The Benton is a boot I wore as a staple for probably at least three winters in a row… Until I designed the Chauvin, which was an inch lower in heel height, and then that became my staple... Then I had a baby and wore the Eltons which were flat... 

But now I’m back onto a boot with a lift and, for the last two years, have been stomping around Paris in the Cawboy (Cowboy boot) and the Holly Beach (low slung cowboy). I am loving the ease at which a cowboy boot can be worn... At a summer wedding under a beautiful dress by my friend, Arthur Arbesser, cycling stacks of shoes on my cargo bike between locations in Paris, or out and about gallery hopping on a Thursday night (Thursday is traditionally when a new exhibition starts and Paris gallery areas are abuzz with people). It is extremely hard to get it wrong with cowboy boots...

So I combined the Benton, which was a lace-up, with the sole of the cowboy... I removed the laces and added a woven strapping system... Sort of entirely changing it into something new, with all the things I have loved about four different boots combined! And although not a very inventive name, The Ben is a new entity in itself but also the 3rd generation of just the good stuff...!

The Ben in hand paint started out white and was hand painted with 100% non-toxic inks. The woven strap is made up of reconstituted, recycled leather. The metal work is solid brass. I have added a strap end, also in solid brass, to finish off the strapping in a more complete way than seen here. The tongue in this style has been padded for look and comfort. 75mm leather stacked cowboy sole and heel unit.  Memory foam-lined insole.

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PICTURES HERE ARE OF THE FINAL SAMPLE AND, IN THIS CASE, I ADDED A BRASS END TO THE STRAP AS I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE LOOK OF THE UNFINISHED STRAP END. I HAVE ATTACHED A PICTURE OF THIS METAL WORK SO THAT YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE...