MM. LaFleur’s Under-$150 Pieces
Mar 20, 2019
When I discovered MM.LaFleur six years ago, I knew it was going to be big. Stylish, well-made clothing for professional women was a game changer for those of us tired of J.Crew. But the pieces were pricey — worth it — but the kind of “investments” that can strain the budget. So I’m so glad that MM. has been working on more affordable pieces.
MM.LaFleur put together their under-$125 and under-$150 pieces so you can shop them easily. Some of my favorite pieces are on the mid-price side, so I put together my best picks from their more affordable selections. And remember, many of their pieces now come in plus-sizes as well.
Didion Top in Jacks Print ($145)
This flowy, modern blouse is a favorite of mine. Tucked in or left out, it’s a great piece that bridges the gap between relaxed and professional. I like the Jacks print because it’s unique, but subtle.
When mine still fit, I had to resist the temptation to wear my green Emily dress every Friday. It is the perfect business casual dress. The a-line is flattering on many figures, and the sleeve is always appreciated. I just add a colorful necklace or scarf for some pop.
I love the soft cowl-neck on this blouse. Looks amazing under a blazer for work. Pair it with a dramatic skirt and great earrings to wear it to dinner.
I really struggled with this dress when I first saw it in person. It’s shaped like a t-shirt dress, but it comes in a pinstripe fabric that feels more professional. “How do I wear it?” I kept asking myself. Business casual, I’d wear it with pointed-toe flats and a long, open cardigan. Semi-professional, I would wear it under a long collarless jacket like this one.
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I adore the Emily dress in green! So much so that I am trying HARD to resist the temptation to buy it in black and blue too!
I wear my MM LaFleur dresses OFTEN. They are the workhorses of my wardrobe, and 100% of my business trips have at least one in my suitcase (off-session, I get on a plane two Mondays out of four).
They are investment pieces, and I’m going to grab an Emily dress as their A-line is fantastic. I also nabbed a new-with-tags Taylor Dress off of Poshmark just recently, and though it’s a bit roomy and needs some tailoring, I can tell it will be a solid addition.
For those who are asking ‘how do i just look put-together?’ this is your line.
The last year at my bank job I had 5ish MMLF outfits that I just rotated weekly. Unlike a lot of other clothes I bought “for work” they held up like nothing else. And soo comfortable. While they are the most expensive items in my closet by far, it was so worth it. I’ve since moved to a MUCH more casual workplace, but I still wear everything. Just less often. And sometimes with a jean jacket on top.
How short is the Emily dress in real life? On some of the models it looks like it hits about mid-thigh, which being a tall girl would not go over well if I had to bend at all.
I’m 5’7″ and it’s just over my knee.
I wish they’d make tall sizes.
They list some pieces as “tall friendly,” but hopefully, they break into an actual tall range.
I’m wearing my new Emily dress for the first time today. The bottom hem is glued rather than sewn. I wouldn’t have noticed this except that the edge is a little rough and is scratching and marking my tights. Has anyone had this issue? Does the seam soften up with washing? Or am I dealing with a defective Emily here?
I just had a glued hem fall out of one of my Taylor’s after dry cleaning. I emailed them. Haven’t heard back yet.
I was disappointed in the MMLF pop up I went to. I thought the clothing was very expensive for what it was: the dresses were mostly unlined, which I can’t believe at the roughly $250 price point. They also ran a bit dowdy on me, which is probably more about my shape and the way the dresses are cut. I know you’ve raved about them, so I was excited for it, but left feeling sad.
A lot of their dresses are ponte, which isn’t usually lined. Not every style looks good on me, especially not the more modern drapes styles. But I am a solid fan of the Taylor and the Akiko.
A lot of their unlined pieces are machine washable. I joke I’ve broken up with my dry cleaner which reduces my long term cost of ownership.
I’m a huge fan of MM and have VIP status with them due to a closet full of Etsukos (and others). However something about their past few releases has just really not worked for me. I could understand why I had fit troubles while pregnant–they don’t have dedicated maternity dresses, but have a few styles that were bump-friendly and these just didn’t work out for me. However, postpartum, I tried a few dresses and the fit was just SO off, in a way that couldn’t be remedied by sizing up or down (I’ve returned to my pre-baby weight/size). The tops were gaping (despite me having a larger than normal chest due to breastfeeding) but the hips/waist were super snug. Zippers wouldn’t lie flat. Or the dress length was halfway to my ankles (I’m 5’7″) even though it appears to hit at the knee on the model. The “drapey” grecian style dresses looked like sacks, not at all flattering.
Maybe the dresses I tried just weren’t the right style for my body, but I’ve returned everything I’ve tried in the past few orders and have been pretty bummed out by the experience. Also wish they’d bring back the Nisa dress!
I love my Emily but it being unlined means my pantyhose get chewed up every time I wear it. Do you wear a slip underneath, or something else? Or am I the only one with this problem, lol?
I don’t wear hose with mine, so I don’t have this issue. Maybe try a half-slip.