashion
and beauty services, and acts as a style concierge.
At twelve, Kara decided that she didn’t want her mother
to dress her anymore and she became interested in trying
on various looks, experimenting with makeup and saw how
the transformation enabled her to actually become someone
different. As a teenager, jobs at the local mall helped
her focus on her emerging passion….fashion. While working
at Express she keyed into and translated trends, fashion
and style to “help people represent themselves, not just
to push clothes on them.” While working on her marketing
degree, she helped fellow classmates select job-hunting
outfits to prepare for professional interviews.
After getting married, having children, and re-entering
the job market with a stint in the unstylish field of law,
Allan found her passionate love of fashion had not ceased.
So, after getting laid off twice, she happened to read a
piece in The Washington Post about Darlene Mathis, a local
Image Consultant, and the emerging business of Image Consulting,
she was hooked. After receiving her First Level Certification
with the industry’s exclusive trade association, the Association
of Image Consultants International, and advanced training
at Body Beautiful Institute with Certified Image Master
Carla Mathis, plus experience with both MAC Cosmetics and
Christian Dior as a makeup artist, she was ready to launch
her own company.
Now, Kara services VIP clients such as CEO’s, corporate
professionals, lawyers, actors, entrepreneurs, former military
personnel and others who are “fashion-challenged.” Kara
Allan and Associates provides services such as personal
shopping, closet organization, wardrobe styling, color consultation
and body shape analysis, custom clothing for men and women,
group shopping trips, couples styling, interview dressing
and corporate image consulting. Her team consists of makeup
artists, clothing, shoe and jewelry designers, hair stylists,
manicurists, custom shape wear services and bridal beauty
services.
Our mission is to inspire and educate our clients about
how great they can look and feel in their clothes. We aspire
to live out our purpose in Christ and express Him by using
our abilities and talents to assist others to be their best
and have positive interactions with those we come into contact
with.
Kara
Allan & Associates, LLC. is a collaboration between
Kara and various other style professionals. Visit our partner's
page to learn more.
Call
us 703-344-7345 or email at Kara@KaraAllan.com
T
E S T I M O N I A L S
I
pride myself at being the best at what I do because I change
my client's lives for the better. But don't just take my
word for it; listen to what they have to say.
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Working
with Kara is like being mentored by the big sister that
I never had. Kara offered me invaluable insight during a
big transition in my career. Her consultations were always
encouraging and informative. I have many interests, and
Kara understands my goals and passions without judgement.
Kara is more like a life coach to me than a fashion consultant.
She was patient (and understanding) as she encouraged me
to get rid of unworn clothes that I'd been dragging around
and holding on to for years. The best part of the process
is that she worked with my budget. Kara helped me to create
a unique package that fit my needs and my pocket! By combining
elements from different packages, she worked with me to
develop a custom plan that was effective and affordable.
We set up a shopping schedule and payment plan that gave
me time to build the capital that I needed. Kara fit my
needs perfectly! I look forward to a lifelong relationship
with Kara as I continue to focus progress and refine myself
as a professional.
My
business partner and I had Kara prepare us for our business
photo shoot. She had just started an alliance with our photographer,
Elizabeth Linares, and we were intrigued with the possibilities.
Kara listened to our preferences and created a "look"
that reflected our personalities in the best light! The
photo shoot was a great success. She helped us look our
best without looking artificial. I would highly recommend
her services for business or pleasure!
Gloria
B - Reston, VA
Real Estate Agent
Kara is a wonderful consultant who works in a very personable
and professional manner. Prior to our meeting, she did a
lot of research for what I would be looking for and came
prepared and ready. She was very flexible on the meeting
date and time and went out of her way to provide me with
a service I appreciated. I would recommend Kara as a professional
who can help other busy professionals tremendously! Thanks
Kara, I look forward to working with you again soon!
Veronica
I - Maryland
VBP OutSourcing, Inc
Kara transformed my wardrobe and my attitude about clothes.
She gave me an education about how to dress for my personality
and body type. I have received countless compliments about
my new look. I would highly recommend Kara to anyone who
wants to look great!
Mark
A - Manassas, VA
Northrop Grumman
It
was a pleasure working with Kara Allan and her partner Jessica
(Hair Stylist) for my wedding day. I received many compliments
on their work. They were easy to work with and had a flexible
schedule. Also I learned so much about makeup and being
a woman in business. Not only do I recommend her for wedding
services, but also for her other services as well. I look
forward to working with her again in some of her other services.
Abby
C - Alexandria, VA
Bride
I
hired Kara to assist me with developing and honing a style
for my work wardrobe. This is not my strong suit and although
I knew I wanted help, I was not sure what sort of help I
needed or even how to begin going about it. Kara was fantastic;
she worked with me at my pace and helped me figure out what
style I was looking to achieve. She was very knowledgeable
when shopping with me, telling me why certain color, cuts,
materials, and accessories looked good on me.
