Women IN Business
e n n o v Y LaF leur
by Sue Strachan
36
IF IT IS SATURDAY, you will find Yvonne LaFleur at her eponymous boutique, just like you would for the past 40 or so years. “Saturday is the world’s shopping day,” she says. And LaFleur wouldn’t miss it for anything. LaFleur and her store are also ready for customers the other five days (Monday to Friday) of the week. Prom and high-school graduation dresses are at the ready for this time of year, while gowns for Carnival balls are still showing off their prismatic hues to be perused for future formal events and mother-of-the-bride attire. The bridal selection fills one room literally floor-to-ceiling, while lingerie, costume jewelry, gloves, casual and work attire, and adornments for hair — including her custom-made hats — are thoughtfully placed throughout the almost 10,000-square-foot space. Located in the Riverbend section of Uptown New Orleans, LaFleur’s store is a reminder of when shopping for clothing and accessories was an experience beyond
I n side N ew Orl ean s
browsing fashion websites and Instagram influencers, or popping into the mall to see what is on sale. “It is my pleasure. It is my home,” she says about welcoming her dedicated fans from all over the world who come for the selection and her attention to detail. And to experience shopping, LaFleur style. LaFleur arrived in New Orleans as a 4-year-old with her mother, traveling from San Francisco on the train, the Sunset Limited. She was surrounded by aunts involved in fashion, and immersed herself in New Orleans shops, from antiques stores to boutiques to local department stores, such as Godchaux’s. She began sewing which continued through her high school years at Cabrini High School. It was Sister Frances Xavier Cabrini, the school’s namesake, who was the inspiration for the store’s signature flower — the violet. Violets highlight the store’s black carpet which was designed years ago by New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson, also an interior designer.
photos: JEFF STROUT
The Woman Who Gave New Orleans Its Fashion Groove — And Continues To Do So
