Years ago, before I had an inkling of my desire to open an independent bookstore, I worked at a business school in New York. The office dress code was professional. It was all suit jackets for the men or—at its most casual—fleece vests over button downs. For the women, there wasn’t quite the same work uniform. It wasn’t difficult to decide on what to wear each day, per se, it just took more effort than I had left in me. I was in grad school at night at the time, commuting and working and studying and generally feeling exhausted. The last thing I wanted to worry about was feeling confident in my office wear.

It was then that I first discovered M.M.LaFleur. I bought their Moreland jacket and their Colby pant. I loved how comfortable and polished the clothes were, how wrinkle free and washable. They were comfy while still being put together. The best way to describe their style, I think, is the term the company coined: “Power Casual.”