She
helped me meet my goal of stepping up my work wardrobe,
including finding certain outfits for an upcoming business
trip. She also helped me clean out my existing wardrobe
and determine what items I needed to add (boots, a black
bag, etc.) to transition my wardrobe from summer to fall.
Not only was she helpful during our sessions but also I
have been sticking to her guidance while out shopping by
myself. Overall, it was a great investment not only for
my career but also for me personally.
Rebecca
M. - Reston, VA
Attorney
Unlike most women, I do not enjoy shopping! Nothing seemed
to fit right and I felt frumpy in a lot of my clothes. But
after my shopping trip with you, I feel more confident about
finding styles that fit my body best, how to accentuate
the positive and down play the not so positive. I love the
clothes and so does my boyfriend, Manny. He also really
likes the green faux wrap dress. Thank you so much. She
picked great clothes. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on
them. I also went on to order more clothes online from the
great website she gave me.My
co-workers are even starting to ask where I buy some of
my clothes. That has never happened! But the icing on the
cake is the great haircut I got from the salon you recommended.
Please pass my thanks on to Erica for the great job she
did with the cut and color. I had been in a hairstyle rut
for 16 years and overnight the new hairdo changed everything.
People say I look younger and that the cut updates my style.
I am forever grateful for everything.
Andrea
S - Alexandria, VA
"Kara
is awesome! She came to my home and worked with me to narrow
down my (ever so growing) closet to what "is"
and "is not" important. After aking a good look
at me, she politely and professionally explained how I gravitated
to "safe" colors that did not complement my style
at all. She pointed out the colors I should focus on and
what to stay away from. Let me tell you that lesson alone
has done wonders for me and I get complements all the time!
But that's not all,...next she taught me the very valuable
lesson of only purchasing and keeping items in your closet
that you either love or like a lot. Nothing else! Easy enough
you may think as you read this. No, it's not...not at all.
Lastly, she pointed out what my best physical attributes
were and taught e how properly play them up by purchasing
clothes to complement those attributes not hide them. Kara,
Thank you for your help! You Rock!!"
Michele
- FL
Real Estate Agent
"A
few weeks after my 30-something birthday, I decided that
I wanted to launch a new event design company. I knew that
my image was a key element to my success in that industry,
so I went online in search of a stylist. Fortunately for
me, I came across Kara Allan. Working with Kara has completely
changed my iews on fashion, style, and my personal image.
From
our intital meeting, to her critique of my closet, to our
shopping excursions, I have been overwhelmed with Kara's
attentiveness, professionalism and knowledge. Not only do
I feel my personal best whenever I am wearing one of the
outfits that she put together for me, but I always get tons
of compliments. Kara is a phenom--and she is a permanent
member of my glam squad!"
Stefanie
M - Upper Marlboro, MD
Kara is very good. I think the key words I would use to
describe her would be: dependable, confident, and driven.
She is customer oriented and works very closely with you
to get the best results. I am still working with her and
I have referred at least four of my friends to them. I found
Kara through her website and it has been a great experience."
Mia
C - Sterling, VA
I used Kara to shop for clothes for a head-shot I needed
as an actor. She did really well with matching colors and
making the outfits work. I found Kara while researching
image consultants on the web prior to the shoot. I originally
called another woman, at the time I was 23, and she referred
me to Kara saying that they worked with all ages but were
apt to younger audiences. So I went to the website and called.
I have referred her to one of my other friends, who was
in the market for help before a shoot too."
Tony
R - Washington DC
Actor
So, you've just turned 30 and things are finally looking
up - so why do you still keep dressing like a 20 year old?
Time to call Kara Allan! When I turned 30 last year, I decided
to celebrate by kicking it up a notch for my career and
personal style. I called Kara and she immediately got to
work, not only was she a great personal stylist, but I would
dare to say she's a great style coach, too! I picked a 2-hour
shopping package and met her at Tyson's on a Sunday afternoon.
When I got there, I'd found that she had gone to several
stores ahead of me and picked out a massive amount of outfits!
It was great - she picked out different cuts that I normally
wouldn't try, but they worked! And she's not forceful, if
you don't like it, she'll find something else. All in all,
I had a great birthday experience and feel better about
my career style overall. If you want to either kick it up
a notch, buy an outfit for a special event or need a MAC
makeup artist for your wedding, give Kara a call, she'll
help you get it done, and done well. (Gentleman, aside from
the MAC stuff, that includes you, too!)
Aisha
J - Bowie, Maryland
The experience was wonderful. I had just turned 40 and needed
to do something just for myself. For years, all my extra
money had gone to bills and my child. Finally, I was in
a position financially to relax and do something for me.
Turning 40 is definitely a turning point in a woman's life.
The experience left me feeling rejuvenated and excited about
myself and my looks. Shopping became an enjoyable experience
for the first time in my life. I learned a lot about my
body type and the styles and colors that flatter me the
most. I will never forget this experience and recommend
it to all. It's something I should have done years ago.
Thanks Kara and Connie (I love my new hairdo too!)
Sandy
S -Alexandria, VA
