Posts from the ‘Milestones’ Category

An Enormous Milestone – Bento Preorders Available Online

Ladies and gents… this blog was started in May last year, on the day I announced my resignation from the bank to pursue a crazy dream of running my own fashion label.

Today, 8 months later, we have a huge milestone… our exclusive online stockist (The Dreamery) starts taking preorders. You can get your eyes on it here: http://www.the-dreamery.com/Designers/Bento

If you want to be one of the few lucky people to own a first-season Bento piece, now’s your chance. They won’t be remade so what we have is what we have.

And without bragging, I suggest you don’t delay, because several stockists already have a waitlist for some items.

A huge thanks to all those who have helped me get this far. May this be only the beginning of sensational things to come.

The Missing Piece

I mentioned before that our second collection – Two’s Company, for Spring/Summer 2011 – 2012 has 12 styles. Well… here’s the last style. A silk blouse.

You may recognise this blouse from our first season. Well, it’s very similar but has a couple of important changes:

1. The buttons are vintage! I love working with vintage. It has such a great impact on the environment in that they were produced many years ago and minimise waste today.
2. The fabric. Last season this was produced in a rather delightful Italian stretch silk. For the warmer months, we’ve done it in a Spanish silk habotai. Think of a cross between a silk shirt and a cotton shirt. Very lightweight with a slight sheen, but some of the ‘starchiness’ you get with cotton.

Anyway… I hope you like it

Model: Chelsea at Giant Management
Photographer: Emily Abay
Makeup: Briony for Adorn Mineral Cosmetics
Hair: Matthew Botakis at Heading Out
Jewellery: Georg Jensen
Shoes: Repetto at Cecylia

The Scoovee

Have you ever heard the term “squoval”? Nail artists use it to describe that nail shape that is neither square nor oval. Square, but with rounded edges rather than sharp ones.

Well ladies and gents, allow me to introduce the scoovee. Neither a scoop or v neck, the scoovee (or perhaps we should call it the voop?) is a cross between the two.

This tshirt is made from a Japanese jersey. Thick, and mostly cotton but with just a little something else in it to give it stretch and keep it’s shape. The sleeves are long enough that you can cuff them if you wish. Tuck it in if you want, but should you leave it out, it’s long enough that you won’t be seeing any midriff or plumbers crack

Waddaya think? Am I onto something with this scoovee neckline?

Model: Chelsea at Giant Management
Photographer: Emily Abay
Makeup: Briony for Adorn Mineral Cosmetics
Hair: Matthew Botakis at Heading Out
Jewellery: Georg Jensen

More Bento Denim

Last week I introduced you to the first piece in our denim line. Today I’m showing you the second (and last – only two denim pieces for the first season!).

These denim shorts were conceived when I was travelling in Europe last summer. It was way too warm and I didn’t have anything appropriate to wear. So, a pair of bargain jeans were turned into cuffed shorts and attacked with a grater-type-device to produce a pair of short-but-not-too-short denim shorts. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but I was asked so many times where I got them from, I thought they should make an appearance.

As with many Bento pieces, there’s a little something different about them. The cuffs are actually only sewn on the inside and outside seams. So, if you want them longer or shorter, simply break/unpick the stitches on the sides and customise the length to suit. So easy it can even be done in a hotel room (trust me… I know).

As with the denim jacket, the shorts are made from non-stretch denim and over time will give in a way that makes them uniquely yours.

So. What do you think?

Model: Abul and Chelsea at Giant Management
Photographer: Emily Abay
Makeup: Briony for Adorn Mineral Cosmetics
Hair: Matthew Botakis at Heading Out
Jewellery: Georg Jensen

MMMmmmaxi

This maxi is the dress that nearly gave me a heart attack, being finished just over 12 hours before the shoot started.

Shown in cream, it will actually come in a multitude of other colours with some stockists being offered custom shades.

Now the tricky thing about this dress is I actually don’t wear maxis (although I was given one for Christmas, so I’m working on it), making it hard for me to design one. I’ll be honest – I can’t stand empire line maxis (the ones that are fitted to just under the bust and then fall straight). Having spoken to a tonne of friends on the matter though, I think I understand that many women wear maxis because they’re easy and they conceal a multitude of sins (unwaxed legs, anyone?) whilst still having an element of style.

The problem that many friends outlined with maxis is the length. With a regular cocktail length dress, wearing heels or flats is a matter of choice. With a maxi however, it’s rare to find one long enough that heels are an option. Even if it is, it’s too long for flats. For this reason, the Bento maxi is cut a little longer than usual. If you want to wear it long you can, if you want it a little shorter either have it taken up or blouse the top part over the belt. Et voila, two workable lengths!

