‘Preppy with a Twist’ has arrived on Farmington Avenue in West Hartford Center.

By Ronni Newton

J.McLaughlin opened its doors at 981 Farmington Ave. on Friday morning, and just a few hours later Manager Julia McLaughlin was already feeling the happy buzz of a sunny and busy summer day in West Hartford Center.

“I was born basically in the stores,” said McLaughlin, who is the daughter of one of the two brothers who founded the brand on the Upper East Side of New York City in 1977. She knows the business well and has already fallen in love with West Hartford.

This is the company’s 83rd store, and McLaughlin thinks it’s ideal. “We try to cater to smaller towns with main streets,” she said, and the Farmington Avenue’s 900-square-foot space, now painted bright turquoise, is the norm. They’ve had an eye on West Hartford for years, she said, and although J.McLaughlin formerly had an outlet store in Avon, this is the first retail location in the Hartford area. Other Connecticut locations are New Canaan, Greenwich, Southport, and Washington Depot.

“We want to find the perfect locations. There’s such a buzz in West Hartford, with a lot happening. We’re excited about all the restaurants,” said McLaughlin. She likes West Hartford so much that she and her fiancé  have even moved to town.

J.McLaughlin sells only their own brand, and offers a selection of bags and accessories in addition to clothing. “It’s all classic and timeless – ‘preppy with a twist’ for clients of all ages,” said associate Melinda Kingsbury. All products are manufactured in company-owned factories in Brooklyn, NY or China.

Most of the J.McLaughlin styles are “wash and wear,” and most are fabricated from one of the company’s signature cloths. “Catalina Cloth” is a nylon/spandex blend and “Bainbridge Cloth” is a rayon/nylon/spandex blend – great fabrics for travel, McLaughlin said.

“We also get lots of compliments on our cotton/modal knits,” said Kingsbury. The brand pays attention to even the smallest details, she said, with touches like beautiful buttons including some made of shell.

Right now the West Hartford store is featuring transitional clothing, but has some summery items in stock. There are also some great leather bags and sailcloth weekenders. “We can monogram everything,” said McLaughlin, who showed off a sailcloth bag with West Hartford’s “06107” zipcode on it.

Fall will feature more cashmere and leather items.

J.McLaughlin has both a women’s (sizes 0-14) and a men’s line, but the West Hartford store only showcases women’s styles – for now. McLaughlin said that men can always place orders, and depending on customer preferences a men’s section may eventually be added.

McLaughlin said the company has a strong philosophy of giving back to the community. They offer a program called “Sip & Shop” – a private shopping experience, including libations, where 15 percent of all purchases are donated to a chosen charity or organization.

McLaughlin said she has already walked around the Center, trying to meet other merchants. “We’re really looking forward to getting involved in the community,” she said.

J.McLaughlin is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.jmclaughlin.com.

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