Brooklyn's Preppy J.McLaughlin Opens Huge New Connecticut Store

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New Yorkers know J. McLaughlin for its tiny, preppy stores on the Upper East Side and in Brooklyn Heights. But in Westport, Connecticut, the chain has opened a store that's five times the size of the typical McLaughlin space.

The 5,500-square-foot shop is organized like a bazaar, with stalls based on themes like resortwear and nautical gear. This "street of shops" concept lets merchandisers have fun with details—in one area, for example, the brightly patterned Catalina tee sits surrounded by equally busy wallpaper swathes. It also lets the brand experiment with different kinds of merchandise, including an urban line that WWD describes as "modern, clean, [and] toned-down," words that don't usually apply to McLaughlin's cheerfully deranged, too-much-gin-at-the-regatta aesthetic.
· J.McLaughlin’s New Flexible Store Model [WWD, subscription req'd]
· J. McLaughlin [Official Site]