At Scout & Molly’s, fashion is never just about clothes. For owner Jane Abraham and her daughter, Betsy, style is woven with story, connection, and, like a beautifully curated dinner party, the joy of bringing people together. “When women walk into our stores, we want them to feel like they’re stepping into their best friend’s closet,” Jane says. “Outfits should reflect your personality, and make you feel beautiful. And they have to be comfortable.”
The mother-daughter team operates three boutique locations, Mosaic District, Reston Town Center, and Annapolis Town Center, and each has its own flavor, reflecting the community it serves. Jane and Betsy curate collections that are hyper-local. “Annapolis, with its boating culture and the Naval Academy, gravitates toward vibrant colors and navy-and-white classics. Reston feels a little more polished, with dressier options for its corporate crowd. Mosaic is eclectic and playful,” Jane explains.
That adaptive approach comes from Jane’s rich professional past. Before fashion retail, she was immersed in strategic marketing, government affairs, and nonprofit leadership. She chaired the Congressional Commission for a National Women’s History Museum, served on the Smithsonian’s Advisory Council, and led political and business consulting initiatives. All of that, she says, shaped her boutiques. “When Betsy and I opened our first store, we wanted to build more than a shop, we wanted to build a community.”
A Family Recipe for Style
The idea to go into business together didn’t come fully formed. “We knew we wanted to do something as a mother-daughter team, but we didn’t know where to start,” Jane recalls. A franchise broker introduced them to Scout & Molly’s, and the decision clicked. Unlike many franchises, Scout & Molly’s allowed owners to create their own collections. “That freedom mattered. We wanted to reflect the diversity of our communities rather than following a corporate formula.”
Jane gravitates toward classics; Betsy brings a trendier eye. “I typically choose the more traditional outfits,” Jane laughs. “She likes the trendier ones. Every once in a while, I surprise her and she surprises me. It’s wonderful to be able to do this together.”
You Matter
The brand’s guiding phrase, You Matter, reflects Jane’s values. “The customer is the central focus of the business,” she says. “We want to be sure that our customers find outfits that suit their personality and that make them feel beautiful. When they walk into our store, we hope they feel like they’re part of our family.”
That philosophy naturally extends to philanthropy. When Jane opened her first store in Reston, she immediately sought ways to connect. “I went to other retailers in the community and to my customers to get them involved in philanthropic work. That is how Runway to the Cure was born. Every model who participates is a breast cancer survivor—we say ‘thriver.’ It’s a wonderful way for us to raise money for breast cancer research and support programs to help families.”
The Style Menu
With October’s theme of Food & Drink, Jane makes an easy comparison. “If fashion were a menu, our signature dish would be the liquid leather jacket from Clara Sunwoo,” she says. “They’re thin, washable, they don’t wrinkle, and they come in ten or more colors. They go with everything. I wear one almost every day.”
She also shares her go-to looks for dining out this season:
- Upscale Dinner Date → “You can’t go wrong with a great black dress. Everyone should have at least one.”
- Cozy Weekend Brunch → “Dark denim with a sweater, or a neutral dress with boots and accessories.”
- Business Lunch to Dinner → “A sophisticated wrap dress.”
- Harvest Festival or Vineyard Outing → “Casual jeans with a layered top—or make it more of an occasion with a relaxed dress.”
- Hosting at Home → “A comfortable dress. As a hostess it’s appropriate to dress up, but I don’t want to be more dressed up than my guests.”
This fall, Jane is most excited about rich colors and new textures. “The color of the year is in the chocolate family,” she says. “Chocolate brown and charcoal are really replacing black. We’re also seeing placed florals on sweaters, wide-leg denim and corduroy pants, leopard prints, and a lot of Fair Isle sweaters.”
Accessories play a starring role, too. “We have a very large jewelry selection, especially at Mosaic,” Jane says. “One of our favorite vendors is Think Roland. They have beautiful crossbody bags and totes that make fabulous gifts.”
Dressing the Season
For Jane, fashion, like dining, reflects the moment. “Every season there are new colors,” she says. “This fall we’re seeing rich tans, browns, rust, and maroon. They’re very warm, like the season’s flavors.”
And just as a dinner host sets the table thoughtfully, Jane approaches entertaining with intention. “I want to be comfortable, but a little dressier as the hostess. I don’t want to be fancier than my guests, but I do want to look appropriate.”
Fashion Meets Hospitality
Many of Scout & Molly’s most popular events are modeled after social gatherings. “We love to host fundraisers in the store,” Jane explains. “If a customer has a school or charity they care about, we’ll put a private party together and give a percentage of proceeds. We also offer Girls’ Night Out events—October and November are great months for those. We’ll provide refreshments, discounts, and a special gift for the hostess. We’ve even had brunch events before the store opens. It’s a wonderful way to come together.”
The connection between food, style, and community also plays out in the boutiques’ locations. “We’re really proud to be in three very different lifestyle centers,” Jane says. “They all have wonderful restaurants and vibrant communities. It’s exciting because each store can be a little different.”
More Than a Store
At the heart of it all is the relationship Jane and Betsy share, both with each other and with their customers. “It’s unique to be a mother-daughter ownership team,” Jane says. “We bring different perspectives, and that makes our stores stronger. For us, it’s important to really be part of the community.”
As fall settles in with its palette of rich colors and cozy gatherings, Jane offers simple advice: fashion should feel like you. “We want to make sure you feel beautiful, and that you’re comfortable in what you purchase,” she says. “That’s what Scout & Molly’s is all about.”
“If fashion were a menu, our signature dish would be the liquid leather jacket.”
“Our stores are able to create collections that speak to the customers in those communities.”
“We want our customers to feel like they’re shopping in their best friend’s closet.”