I've worked with Monica for the past year, and she has completely changed the way I approach my…read morewardrobe and personal style. I'm a man in my mid-30s in a people-facing leadership role, which means I'm regularly in front of a wide variety of stakeholders. When I started working with Monica, I felt like I had fallen into a uniform: slacks, a shirt, and a blazer for work, and jeans and a button-down for a date night. Everything was perfectly fine, but getting dressed felt more utilitarian than personal, and I wanted to expand my style without feeling like I was wearing someone else's clothes. What I've appreciated most about working with Monica is that she didn't simply tell me what to buy. Through quarterly closet audits, we've gone through what I already own, put together specific outfits I wouldn't have thought of myself, and identified the actual gaps in my wardrobe. Over time, that process has helped me develop a much clearer sense of my own style and given me the confidence to move outside of my usual comfort zone. A year later, I have far more variety in what I wear for both work and my personal life, but more importantly, my clothes feel much more like a reflection of my personality. Getting dressed has become something I actually enjoy rather than just another part of my morning routine. I'd especially recommend Monica to someone who feels uninspired by getting dressed every day or has a closet full of perfectly good clothes but still finds themselves reaching for the same few combinations. Her service is about much more than shopping, it's about figuring out how you want to present yourself and then building a wardrobe that actually reflects that. For someone in a visible, people-facing role, that has been incredibly valuable.

I hired Monica because I was facing major transitions in my professional and personal life, and my…read morestyle didn't align with the path I was on. Monica certainly helped align both so that new opportunities became available to me, and I appeared confident in every room I showed up in.  With Monica's guidance, I learned to be more intentional about my outfit choices, to create a strategic framework for my purchases, and to find balance between the clothes that I wear professionally and socially. Prior to working with her, I had too many clothing options and nothing ever seemed quite right. She helped me realize that by making purchases based on (many) singular events, I wasn't giving myself the mental or physical space (in my closet) to see what I actually had and how I could use it in multiple ways. She fundamentally changed how I shop for clothes!  Lastly, the "emergency styling service" was an absolute lifesaver when I was tasked to interview a well-known author on a massive stage. We had less than 3 days to find something, and Monica worked her magic by going to the store, finding the perfect pieces, and having the established relationships to get the suit fully tailored in less than 24 hours. I appeared at Capitol One Hall in Tysons looking like I was already in my next career, and I will forever be so grateful for that moment and the spark she helped me to find.

I love Elizabeth! She is the owner of Bayou Muse. She does shopping trips as well as closet…read moreconsultations. She is such a joy to work with and she is in luuuuuuuv with clothes! She will treat your clothes like they are priceless gems! I hired Elizabeth for a closet consultation. She spent several hours with me putting together full outfits straight from my closet. She took pictures of each outfit so I would have a reference in the future. In one session, she created 37 "NEW to me" outfits. She is very creative and keeps up with the latest fashions. She then gave me a iist of items that I needed and it was quite a short list. This is a great service because it saves you money over the long run.I thought I needed an entirely new wardrobe but really I had everything I needed in my closet already. She also does shopping trips and will do group trips as well. I cannot remember the exact cost for the closet consultation but I want to say $300. Also, if you host a consultation at your home for your friends where they watch your closet get made over, she typically gives a discount.

Elizabeth was instrumental in my Facebook Interview in SF last August. She not only had a super…read morefast response time via text message but made me feel confident in that way that I knew I had the interview. Didn't even care if I took the job. I felt empowered and so ready. She is amazing beyond words, easy to work with and lovely like our own personal Grace Kelly who can shop in our nations capital. Can't say enough good things and all the times she has helped all my fashion emergencies in past 5 years and counting. 5 stars and 10 thumbs Up for our Bayou Muse aka Pennington Style Diva!!

