Yvonne LaFleur

Yvonne LaFleur (b. 1947)[1][2] is an American fashion designer, businesswoman and owner-founder of the boutique Yvonne LaFleur; located in the Carrollton Riverbend neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisianna.[3]

Life and career

LaFleur came to New Orleans from San Francisco with her mother, Cecile LaFLeur,[4] when she was four years old.[5][1] They lived with her three aunts, who all worked in elegant fashion department stores; which gave LaFleur an early experience with high class fashion. LaFleur learned how to sew from her grandmother.[2] LaFleur said in 2011 that by the time she was 11, she could make anything without a pattern.[6]

LaFleur attended Cabrini High School[1] and Louisiana State University; where she majored in merchandising and fashion.[2] During her senior year, LaFleur ran a modeling school for a small boutique. She learned to design clothes while living in New York City; and commercial pattern making while working at an atelier in Paris under Maxi Librati.[7] Just months after graduating, LaFleur partnered with entrepreneur Charles Montgomery from Fayette, Mississippi in opening her own boutique on October 15, 1969; then called You Boutique.[7] By 1984, the shop was profitable enough for LeFleur to buyout Montgomery. He later invested in her opening a shop in New York City;[2] where she distributed her designs to 400 stores.[7]

LaFleur's business style grew from being the first to sell women's jeans in the 1960s for $8[8] to offering wedding dresses and bridal gowns, lingerie, debutante and Mardi Grass gowns. She was the first to carry designs called Gunne Sax by Jessica McClintock in 1971.[7] When she premiered her own signature perfume, (which took two years to develop) the boutique changed its name to Yvonne Lafleur on May 1, 1984.[7] The shop offers LaFleur's own creations and designs from the New York factory she owned in the 1970s. LaFleur said in a 2025 interview that about eighty-five percent of the clothes in the store were her own brand, made in the United States.[1] The boutique also specializes in on-location alterations and bespoke orders; something LaFleur learned while working in Paris.[6][2]

Described as a "skilled milliner",[9] LaFleur inherited a collection of hat blocks from her aunt, Alice LaFleur. LaFleur created 200 hats for the 1981 film about Coco Chanel called Chanel Solitaire[9]

Internet popularity

In early 2025, marketing expert Angelique Frizzell[1] convinced LaFleur that she should be on social media. Subsequently, the on-going series of videos and tutorials garnered not only a substantial number of followers across social media platforms;[2] but a direct increase in customer interest and frequency.[1] In an article for Country Magazine, writer Susan Marquez states: "People are planning their vacations to New Orleans just to shop at the store."[1]

Personal life

While traveling between her New Orleans and New York shops, LaFleur met her husband, James C. Walsh.[2][9] Walsh is Joe Namath's attorney. LaFleur and Walsh have seven children.[6] Daughters Mary Jane and Elizabeth work alongside LaFleur in her boutique.[9][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Marquez, Susan (28 July 2025). "The Grand Dame of Southern Style". Country Roads Magazine. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Risher, Jan (22 April 2025). "New Orleans' Yvonne LaFleur is internet sensation at 78: Her approach rings true for new era". The Advocate. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  3. ^ Gibbens, Elizabeth (5 October 2006). "Reclaiming a city, with a new dress". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b Shanfelt, Eric (1 May 2015). "Walsh – Lambert". www.myneworleans.com. Avenue. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Yvonne recounts her first trip to New Orleans as a young girl" on YouTube
  6. ^ a b c Wilkinson, Missy (18 July 2011). "Yvonne LaFleur". The Advocate. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e Shaw, Erin (2 February 2015). "Blue Jeans to Wedding Dresses". Biz New Orleans. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  8. ^ Levitan, Hannah (20 June 2025). "Yvonne LaFleur shares the history of her iconic New Orleans boutique in her own words". NOLA. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d Wicks, Amanda (1 June 2011). "HATS OFF!". New Orleans Magazine. Retrieved 10 August 2025.

See also

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