J McLaughlin

Awful… it has nothing to do with race. I’m about as white and WASP as is born. I promised never to go back to this store; in fact, ALL of the JMc stores have snippy, snooty staff, I only shop online and on sale — ugh. Not enough space to waste on the numerous incidents. Each time I’ve exited, I’ve sworn I would call Corporate and complain. If the clothes were not so elegant and easy to wear, travel in, etc., I’d forego the label.

Never in my life have I been treated with such disdain from people working at a clothing store. Yes I was wearing yoga pants with a Burberry jacket and no makeup… but I was on my way home from the gym and I’ve been studying for the bar. So please forgive me for not putting on my black tie attire to enjoy a little retail therapy.
First, the staff did not even acknowledge me when I walked in. Fine. I’m going through the sale racks when this older lady walks in and ALL of the staff members literally fall over all themselves to greet her and direct her straight to the sales.
Second, I decide to pay for a shirt. As I hand my card to the girl behind the register, she slides my card and waits. Probably 2 seconds go by and an older shop keeper lady comes up behind her and proceeds to pick up my credit card and INSPECT it like she’s never seen anything but a Black card in her life. At this point I cannot believe this is happening so I ask «I’m sorry is something wrong?»
To which the older shop keeper lady stammers out «uh no I was uh just trying to uh expedite the uhhh process.» (Again I had been standing there for 2 seconds. There wasn’t much of a «process to expedite.») And I pay my bills. I know my credit card is going to work.
If you’re in desperate need for a J McLaughlin dress… save your time and dignity and go to the Bethesda store or shop online.
Better yet… go to my new favorite preppy store The Lucky Knot in Alexandria. They have a great selection and the salespeople are actually friendly.
Seriously the staff here should get over themselves. You’re not Chanel.

Unless you’re white, your money ain’t right.
This store has so much potential. Most of the time, I find something suitable or even ideal– which it would have to be, to justify these prices. This is not an inexpensive store.
Last year, I wanted a wide belt for a certain dress. I went to several stores in Georgetown (and a Nordstrom in California) looking for one. I ended up buying one belt at H+M, two belts at that Nordstrom and finally, a belt at J McLaughlin. The J McLaughlin belt cost double what the other three totaled *combined*. That’s right. For the price of the J Mc item, I could have purchased SIX belts from both an admittedly cheap chic joint AND an upscale department store. I don’t usually splurge like that, but I’m glad I did. Out of the four, only the J Mc accessory got noticed or complimented. So it’s worth it, for the perfect piece, yes?
No.
No, no, no.
If you want to get a sense of what it was like to be live in the pre-​civil rights South, then by all means go to this boutique. I, however, have had it. I don’t mean to sound crass, but there was no reason for the employees of this store to assume that I couldn’t afford their wares– I was carrying a rare handbag from Paris, to go with all of the other upscale aspects of my outfit, all of which signaled someone with money to burn or at the very least, someone who was more into shopping than saving for retirement.
I received ultra-​snide treatment from the staff, as did my sister, who was wearing even more outrageous gear. Listen, you faux-​WASP heaux, she’s wearing Manolos. That means she can afford your preppy shit.
They treated her even worse than they did me.
And then, when an African American gentleman wandered in and made polite chit chat before asking for the price of a leather bag, their disdain actually increased. Um, I’ve been to Cape Cod, the place all of your clothing is trying to approximate, summon, represent? Guess what? My dark skin didn’t offend anyone up there. They loved me and took my money, gladly. What right do you have to treat me like garbage when the authentic citizens of the luxurious locales you copy wouldn’t dare?
Sorry, J McLaughlin. But I laugh in the face of your utterly indefensible nastiness and vague racism. Keep your grosgrain and silk. I’ll go to Sherman Pickey where the sales people have manners.