Kara Allan

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 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.

Kara has just been hired to be part of Stacy London’s (of TLC’s What Not To Wear fashion makeover show) new venture, Style For Hire, a national styling firm. Eventually she hopes to build “a state of the art studio like Project Runway’s Tim Gunn’s, where I can have a 3D machine that measures clients exactly for perfect fittings.”

Kara Allan & Associates, LLC is a full service Style Concierge that caters to upscale individuals, groups, and corporations. Kara provides an unforgettable experience that allows people to achieve their image goals. Kara delivers VIP treatment with an unmatched level of customer service. Looking current, stylish and polished is essential for everyone today!