Reilly Rewritten

It was a cold January day, and it was eerily quiet — the air still heavy with smoke. Confusion and sadness sat heavily in a Southern California city. One of its residents, celebrity stylist Maeve Reilly, felt a piece of this weight. It was in the wake of the Palisades fires that burned through a residential area of the Santa Monica Mountains earlier this year. The blaze was catastrophic and left countless without homes, including Reilly.

After losing her home and possessions to the fire, 38-year-old Reilly, owner of The Only Agency, spent the next few months slowly rebuilding her life and her closet. It was a gradual rebirth for her wardrobe, as the famous stylist prided herself on having options to fit the mood — part of what made her work so contagious. She admitted that it was her draw to all things bright and sexy, along with her fascination to cover up and somewhat hide, that made fashion always feel interesting to her. “I love that about clothes — it really is expressive of where you are in that moment,” Reilly confided.

For years, Reilly has been one of Hollywood’s most magnetic stylists. Reminiscent of a young Rachel Zoe, her signature edge for reimagining menswear for women exudes luxury and refinement, while reading laidback and effortlessly cool. Boasting celebrity clients like Hailey Bieber, Winnie Harlow, Ciara, and Megan Fox, she continues to make her mark and etch her unique personality into the hearts of the ultra-chic. Her tempting combinations — like texture teases of leather and silk — offer an element of undeniable curiosity, which is all part of her intentional approach.

Just seven months prior to the fires, Reilly exchanged vows with Beverly Hills realtor Zach Quittman in an intimate June ceremony at the Palm Heights boutique hotel in Grand Cayman. The aftermath of the fires in early January could have easily halted their honeymoon phase, but the couple managed to strengthen their bond. Reilly admitted that it was the kindness of those around them that made the journey back to normalcy more bearable, and the warmth offered by those in the community was deeply felt by them both.

The loss of her L.A. home caused a shift in Reilly’s attitude toward not only her client’s needs but the buying strategy behind her own personal wardrobe — one she admits was subtle yet still worthwhile. “I switched to spending more on real investment pieces, things that are going to stand the test of time,” Reilly said. This caused a turn away from fleeting trends and perhaps a more optimistic outlook on life in general. “I’m trying to stay in a place of gratitude for what we do have.”

Reilly has a track record for working her way from the ground up. In 2005, she was accepted into the business school at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology and naturally sought out an outlet for deepening her studies. At 18, she interned for a television show on the Hallmark Channel, where she assisted the wardrobe department with errands and styling. “I completely fell in love with it on my very first day on set,” Reilly said. She ended up staying in the role for two years and eventually connected with a famous celebrity stylist. “From then on, I just sort of chased after it.”

Some of her favorite recent styling projects include her work with Eva Longoria, the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, and prepping Coco Jones for her first Met Gala, noting the buzz of excitement around the R&B musician’s first glamorous event. “It was such a major moment, and it’s a real opportunity to play dress-up,” Reilly said. “You know, it’s kind of like our Super Bowl.”

Earlier this year, Reilly started a podcast called “The Inside Edit,” which chronicles the clothing journey for the creative spirit and how she uses fashion and style as self-expression —to reflect the inner world with more precision. She claims that clothing becomes a means of storytelling, interpreting how we want to show up and who we want to be.

In her first episode, Reilly reflected on the challenges she faced growing up as a highly sensitive empath and learning how to evolve in her own skin. She shared her vulnerability and hardship while weaving in the importance of expression as a stylist. “Our insides matter just as much as our outsides,” Reilly said.

At 14, Reilly got her first tattoo, and she’s been expressing herself with body art ever since. Drawn to the delicate precision of single-needle work, she gives her artists full creative freedom, from her fingers to her feet. Her ink roster includes Dr. Woo, Mr. K, and longtime friend Alex Miller, who etched one of her favorites: “Love is the hardest drug I’ve ever tried.” A decade ago, she walked into Beverly Hills’ legendary Shamrock Social Club asking for a neck tattoo. When the artist hesitated, owner Mark Mahoney stepped in: “She can have whatever she wants.” She got it — “Lover” — and it remains close to her heart even today.

These days, she says she’s a pretty “simple gal.” If she’s not at an event or a gala, she’s usually dressing for comfort in a pair of soft-to-the-touch vintage Levi’s with a relaxed tee or sweater. She completes her look with a leather jacket or a blazer and a pair of loafers or sneakers. She swears by SKIMS pajamas and The Local Love Club for perfectly-fitted loungewear.

When it comes to styling her clients, she has one goal. “I think the most important thing for me is making these women feel like themselves,” Reilly said. “I’m helping them bring out the best version of them, helping them feel confident, and telling the story that they want to tell and not tell the story that, you know, I want to tell.”

This year, Reilly rose through ruin, both in her approach toward business and in her personal ideals. Hardship reshaped her creative power, refining it through her tattoos, her podcast, and in the intentionality she brings to her clients. Most importantly, she continues to express through fashion, making more women feel closer to themselves. “I just love getting to do that,” she said. “It’s really my love language.”