The dress also doesn’t have belt loops, meaning the belt is optional. It can be removed if you prefer a fuller look (or if you’re pregnant, come to think of it). If you have a long or short torso you can move the belt to suit. You can also switch it out for a wide belt or a skinny one in an entirely different material.  Oh, and whilst I’m on the subject of it being customisable – it’s also reversible so you can adjust how much cleavage you wish to show.

I’ve probably carried on enough about this dress. So without further ado…

Model: Abul  at Giant Management
Photographer: Emily Abay
Makeup: Briony for Adorn Mineral Cosmetics
Hair: Matthew Botakis at Heading Out
Jewellery: Georg Jensen
Shoes: Repetto at Cecylia

Return Of “Old” Favourites

Given this is only our second season, I’m not sure it’s fair to call any of our pieces ‘old favourites’, but whatever. Run with it.

Of course, what I’m actually referring to are pieces from our first season that have made a comeback in the second.

The Louis V knit is one such piece. In our Autumn/Winter collection, it was done in 100% wool. For Spring/Summer it’s being repeated in a featherweight organic cotton – perfect for keeping the chill (or sun) off, but without being heavy or too warm.

The second repeat offender is the Sophie skirt. Again in Autumn/Winter it was done in Italian wool. For Spring/Summer it does it’s encore in lightweight silk.

What do you think? Are you happy to see these pieces return? Or would you prefer to see brand spanking new designs each and every collection?

Model: Chelsea  at Giant Management
Photographer: Emily Abay
Makeup: Briony for Adorn Mineral Cosmetics
Hair: Matthew Botakis at Heading Out
Jewellery: Georg Jensen
Shoes: Shoes of Prey

Introducing… Denim

I thought long and hard about whether or not to introduce denim. For starters, it’s bloody hard to do well. Moreover, there are a lot of labels out there that do an awfully good job of it already.

What I came back to however, is the fact that my favourite pair of jeans were only made for one season, and then the label didn’t produce them again. Really, this is what Bento is about. Beautiful, timeless pieces that you can reliably buy again and again in different shades and fabrics.

So Bento denim was born.

This season, our denim is made from old denim stock bought from the US. There isn’t much of it though, so we’ll only get one season out of it before we switch to Japanese selvedge denim.

There are only two styles in this season (you’ll meet the other later). Both are washed back to this pale blue you see, but not worn in any way. We believe that you should get to love your denim and wear it out yourself – not have it done for you!

The jacket is actually hand-finished to achieve this colour. It’s hard to do to get just the right shade. Because of the hand-finished wash, no two are identical. It’s designed to fit like a vintage jacket that you’ve had taken in for a more modern cut. The denim is non-stretch, but will give to suit your body.

Anyway, here’s the jacket. Also in this shot is a Japanese jersey cotton tshirt and a custom-dyed cotton/linen blend cuffed short. More on those later! (Although I will say that the shorts are nowhere near as short as they look in this pic – Abul is nearly 6 foot tall, after all!)

Model: Abul  at Giant Management
Photographer: Emily Abay
Makeup: Briony for Adorn Mineral Cosmetics
Hair: Matthew Botakis at Heading Out
Jewellery: Georg Jensen
Shoes: Repetto at Cecylia

The Limited Edition Dress

Many of you will remember that when I started Bento it was all about understated style. It was, and it still is. That said, I feel simple statement pieces form an important part of a wardrobe that is uniquely you. Personally, I believe these pieces shouldn’t be particularly on-trend (because as per the Bento philosophy, they should be timeless!) but rather something beautiful that you love.

So, in season two we’ve created a limited edition statement dress.

The dress is made from a semi-sheer silk. It doesn’t really crush, so you can throw it in an overnight bag. It can be worn in warmer months to cocktail parties with a slip underneath or in cooler months, belted with tights and a long-sleeve top. You can throw it over a swimsuit and literally go from beach to bar.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts…

Model: Abul  at Giant Management
Photographer: Emily Abay
Makeup: Briony for Adorn Mineral Cosmetics
Hair: Matthew Botakis at Heading Out
Jewellery: Georg Jensen
Shoes: Repetto at Cecylia

Bento Season Two – First Look

As many of you will know, late last year we shot our second season. Here is your first look at the collection.

The jacket is cream linen with gold foil woven through it. The trousers are a cotton/linen blend in a custom colour.

I’m going to be honest. I’m completely terrified about showing people this collection. I look forward to you being honest too, and telling me what you think!

Model: Abul  at Giant Management
Photographer: Emily Abay
Makeup: Briony for Adorn Mineral Cosmetics
Hair: Matthew Botakis at Heading Out
Jewellery: Georg Jensen
Shoes: Repetto at Cecylia