Meet Kara Allan

Kara Allan is a leading Personal Stylist and Image Consultant with over 20 years of experience helping clients transform their style, mindset, and confidence. Based in Washington, D.C., she works with entrepreneurs, professionals, and busy individuals who want to feel effortlessly polished but don’t have the time or expertise to curate a wardrobe that supports their lifestyle.

Trained under Stacy London—former Vogue editor and star of What Not to Wear—as well as Carla Mathis, one of only 20 Certified Image Masters worldwide, Kara has honed her ability to craft personalized, intuitive styling experiences that go beyond just putting outfits together.

While she has styled Hollywood’s elite, including Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio, bestselling author and entrepreneur Jesse Itzler, and DC United goalie Bill Hamid, her true passion lies in working with everyday people—helping them navigate body confidence, weight fluctuations, and style insecurities to rediscover their self-love and the joy of getting dressed.

She doesn’t just tell you what to wear clothes— she collaborate with you to create a signature style that aligns with your energy, personality, and aspirations. Whether you’re elevating your professional presence, redefining your personal style, or simply craving a wardrobe that makes you feel amazing every day, she helps you build a functional, stylish, and confidence-boosting wardrobe.

With her expertise, you’ll develop a personal or professional brand that reflects your highest selfpolished, powerful, and authentically you.

💖 Ready to transform your wardrobe—and your confidence? Let’s get started! ✨

Kara Allan ❤ Celebrity Stylist & Personal Brand Image Consultant in the Northern, Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland area 9da07819-4724-4174-849f-bb647020b44c Meet Kara

Kara's Style Journey

From Tomboy to Transformational Stylist


I wasn’t always the polished style expert I am today. My love for fashion began at age 12, but growing up, I was more tomboy than trendsetter. It wasn’t until I discovered the power of clothing—not just as fabric, but as a tool for confidence, transformation, and self-expression—that I truly found my calling.

For the past 20 years, I’ve dedicated my career to helping people step into their highest selves through style. As the founder of Style by Kara Allan, based in Fairfax, Virginia, I offer personal styling, beauty, and interior services—all designed to create alignment between your wardrobe, lifestyle, and personal brand.

The Evolution of a Stylist

My journey started in retail, image consulting, and styling for high-profile clients, including celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio. However, while I enjoy working with well-known figures, my true passion lies in helping everyday people—entrepreneurs, professionals, and busy individuals—who don’t have the time or expertise to curate a wardrobe that works for their lifestyle.

Many of my clients struggle with weight fluctuations, body image, or simply feeling lost when it comes to their style. I understand that styling isn’t just about what you wear—it’s about how you feel in your clothes. That’s why I approach my work holistically, blending expert styling with mindset shifts to help my clients rediscover their self-love, confidence, and the joy of getting dressed.

Kara's Style Journey

It’s an unlikely road she took 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 “Style Goddess” is now a Style and Image Expert of LifeStyle by Kara Allan, her busy, 20- year-old image consulting business based in Fairfax, Virginia. The company specializes in style, beauty, and interiors.

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 be herself, but a little more glamorous. As a teenager, jobs at the local mall helped her focus on her emerging passion…. fashion. While working at stores like Express, Petite Sophisticate, and Ann Taylor, she tuned into and translated trends in fashion and style to “help people represent themselves, and not just 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 expand her own company.

Now, Kara works with clients such as CEO’s, corporate professionals, lawyers, actors, entrepreneurs, former military personnel, and others who are “fashionably challenged.” Style by Kara Allan provides services such as personal shopping, closet organization and editing, wardrobe styling, color consultation, and body shape analysis. Also provide interior decoration, group shopping trips, serving as a Wing Woman, couples styling, interview styling, and corporate image consulting. Her team consists of makeup artists, hair stylists, and fashion stylists.

Kara was a stylist with Stacy London’s (of TLC’s What Not to Wear, and Love, Lust or Run) new venture, Style for Hire, a national styling firm for several years, and was personally vetted personally by London. Kara also styled for the magazine I Am Modern and DC Life Magazine.com. She’s emceed several fashion shows, judged A Cities of America Teen Pageant, Project FundWay, The Fashionista’s Brunch at Saks Fifth Avenue, and Macy’s Inaugural Fashion show at Metro Center. In 2011, Kara was a Glambassador for Glamour magazine and in 2012 became a Style Ambassador for Bazaar Magazine. She also styles local fashion shows such as Walk this Way for Becky’s Fund, Luke’s Wings and Crystal Couture. In April 2012, she walked in the Fashion for Paws Runway show for the second year where she raised over $5,600 in support of the Washington Humane Society and this April she raised over $3000. Kara added Celebrity Makeup Artist to her portfolio in 2014 Oscar Award Winner when she groomed Leonardo DiCaprio for his speech to the State Department on Ocean Conservation.

In 2015, Kara served as a Personal Shopper Expert in the $3 Billion Lawsuit between White Flint Mall and Lord & Taylor. In January 2016 Kara spoke at the Periscope Summit in San Francisco on the Personal Branding panel along with Alex Khan, Alex Butler, AnnaLee Belle, and Paija Hudson.

Style by Kara Allan, LLC is a full-service Style and Image Consulting Firm that caters to individuals, groups, and corporations. The mission of the company is to inspire and educate clients about how great they can look and feel in their clothes. Clients are provided VIP treatment with an unmatched level of customer service.

Kara Allan ❤ Celebrity Stylist & Personal Brand Image Consultant in the Northern, Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland area Me_Tana-1 Meet Kara

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Kara Allan ❤ Celebrity Stylist & Personal Brand Image Consultant in the Northern, Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland area Kara_2021 Meet Kara

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“Kara has a special talent for bringing out the best in people. She has an intuitive understanding of her clients’ needs and helps them achieve their goals with her expertise and compassion.”

Susan Taylor
CEO

“Kara is more than just a stylist, she’s a personal coach and motivator. Her positive energy and attention to detail transformed my look and gave me the confidence I needed to succeed.”

Mark Johnson
CEO

“Kara’s keen eye and exceptional taste made my photoshoot unforgettable. She has a talent for accentuating my best features and bringing out my inner beauty. I’m so grateful for her talent and creativity.”

Emily Davis
Model

“Kara’s brand and style consulting services were exactly what I needed to take my business to the next level. She helped me define my personal brand and gave me the tools and knowledge to succeed in the competitive world of fashion.”

Lauren Brown
Fashion Designer

“I never thought I would enjoy a beauty and makeup session as much as I did with Kara. She made the experience fun and enjoyable and left me feeling beautiful and confident.”

Sarah Johnson
Actress

“Kara is a true professional and expert in her field. Her style and brand consulting services were exactly what I needed to take my business to the next level. I can’t thank her enough for her help.”

Mike Green
Business Owner

“Kara’s beauty and makeup services are truly exceptional. She has a natural talent for accentuating her clients’ best features and bringing out their inner beauty. I would recommend her to anyone looking to feel and look their best.”

Jane Smith
Social Media Influencer

“Kara has a special talent for transforming people’s lives. She helped me define my personal style and gave me the confidence to succeed in both my professional and personal life.”

Tom Davis
Entrepreneur

“Kara is not just a stylist, she’s a friend. Her compassion and understanding of my needs made the styling experience enjoyable and personalized. I can’t wait to work with her again.”

Maria Rodriguez
Stay-at-Home Mom

“Kara’s corporate image consulting services transformed my professional life. Her attention to detail and understanding of my personal brand helped me secure the job of my dreams. I’m so grateful for her help.”

David Lee
Marketing Manager