The official dress code for the event was “festive business attire,” and going into the styling appointment, Jess and Emily had similar goals for their outfits: They wanted to look confident, powerful, and professional—but they also wanted to feel like the creatives that they are. “I didn’t want to feel like I was wearing a costume,” explains Emily. “I wanted to feel like the best-dressed version of myself—professional, yet fun.” 

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the opportunity to have our business featured at the event was such an honor,” adds Jess. “So I wanted to end up with a look that stood out but wouldn’t overpower me.”

Before each M.M. appointment, our stylists review the client’s styling survey answers and, if the client has shopped with us before, their order history to inform the pieces they pull. This appointment was no different. “From my research, I knew that Jess was fun, vibrant, and lighthearted, and I wanted to go into the fitting room with that in mind,” says Medinah. “My goal in every styling appointment is to make sure the client leaves with something that reflects who she truly is.”

Medinah’s calculations turned out to be spot-on. “I knew I wanted to wear a suit, and I feel most comfortable in professional settings in pants—but that’s not something I had expressed before the appointment,” says Jess. “Somehow, Medinah knew to pull suiting for me. There were moments of flowy-ness, like with the symphony-print blouse, which has a beautiful softness and playfulness, but the other pieces she picked were quite structured. I really loved that.”

In contrast, Emily prefers dresses. “She had seen the peacock print right when she walked in and immediately liked it, and the Nene dress ended up being perfect,” says Julia. “I love that it shows off the classic aspects of M.M., but also reflects the modern updates we’ve been introducing, like washable silk. When it’s paired with the Sant Ambroeus jardigan in latte, you get to see how our newest pieces and our long-time core styles can go together. I think both of the outfits we ended up with really beautifully represent Power Casual. In Jess’s outfit, Medinah took the pull-on Allyn pant, which has a more casual silhouette, and turned it into a power suit with the Janette blazer. And for Emily’s look, I went with a flowy dress that will stay comfortable throughout the entire event and looks really great.”

In any appointment, one of our stylists’ most important jobs is to ensure that their clients feel comfortable and cared for. “It’s a vulnerable thing, deciding what you’re going to wear every day,” says Julia. “Having a professional help you is really nice.”

“I’ve been wearing M.M. for literally a decade now, and in those 10 years I have spanned six different sizes.” says Emily. “And to have an important event come up, especially post-pandemic, I really didn’t know what was going to work for my body in terms of cut or size. Coming to the showroom and working with a stylist is a much more enjoyable experience than getting a bunch of stuff shipped to my apartment and then realizing that I picked the wrong size, or that I kind of like something, but the fabric doesn’t work for my body. As someone who changes size, shopping in person is so key to making sure that I have a positive experience when trying on clothes.”

Our stylists are also able to make super-personalized recommendations based on your fit preferences when you shop in person with them. “I usually have such trouble with the length of pants, and I’m always concerned that when I buy things, I’m going to have to tailor them,” explains Jess. “But the Allyn pants hit perfectly at my ankle, exactly where I wanted them to hit, and because she could see me in the pants, Medinah knew the exact heels that would elongate my legs.”

Plus, seeing clothes in person can give you the confidence to try something that might be a step or two outside of your comfort zone, “As much as I love the electric blue color, I don’t know that I would’ve had the confidence to buy it online,” says Jess. “But when I got to try it on in person, I realized how good it looked. If I hadn’t gone to the showroom, I probably would’ve gone with something a little safer.”

Our stylists find that they do their best work when they get to be face-to-face with clients. “The showroom experience provides an intimacy that you just can’t get online,” says Medinah. “During the appointment, I learned so much about what Jess did and didn’t like just from her facial expressions.” 

The other benefit of in-person shopping is that you get to understand the fit and feel of the fabrics in a way no computer screen could ever convey. “M.M.’s fabrics are just so luxurious and wonderful, and you can only really experience that in person,” says Emily.

The right outfit does more than make you look good. It can also give you confidence in unfamiliar situations. “Leading up to the event, I wasn’t nervous, because I knew exactly what I was going to wear,” says Jess. “I knew I’d feel 100% confident. The sense of readiness I felt was such a weight lifted from my shoulders.” 

“I was filled with nerves to meet Dr. Biden but none of them revolved around how I looked,” says Emily. “I felt like we were the best-dressed people in the room. I was also able to spot some other M.M. outfits at the event, like the Aditi dress.” 

So what was it like meeting Dr. Biden? Jess describes it as “a rush of emotions.” “I have such pride that a business I built was featured at an event for the First Lady, and meeting Dr. Biden was an honor I’ll never forget,” she says. “Having found the right outfit in advance made me feel so much more comfortable, and I’m genuinely grateful that I was able to work with a stylist.” Emily adds, “I was so proud to represent Palermo Body while wearing M.M.LaFleur—two New York-based, women-owned and -run businesses that are close to my heart.”