Testing A Bento Box: My First Experience with MM.LaFleur

January 02, 2017 | Filed in: Your Closet

Molly, a New York-based lawyer, was tired of wearing the same few things to the office every week but didn’t want to deal with finding new clothes. When a friend recommended MM.LaFleur, she decided testing a Bento Box was worth a try, and invited us to tag along while she tried on the results in her sunny West Village apartment. To see what she kept, what she didn’t, and what she’ll wear the most, read on.

I WORK AT A CORPORATE LAW FIRM in Manhattan, where I focus on business development in Mexico and South and Central America. I’ve been there for almost a year now. Before that, I spent several years living in Bogota, Colombia, where I worked for a boutique law firm. People dress pretty conservatively in Bogota; it’s in the mountains, so the weather is cool. It feels like fall all year round, which is my ideal climate. It’s much more difficult to dress in New York, because the temperatures here are all over the place, so it’s been an adjustment.

I WANTED TO TRY A BENTO BOX because I don’t have time to shop, but I need new workwear that’s reliable and flattering. I care about looking polished and I do like clothes, but it can be hard to find things that fit me properly because I’m 5’10”. I grew up in the south, so there’s part of me that likes to look colorful and feminine, even though I often wind up relying on black because it’s easier. When I was filling out the Bento survey, I was sure to mention that I travel a fair amount, so I need pieces that pack well.

What have we here?

MY OFFICE IS BUSINESS FORMAL, but it’s slightly more casual on the business development side. I wear a lot of black pants, long tops, and blazers to work. I have a pear-shaped body, so I tend to steer clear of anything fitted in the hips.

Molly tries on the Etsuko dress in crackle.

MY BENTO CAME WITH with six items: an Etsuko dress in crackle, a Woolf jardigan in black, a Toi dress in boysenberry, a Didion top in black, a Statement scarf in Kelly green, and a Foster pant in black. I started with the Etsuko because the print caught my eye—it’s subtle and pretty. I was surprised by how well it fit. The size 10 was spot-on, and it was tailored but not tight. The fabric has a nice thickness, too. I don’t have anything like this at all, so it’s definitely a keeper.

Molly tries on the Toi dress in boysenberry with the Woolf jardigan in black.

I TRIED ON THE TOI NEXT. I had high hopes for this dress, because my ideal silhouette is fitted at the top and flared on the bottom, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s also long enough for me, which can be hard to find, and I like the boysenberry color—my sister is always telling me to wear maroon. I usually keep my arms covered, particularly at the office, so I tried it on with the Woolf jardigan; I removed the shoulder pads because my shoulders are pretty broad as it is. Both of these pieces are definitely winners.

NEXT UP: THE FOSTER PANT. I thought they were going to be too small at first—the legs seemed tight when I was pulling them on—but once I zipped them up, they fit well. The only thing that gave me pause was the length; even though the hem is adjustable, I’m so tall that they still hit at the ankle. The cropped look is great on other people, but I’m not a fan of it for myself. I also have a lot of black pants already, so I probably don’t need another pair.

Fun fact: The Foster pant has an adjustable hemline.

I LOVE THAT THE DIDION TOP has a loose fit and cap sleeves. I tried adding the statement scarf, which is a cute way to bring color to a black outfit. I’m not an expert at tying scarves, but I can learn.

Molly tries the Didion top with the Statement scarf in Kelly green.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE that all of these things work with clothes I already have, so I tried on the jardigan with a couple of other tops in my closet. It definitely passed the versatility test with flying colors.

Molly test-drives the Woolf jardigan with some other pieces in her closet.

I WOUND UP KEEPING everything but the Foster pant, and I’m so glad I never had to deal with a dressing room—definitely a huge bonus.

Ready to try a Bento of your own? Request a box here.