L.L. Bean tries on Eddie Bauer.

Byline: Soma Biswas

L.L. Bean Inc. Eddie Bauer. Retail analysts said they couldn't think of a better match.

Last week, the Freeport, Maine-based mail order catalog company told the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District in New York that it's interested in Bauer, a high-end outfitter that's been struggling under Spiegel Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 in March.

If L.L. Bean picks up Bauer, it would follow the path of other successful catalog retailers, such as Lands' End Inc. and J. Crew Group Inc., both of which have added a substantial bricks and mortar component lately.

"With a lot of these catalogers, in order for them to grow, …