J.McLaughlin Trunk Show Today

J.McLaughlin is coming to the neighborhood!  Anne White, former professional tennis player and Rossmore Ave. resident, is hosting a trunk show featuring the holiday and resort collection of J.McLaughlin, from 10 am to 5 pm. today (Thursday, December 10). A portion of the trunk show sales will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood, where White serves on the board of directors.

“We think our typical customer lives in the Hancock Park/Larchmont Village area, so we are thrilled to partner with Anne and the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood to bring our collection to the neighborhood,” said Lauri Wax, J.McLaughlin’s regional marketing guru.  Wax noted the company held 27 different charity events in its 103 stores around the country just last week.

Wax helped introduced J.McLaughlin’s classic American clothing brand to the west coast.  After 20 years in the clothing industry doing mostly direct sales, a year ago, Wax became the store manager of the San Marino store, one of the  first on the west coast, following the opening of the Newport Beach (972 Avocado Avenue).  Both stores follow the brand’s pattern of locating in neighborhood shopping areas, never in a mall, iand each has a unique local vibe.

Wax and White met at USC, when they both joined the same sorority. White, a two-time All American tennis player at USC, played professionally from 1980 to 1987.  She is most well known for wearing a white, one-piece, lycra body suit in a first round match at Wimbledon in 1985 against Pam Shriver. The outfit attracted a lot of attention from the crowd and photographers. With the match tied at one set all, play was stopped for the day because of bad light, and the umpire, Alan Mills, told her to wear more appropriate clothing the next day. She did so, and lost the third set, but the incident was widely reported.

“In those days, it was very cold at Wimbledon and there weren’t that many options for women,” White told the Buzz.

Collaborating with Wax in bringing J.McLaughlin to the neighborhood to help the Boys and Girls Club is a pleasure for White, who lives in the neighborhood and loves the clothing line.  Representatives of the Boys and Girls Club are thrilled, too.

“I was excited when Anne and Lauri shared their idea for a J.McLaughlin trunk show to benefit our kids.  I thought… what a fun way to raise money for our  programs which promote academic success, health and fitness, leadership skills and the arts,” said Mel Culpepper, Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood CEO.

For more information on today’s trunk show, including the location, please contact the J.McLaughlin San Marino store at 323-747-1971.