I Went Undercover and Tried M.M.’s Free Styling Service
Why everyone should try a BENTO®.
Maybe you’re new to M.M. (welcome!), or perhaps you’ve been offline all summer (jealous). In either case, there’s a good chance you’re still a stranger to M.M.LaFleur’s new BENTO® styling service. Let me introduce you.
Just as our beautiful, functional clothes are designed to take the work out of getting dressed, this texting-based styling program takes the work out of the act of shopping itself. Are you low on time? Is your idea of hell is sifting through page after page online? This one’s for you. Just take our quick style quiz (it’s fun, I promise!), and we’ll match you with an expert stylist. Your stylist will text you a lookbook with 5-7 selections, and you can add anything you’d like to try directly to your cart.
Why is it called “bento,” you ask? In Japan, the home country of our founder & CEO, Sarah LaFleur, the bento is an efficient, convenient, way to package up a balanced meal—a concept that lives in perfect parallel with how we like to think about getting dressed at M.M. Like a traditional bento box, a well-rounded wardrobe is composed of three key components:
Essentials (the “starch”): the versatile, goes-with-everything pieces you wear over and over (think: comfortable jeans; a simple black turtleneck; minimalist sneakers).
Stars (the “protein”): the elevated items that give your outfit identity (think: an oversized plaid blazer; a pair of wide-leg trousers; a colorful top).
Accessories (the “veggies”): the finishing touches that make your outfit feel purposeful and well-balanced (think: shiny hoop earrings; a bold belt; a snakeskin-printed shoe).
As someone who loves to shop (and already knows our products inside and out), I don’t have a regular need for a styling service in my life. But I have been craving some more “protein” in my wardrobe lately, so last week, I decided to try it out for myself. In order to ensure my stylist had no prior knowledge of me that would inform their selections, I created a new profile and filled out the survey under a pseudonym. The results exceeded my expectations: Every single item fit both my body and my personal sense of style—while pushing me ever so slightly outside of my comfort zone. (E.g. I wouldn’t necessarily have gone for kerala print had I been shopping for myself, but I ended up loving it.)
In terms of logistics, the whole process was speedy, smooth, and most importantly, human. Texting with my stylist, Sean, felt like texting a friend who has great style and never leaves you on read. She was incredibly responsive, and my BENTO® lookbook was ready within hours of me submitting my request. By the time I was able to review my recommendations, one of the styles ended up selling out in my size, so I requested a replacement, and there was a similar suggestion ready in no time. Since I write about our clothing on a daily basis, I also found it extra fun to see how my stylist would describe each piece in her own voice. In short, whether you’re a fresh face or have been a customer since 2015, I highly recommend giving M.M.’s BENTO® styling service a go.
Below, see the five pieces my stylist selected for me—and a range of outfit ideas that demonstrate their versatility.
Item #1: The Elena Culotte
Statements come in many forms: bright colors and bold patterns are obvious examples, but I often prefer to infuse my outfits with personality in the form of interesting textures, unexpected silhouettes, and playful proportions. I was thrilled—and impressed—to find that my stylist picked up on this nuance from my survey answers. The Elena culottes they chose were the perfect embodiment of the quiet uniqueness I’m often after. Their swingy, cropped cut balances out fitted tops but also looks incredibly cool when paired with looser styles like oversized button-downs.
Item #2: The Nicky Jacket
Similarly, the Nicky jacket is streamlined but introduces unexpected proportions to your outfits. Its slightly cropped, tented silhouette is charming and roomy, while its warm camel color is a softer alternative to black.
Item #3: The Maaza Dress
Because it’s one of our most popular dresses of all time, I’m very familiar with the Maaza dress on paper, but have only tried it on a handful of times. To be honest, I wasn’t itching to wear this one, but as soon as I did, I realized it’s a quintessential illustration of why our BENTO® styling service is so impactful—even for us M.M. veterans. It hasn’t been on my personal wishlist, but as soon as I challenged myself to style it, I realized it does have a place in my closet. I couldn’t stop thinking of potential outfits, and I just love the way you can play up its earthy olive tone with warm neutrals or have it act an unexpected pop of color alongside black.
Item #4: The Katrina Top
When I do spring for pattern, I tend to go for something that’s either small in scale (like the Axam turtleneck in kaleidoscope, pictured above) or neutral in color—like this kerala-print Katrina top that was included in my lookbook. Despite being boldly patterned, its lace-like appearance is super versatile while adding texture to anything from formal skirts to casual shorts or my favorite white jeans.
Item #5: The Orchard Skirt
Last, but not least, is the Orchard skirt in maraschino—that vibrant pop of red that’s oh so on-trend right now. This was my favorite item of the bunch, because, color-wise, it’s a noticeable addition to my wardrobe, but it’s also sleek and unfussy in essence. I can see myself wearing it at work, on weekends, and to special events all year round.