smarty pants
Popular online retailer's Houston pop-up shop in the works for 2019
When the pop-up shop for MM LaFleur opened last October in Houston’s Decorative Center on Woodway, the label was already a must-have for professional women who wanted to bring feminine style and boardroom chic to their wardrobes.
Now, in advance of the company’s CEO coming to Houston January 8 and 9, the brand says it’s expecting to expand the Houston pop-up this year. On her trip to the Bayou City, founder and CEO Sarah LaFleur will be doing a series of private events with media, influencers, and select customers. But those missing out on a private meet-and-greet or those wanting to see what the buzz is about can set up appointments at the shop.
LaFleur launched her eponymous label 2013 with a single, simple goal: help women harness the power of self-presentation, and to rethink the shopping process altogether. She saw boutique clothing line as an antidote to the boring, cookie-cutter pantsuits that filled her own closet from her days in finance.
She teamed up with Miyako Nakamura, the former head designer of Zac Posen, who signed on as creative director and designed the collection. Ever since, the label has become one of the most sought-after for professional women. With the label’s feminine lines and tailored looks, MM LaFleur’s dresses, tops and pants allow women to bring elegance and polish to their professional appearance.
MM LaFleur’s concept combines exquisite style with exceptional customer service. Customers make an appointment with a stylist, who has a series of wardrobe selections available for try-on as part of a personal consultation. When customers select items they want, those are shipped directly to their home or office from MM LaFleur’s warehouse.
“The Houston woman loves to shop, in general,” says LaFleur. “Our customers [here] come from a wide range of industries from school principals, to oil and gas executives, but they know value when they see it — and they appreciate high quality fabrics and flattering silhouettes.”
LaFleur says that Houston one of the brand’s highly requested markets for a pop-up and the city has embraced it since its arrival. She says that pop-ups typically run for 12 months, although it looks like LaFleur will be expanding that here in H-Town, although it’s yet to be determined if that means extending the length of the current shop or opening one in a different Houston location.
As she prepares for her visit to Houston, LaFleur is offering some intel on the upcoming spring collection. Central to its theme: revitalizing pants. Any women who’s ever been in a dressing room knows how hard it is to find a perfectly tailored pair of pants, no matter what her body type. But MM LaFleur’s new line offers a thoughtfully edited selection to flatter a variety of sizes.
“Beyond pants, we’re offering an entirely new category of workwear: the professional woman’s answer to athleisure,” says LaFleur. “Our goal has always been to help women ‘live with purpose and dress with ease,’ and this new category will take that concept to the next level.”
The brand is debuting pieces combining its signature tailoring with increased function, performance, and movement. LaFleur says it’s more than an extension of the collection — it’s an entirely new category of womenswear, and the brand is excited to lead the charge.
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The MM LaFleur pop-up shop runs Tuesday, January 8 and Wednesday, January 9 at the Decorative Arts Center, 5120 Woodway Dr., Suite 700. To book an appointment, call 346-320-2753 or visit the website.
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