Elegance without pretense
Shopping at Yvonne LaFleur’s namesake store is not an excursion; it is an experience. LaFleur, who opened her shop in 1969, is a trained seamstress and milliner. She offers her own lines of apparel (casual and couture) and carefully handpicks the other items. From the moment you step into the 10,000-square-foot shop, your posture straightens and you’re transported back to a time when refinement was standard. Hats are everywhere, from felt or fur cloches trimmed with feathers to wide-brimmed straw hats adorned with silk flowers.
LaFleur says that the modern Southern lady changes outfits multiple times during the day and has an “after-five wardrobe.” All can be found on LaFleur’s racks and shelves: casual wrap dresses, business suits, beaded evening bags, cashmere capes trimmed in fox, silk stockings, chiffon bodice dresses with jeweled belts and feather skirts, and various styles of gloves displayed in an antique case. From brunch to ball to bridal (there’s a separate boutique in the back), nowhere else will you find dresses appropriate for “Mother of the Queen” or “the King’s Wife.” And if necessary, the store alters everything on-site for free.
Info
Address 8131 Hamson Street, New Orleans, LA 70118, +1 504.866.9666, www.yvonnelafleur.com | Hours Mon–Sat 10am–6pm (Thu open till 8pm)| Tip If you’re looking for some shoes to match your latest Yvonne LaFleur ensemble, Feet First (4122 Magazine St) is a family-owned and operated store, and the city’s largest independent shoe and accessories retailer.
Despite the abundance of elegance, there is not an ounce of pretense to be found. LaFleur’s knowledgeable staff is not only trained in wardrobe design, but also keeps customers’ favorite champagnes and wines on hand. Gentlemen can wait at the fully stocked 72-foot-long bar nestled between the scarves and the gift-wrapping station. All of LaFleur’s wrapping is decorated in violets (as is her signature perfume). LaFleur says that violets represent loyalty, something she not only inspires in her customers (many are third generation) but also demonstrates herself. As fellow designer Coco Chanel once said, “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” She can achieve both at Yvonne LaFleur.
Back
To the online map