National womenswear brand M.M.LaFleur opens a new boutique in Philadelphia tomorrow, June 13th. M.M.LaFleur is a New York-based fashion brand that celebrates women through thoughtfully designed clothing, personal styling, and a community of 100,000+ community of purposeful women. The brand is known for their Power Casual styling, which allows women to effortlessly dress for work and their personal life through the same wardrobe.
The 500 square foot store at 1700 Sansom Street in Rittenhouse Row was most recently home to Bella Turka, next to Kismet Bagels and across from the Sofitel Philadelphia. M.M.LaFleur’s additional locations include Bryant Park and Upper West Side in New York, Downtown and Georgetown in Washington D.C., as well as Chicago and Boston.
Founded in 2013 by Sarah LaFleur, a former management consultant, and Miyako Nakamura, the former head designer of Zac Posen, M.M. is known for introducing the concept of Power Casual—clothing that takes women seamlessly from work to life. M.M.LaFleur is a proud sponsor of the WNBA team The New York Liberty. M.M.LaFleur also donates 10% of its profits every year to organizations focused on gender equality, such as Bottomless Closet, The Girl Scouts, and The International Rescue Committee. At the heart of the company is the belief that when women succeed, the world becomes a better place.
M.M.LaFleur first tested the Philadelphia market with a pop-up boutique in the Shops at Liberty Place, from 2018-2019.
“Philadelphia is one of my favorite cities, not least because I have family here. It’s also a phenomenal food city (no trip is complete without a trip to K’Far) and incredibly stylish (hello, Joan Shepp and Boyds!). Many of our local customers work in academia or healthcare, and I love the way so many of them appreciate great style and practicality, in equal parts. They want clothes that are effortless (machine-washable and wrinkle-resistant) all while saying ‘listen to me’—and that’s what we do best,” said Sarah LaFleur, Founder and CEO.
“For years we have said that the streets around Walnut would be alluring and would make the concept of Rittenhouse Row as a commercial neighborhood—rather than just one section of a high street, come to fruition. This opening is significant in illustrating the total vibrancy of Rittenhouse Row, throughout the entire neighborhood,” said Corie Moskow, Executive Director of Rittenhouse Row.
“The M.M.LaFleur brand is totally on point for the design sensibility of the Philadelphia woman. Polished, modern, tailored clothing, that is elegant and easy to care for, and versatile to wear, is very much in line with the consumer habits of the professional Philadelphia woman. She will invest in quality and practical, timeless pieces, wants a high level of service, and appreciates the company’s commitment to giving back. This is a smart company, marketing to a smart consumer, and is a perfect addition to the neighborhood” said Brittany Goldberg, Executive Vice President of MSC.
When Miyako and her design team create a piece of clothing, they make sure it encompasses three things: functional details (think: adjustable hems and bra-strap holders); comfort (and not just comfortable-for-a-blazer comfort—they strive for I-could-nap-in-this comfort); and style—so you can be the most chic, polished person in every room you enter.
M.M.LaFleur strives to minimize their environmental impact and maximize their positive impact on the global community. Through thoughtful design and responsible sourcing, the company that treads lightly on the earth while activating their community to advocate for and support gender equality. When women succeed, the world is a better place.
Customers can shop online or in stores, where they can make an appointment with a stylist or shop on their own. Customers can also work with a stylist virtually through their Bento or Virtual Appointment experiences. M.M.’s award-winning digital magazine, The M Dash, offers readers everything from wardrobe advice, career tips, and interviews to reflections on the realities of being a working woman today.
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