Tired of Trends? Buy These Future Heirlooms Instead
Featuring 14 ways to wear them right now.
Months ago, I had the opportunity to try on samples from our new luxury line, M.M.LaFleur Black Label. Immediately, I knew I had to write a story about this special assortment. Composed of seven styles (with more coming soon!), this A-list lineup unifies luxury fabrics, timeless silhouettes, and best-in-class craftsmanship to form high-quality classics that will never cycle out of fashion. Depending on your personal style, you might see them as fairly pared down—and you definitely can’t appreciate their quality from the confines of your computer screen—but that’s the point. These designs are future heirlooms, not current trends; and they’re best enjoyed on your body, not in your Instagram feed.
Being the crème de la crème, these pieces are naturally a bit pricier than your average M.M. item, but rest assured: Wear them to their full potential, and you’ll achieve an undeniably efficient cost per wear. (Cost per wear = the cost of an item in your wardrobe ÷ the total number of times you’ll wear it.)
I’m happy to tell you that our Black Label styles are just as versatile as they are timeless—just as much wardrobe workhorses as they are artful investment pieces. To demonstrate their range, I put together several looks for each, according to three distinct formalities: work, weekend/casual, and special occasion. Scroll to see all 14 outfits.
Note: The great thing about outwear is that it doesn’t need to be styled, so I omitted the Calista and Viola coats from this story. You can wear these layers everyday throughout a season, resulting in some of the best costs per wear in your entire wardrobe.
Shop all the looks from this story here.
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Item #1
The Kerri Skirt
Our double-face wool is the very embodiment of quiet luxury. Each piece is created using a labor-intensive, highly specialized process that involves weaving two pieces of fabric together, so there is no “back” of the fabric; and the 100% wool-cashmere blend makes them cloud-soft and cozy. Understated elegance meets a delicious handfeel—and the vibe of an extremely well-dressed woman on the Upper East Side. Check out the dramatic Viola or the charming Calista if you’re in the market for your next classic coat, and go for the Kerri skirt if you’re looking to elevate your cold-weather wardrobe.
For Work: Tuck the turtleneck Jett tank into the Kerri skirt for an elongating base, and layer the O’Hara blazer on top. In place of a more tailored jacket, the O’Hara’s “boyfriend”-style shape balances out your formal-leaning skirt and keeps the silhouette fresh. Add coordinating camel shoes to complete the look.
For Weekend: An instant way to dress down more formal styles? Add sneakers and an oversized cotton sweater.
For Special Occasions: For a work dinner or holiday party, swap in a silky top with sculptural sleeves and a pair of heels with an interesting twist.
Item #2
The Percy Top
Let’s set the record straight: Jersey is a synthetic fabric, but that does not mean it’s any less luxurious than its natural-fiber peers. High-quality synthetic materials are uniquely functional and durable, and when they come from Italy, you can be confident they’re the best of the best (in case you haven’t heard, they know what they’re doing over there). What makes our Italian Jersey styles Black-Label-worthy? Not only are they buttery smooth and meticulously fit, but this fabric is some of the best on the market. Take the Percy, for instance, which feels like a pajama top but features elegant gathering at the waist to complement your shape.
For Work: Tuck the Percy top into a pair of trousers, then add your favorite jacket. Here, I played up its vibrant Grenache hue with other personality-packed pairings including my plaid O’Hara blazer, swingy Zhou culottes, and patent loafers.
For Weekend: Lose the jacket and swap your work pants for a pair of chinos like my new favorite, the super-soft and secretly stretchy Abby pant.
For Special Occasions: I wear pants at any chance I get, so I styled the Percy with silk pants (similar). If you prefer a dress-like silhouette, try tucking it into the matching Misty skirt.
Item #3
The Misty Skirt
The substantial hand feel of our Italian Jersey pieces makes them drapey rather than clingy, which the Misty skirt illustrates beautifully. Thanks to its flowing silhouette and covert pull-on waistband, it’s elegant and easy all at once. In black, there’s no end to its styling possibilities.
For Work: Pair the Misty skirt with your favorite blazer and tall boots (similar) for a fashion-forward shape that’s loose without overwhelming your frame. Here, I layered my amaro Sabine top underneath for a pop of color.
For Weekend: Casual-ify your skirt with off-duty-coded essentials like a denim shirt and a baseball cap. Classic loafers make the look polished and on-trend.
For Special Occasions: A silk charmeuse button-down and strappy heels transform the Misty skirt into an evening-ready ensemble.
Item #4
The Emmett Dress
We’ve all heard of the LBD, but a fantastic black wrap dress, such as the Emmett, is another workhorse that belongs in everyone’s closet—chic, comfortable, spill-proof, and versatile.
For Work: Style the Emmett dress with low pumps and gold hoops for a go-to business casual outfit.
For Weekend: Lace up your sneakers to lean into your dress’s movement-friendly qualities.
For Special Occasions: Accessories with metallic heels and glitzy earrings for some sparkle and shine.
Item #5
The Ciela Dress
Italian Jersey’s slight stretch and liquid-like drape make it an ideal fabric for a curve-complementing dress. Featuring pleats that fan out from the side seam and wrap around the bodice, the Ciela dress is a breathtaking silhouette that can function as a professional power-dress or a special-occasion statement, depending on how you style it.
For Work: Style the Ciela dress with classic pumps for a traditional business-formal outfit or with tall boots (similar) and a duster-length coat for a bit of edge.
For Special Occasions: The Ciela dress is more formal, so I wouldn’t wear it for your average weekend activity, but I encourage you to don it for a fancy date night in addition to all of your holiday soirées. Silver or gold heels and festive jewelry will do the trick.
Shop all the looks from this story here.