I can't say enough about my experience with Kelley. She was beyond great! I signed up for a 4…read morehour personal shopping session with her. I had really high hopes for the shopping trip but a lot of reservations. My wardrobe lacked interest and style and I wanted to have clothes that I liked, but I worried that I would feel pressure to buy things I didn't love or wouldn't end up feeling comfortable wearing. I tried on tons of clothes and Kelley was a true professional. She would wait for my reaction and let me decide for myself. If I wasn't sure, she would honestly give her opinion. Some times she would just say it looks nice, but not great and our goal is to find things that are great. Or the fit is really nice, but the color is very drab and it's not working with my skin tone. Some things were great (the brown leather dress that fit like a glove) and she went out of her way to give me ideas on how to dress it up or down. But at the end of trying everything on, she let me decide what I wanted and didn't try to influence me unless I asked for her opinion. The brown dress was amazing and I wish I would have been able to happily buy it, but I knew it would end up sitting in my closet because I would be too intimidated to wear it. So I didn't get it and that was okay. I also really liked that when we went into a store, we would walk around together and pick out things that I liked then she would walk around and pick out things she thought I should try on. It was nice because we would start with the things I picked out then she would push me outside of my comfort zone gradually instead of just throwing my into the deep end right away. I ended up with two pair of jeans and a bright yellow top and a grey sweater that I wouldn't have even considered trying on, but those are my favorite items now. Kelley was also really good at being honest about the value of the purchases. A great pair of jeans is worth the money, but spending $90 on a gold bracelet that you can get at any accessory store is a waste of money. As I was driving home after the trip, I wondered if I would really like my new clothes when I tried them on again. Buyer's remorse is a common feeling for me after a frustrating day of shopping. I usually spend hours pouring through racks and eventually buy something because it fits but not because I like it then I go home grumpy and add it to my collection of boring clothes. The day after my shopping trip with Kelley, I put on my new skinny jeans and asymmetrical sweater and got tons of compliments at work. I went home and tried on the grey sweater with a black long sleeve t-shirt, my new purple skinny jeans, black knee high boots and a drapey necklace like Kelley had suggested and all of a sudden the purple jeans and grey sweater with no sleeves that I thought were so weird looked amazing. I can't wait for the weekend so I can actually wear the outfit. Not only am I happy with everything I bought, the things I was most hesitant about are my favorite things now. I would highly recommend Kelley to anyone who is looking for a style transformation. I can't wait until I can save up a little more money and sign up for another shopping trip with her. Self esteem and confidence are worth every penny!

Kelley provided her styling services for my birthday trip to Sonoma, CA. Her services were…read moreoutstanding, she took time to learn of my exact plans, down to researching each event spot to see what appropriate style/outfits would be for the occasion. She brought more than enough options for me to identify core pieces for my trip and got me outside of my "box" of what I would normally choose when shopping for myself. And, she nailed the sizes, nothing needed to be altered, etc. She was also very instrumental in handling any returns of any items that were not purchased, and followed through until all returns/refunds were processed. I would highly recommend her services and look forward to working with her again! Thank you!!

Ali is AMAZING! Working with her was truly one of the most enriching, joyful and…read moreconfidence-building experiences I've had in my 35 years! While I was initially somewhat self-conscious about deciding to work with a stylist, Ali's natural warmth, ease and confidence on our first intro zoom call immediately put me at ease. From there, she made every part of the process - from coming over to see my not-very-fashionable closet to curating a ThredUp board for me to giving me feedback on various new outfits - feel comfortable, fun and joyful. Throughout the process, I felt like I was hanging out with one of my best friends who just happened to be extremely fashion savvy! Perhaps what surprised and delighted me the most about working with Ali is that in addition to sharing her immense style wisdom, she was really invested in understanding who I am as a person and then finding ways to translate my essential nature into my clothes (which is not something I would have even thought was possible and definitely wouldn't have known how to do on my own). It was so much fun to discover new ways to express myself via clothes and I've been having a blast putting together new outfits ever since we worked together. I also appreciated what a great teacher Ali is. Rather than just selecting clothes for me, she taught me every step of the way why she was doing what she was doing, and how I could apply this knowledge on my own (e.g. how to figure out what your colors are, why certain lines work better than others, what kinds of elements to incorporate into each outfit, etc). As a result, I feel way more confident now putting together outfits for myself, as well as more discerning about what types of clothes to even search for in the first place. It also felt great to learn how to shop secondhand without sacrificing quality - if anything, I felt like the pieces we found were higher quality than what I would normally buy! I truly cannot say enough good things about Ali and her services. I have been recommending her to all my friends and family and am excited for anyone else who has the good fortune to work with her!

TLDR: I cannot recommend Ali and her services enough. Not only is she extremely fun and personable,…read morebut she's given me confidence in refining and creating a much more cohesive look and the ability to shop more consciously. I'm now able to shop on my own to find better quality pieces that compliment me--rather than end up in a landfill because I decide three months later I don't like it or it's falling apart at the seams. More context: I met Ali when she gave a free presentation at our local library and I knew I wanted to work with her. I decided to invest in her butterfly effect package as I turn 40 this year and scheduled a photo shoot to celebrate myself--and wanted the outfits I picked to reflect a true, confident me. Attached are a few photos of me wearing outfits Ali and I found using what she taught me. I only wish I found Ali sooner! She taught me so much--about the best color palette for me, how to extend my vertical line with an almond toe (vs round) shoe and how I was missing out on accentuating my small waist by choosing a mid rise vs high rise pant. She taught me that pant sizes aren't consistent which is why shopping for them is so difficult and that I was missing out by only looking at "size X"--I went up two sizes and found great high waisted pants at Current that I love. I've also been using ThredUp--a secondhand clothes app--for years. My online shopping session with Ali equipped me to find better, higher quality items using filters for certain types of fabrics and more. With the tips she's taught me, I can also now go to a secondhand clothing store in person and easily sift through and find what works and doesn't. I don't waste time on colors that don't work for me and I'm much more conscious of fabrics and trying to avoid synthetics--not only because they are bad for the environment, but because they don't last. Please consider investing in yourself and the planet! Buying clothes that don't work for you or give you confidence will only hurt your wallet and wind up in a landfill. Ali will teach you how to find a compelling look that completes you!

