One Blazer, Styled for Five Different Cities

See how M.M.LaFleur stylists across the country wear and pair the O’Hara blazer.

M.M.LaFleur’s new May collection is here and includes styles like stretchy barrel-leg jeans, a dreamy travel dress, and the most flattering cotton tank top of all time.

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As M.M.LaFleur’s director of retail, one of the best parts of my job is visiting our stores, and in the process, observing how our stylists are getting dressed in creative new ways. Each team has its own approach to styling that’s informed by the climate and lifestyle of their city, whether we’re talking NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, or D.C. I continue to be fascinated by how this local flair comes to life through the framework of M.M. pieces—such as the O’Hara blazer.

This slightly oversized, double-breasted jacket is a personal favorite of mine (I currently own it in four colors!) and a staple for many M.M. fans, so I was curious to learn how our stylists recommend keeping this longtime favorite feeling fresh. Scroll to read about my findings.

New York

Here’s me wearing the O’Hara blazer, Leslie tee, and Milo jean.

As I chat with customers at our Bryant Park store, the one thing everyone has in common is the need for their outfits to take them from day to night. And sometimes that’s not just office to drinks. I’ve found myself going from the office, to a client event, to dinner with friends, and then drinks. The NYC team recently styled me in the Everyday Crepe O’Hara blazer, the black Leslie tee, and the bright ivory Milo jeans, and this has been my go-to outfit for busy days ever since. Sometimes, I swap the Leslie for a slightly more elevated underpinning like the Sabine. The O’Hara is my variable piece on these days. I throw it on when I have meetings in the office, but remove it when I’m out for drinks for a less formal look.

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Boston

Boston stylist Ashli wearing the O’Hara blazer, Jett tank, and Milo jean.

Ease is the name of the game in Boston. Machine-washability is so important to many customers in this city, and thankfully, the O’Hara blazer in Everyday Crepe can be tossed in the wash—a rare feat when it comes to structured jackets! Our Newbury Street store sales supervisor, Ashli, loves to style this blazer with a wide-leg bottom and frequently convinces even petite clients to try this silhouette. When I’m visiting, she always reminds me that, although I’m 5’2”, I don’t need to wear a more fitted bottom to balance out the boxy fit of the jacket. Instead, she encourages me to “embrace oversized” and try a subtly wide-leg style like the Milo jean. This combination has become one of my favorite silhouettes and is impressively elongating!

Philadelphia

Philadelphia stylist Tiarah wearing the O’Hara blazer, Larissa sweater, Filomina shirt, and Harrison jean.

Similar to Boston, our Philly team isn’t afraid to style the O’Hara blazer with bottoms that have a bit more volume. I’ve also noticed that our local stylists like to mix formalities and often style the blazer with a less formal bottom like a culotte. Our Philadelphia store manager, Tiarah, leads by example, styling the O’Hara with one of our most voluminous pants, the new Harrison jean, once again proving that petites can pull off even dramatically wide-leg styles. Tiarah and I are both 5’2”, and she’s shown me that the volume on volume formula definitely works on a petite frame.

D.C.

D.C. stylist Mariama wearing the O’Hara blazer, Kit sweater, Clemens shirt, and Bia pant.

While there are customers who have a bit more wiggle room with their work wardrobes, most of our D.C. customers are looking for a formal look. Mariama, a stylist at our Georgetown store, has created a layered look by styling the Kit sweater over the Clemens shirt, which is perfect for customers with a business casual dress code. Adding the O’Hara blazer on top brings the look up in formality and shows that layering can help you move between dress codes with ease.

Chicago

Chicago stylist Savanna wearing the O’Hara blazer, Filomina shirt, Sonny tank, Tessa trouser, Carter slide, and Everly belt.

If you’ve ever been to The Windy City, you know it can go from blustery to balmy in a matter of hours, meaning layering is crucial. With a prominent “smart casual” default dress code, Chicago calls for versatile jackets, and the O’Hara blazer fits the bill. Savanna, our Chicago store manager, likes to layer hers to create looks that are dynamic both functionally and stylistically. She told me that, as of late, she likes to incorporate texture by way of interesting knits and color in the form of “fun” trousers and reports that her comfort-minded customers have been following suit this spring.

Looking for new ways to wear your O’Hara blazer? Book an appointment to work with a stylist at one of our eight stores, and you’ll get personalized recommendations tailored to your needs and lifestyle. We believe your session will be the most efficient shopping experience of your life—we'll even pay you to try one! For a limited time, we’re giving you $50 off your next in-appointment purchase, so now is the perfect time to give it a shot.