For those of you who've spent years cramming yourself into whatever approximation of your size you…read morecould find at a department store, a place like this is genuinely life-changing. Regular fittings aren't a luxury -- they're a necessity -- and stores willing to take the time to actually help you (and know what they are doing) are few and far between. When you're not a standard size, shopping for bras is basically a part-time job with no benefits. So when you find a store that actually gets it, you are winning. And you will never purchase a bra in a box ever again. Alexandra and Janiyah were an absolute dream team. What started as a straightforward fitting turned into something closer to amusement. These ladies are pros. Janiyah knew exactly what she was doing and Alexandra kept materializing out of thin air with another bra every 30 seconds -- like a mystical Bra Fairy. The team kept the whole thing feeling fun and completely unpressured. And their bras are gorgeous. Thirty minutes. In and out. Properly fitted. Laughing the whole way through. If you've been putting this off, consider this your sign. Ask for Alexandra and Janiyah. Prepare to be visited by the Bra Fairy and leave a happier person - the twins will thank you .

TL; DR: immediately yes, come here and treat yourself! Stephanie is lovely! 10/10 new bra store…read morebecause a major retailer could never!!! I needed to find a strapless bra that would fit under a satin sleek off the should dress same day and Stephanie came through!!! I came here after rushing to another store in silver spring that closed hours earlier than they said they would when I called and talked to someone. Le Bustiere Boutique in Bethesda is nestled in between an alley and another store, but the inside 100% gives the vibe of boutique versus strip mall. They hung a few bras on the wall and then their dressing room is tucked away in the back with an adorable mural of different breasts with an affirmative saying in neon pink lighting. I use a special calculator (a bra that fits) to help determine my size and when I went Stephanie measured me exactly to that measurement. I was shocked because that never happens and it really helped me feel even more confident about my purchase. I was able to get my strapless bra and a new everyday t shirt bra. It's a French brand and I haven't ever had something feel like it's not there when I wear it. 10/10 really like this place and will be back without a doubt. If you're reading this then please just go, don't even hesitate.

Pricey but if you are looking for something original and not cookie cutter department store garb,…read moreit may be worth the extra dollars. The people that work there are genuinely kind. No attitudes just because they sell expensive merchandise.

Wear it Well is a special place mainly for the women who run and work there. Located in the heart…read moreof downtown Bethesda, this store offers middle to high-end brands in casual and work lines. Plenty of Michael Stars, 525 America Sweaters, and some other more unusual very unique boutique lines. A small store with extremely well-selected inventory. But the highlight of Wear it Well, which I feel is best for women 30 and up, is the longtime owners and employees. I walked in today, told them I wanted to toss my wardrobe out the window, and they proceeded (not overselling, not oversolicitously) to help me come up with some great ideas, good combinations, and a host of things I wouldn't have picked out b/c I'm stuck in my own dull clothing groove. They really worked with me to ensure that I found some special things, and I don't think I'll toss the clothes I bought out the window with the others b/c they do push my proverbial envelope. That's what I needed. When the economy hits hard...and even when it doesn't...I make an extra effort to shop locally. Wear it Well is the kind of carefully merchandised, very well-run boutique that will earn your loyalty. Before you drive to the mall, walk down the street and visit these great gals. Watch out...they talked me into buying an absurdly expensive belt even though I don't wear belts. You know, I think it will become one of my favorite purchases ever! Plus, it's so pricey, I'm going to wear it to sleep every night no matter what.

4.4.26 This retailer…read moreat Edmonston Crossing offers a wide range of apparel, including tops, dresses, activewear, pants, shoes, handbags, and accessories. The store is thoughtfully organized by item, size, and color, with a few front racks highlighting recognizable brands like Lilly Pulitzer, Free People, and Lululemon. I tried on two tops, but unfortunately neither was flattering on me. Consider signing up for their loyalty program to stay informed about promotions and earn rewards.

Friendly staff, but I'm not a big fan of the selection here. They also have a very dry social media…read morepresence, and I think they could learn from the one in Ellicott City so customers know what to expect and can shop more efficiently. Just a suggestion! Overall, it was still a great experience because the staff was very friendly.

This is my favorite customer clothier I have ever used. Rachel is very knowledgeable and crafts the…read moreperfect outfits for all of my life events! She makes it really easy not to have to worry about what I am going to have to wear next all while making everything fit like a glove!

From the owner: Luxury shopping and styling services for men and women. We bring the shopping experience to you at…read moreyour home complete with styling and at home tailoring. Also available by appointment for closet edits and men's custom clothing.