Fashion conscious restauranteur Kai Bent-Lee explores Valentino and Ferragamo via Dallas-based luxury retailer Neiman Marcus.
Based in Toronto, Lee has cultivated a sizable YouTube fanbase through the exploration of his passions — culture, food and travel and has developed a keen eye for streetwear and luxury goods. Kai and his brother Levi own Lee, an Asian fusion restaurant that frequent customer Drake co-signs. Traveling all over Asia has helped Kai become exposed to the luxury market, as he describes his personal style as a mix of high and low brands. “I love vintage finds mixed with something that’s high-street. I always look at the whole fit’s tones and I like to dress in complementing colors.”
Excited to learn more about the well-traveled restauranteur, we spent the day with Kai as he was styled in the latest Valentino and Ferragamo threads from Neiman Marcus. For Fall 2018, Valentino aims to normalize the tracksuit, incorporating it with trench coats and a rebellious attitude. It’s Pierpaolo Piccioli’s — Valentino’s creative director — affinity for artists Adam Ant, The Cure and Visage that finds the famed fashion house melding punk and streetwear with Italian opulence.
The lookbook showcases Kai in an all-black track jacket paired with cigarette trousers and a tee that sports a silver spike stud at its back. Another casual look features a spiked satin bomber — offered in hues of dark gray, navy and black — paired to show off the speckled-metallic chunky sneaker that accompanies most of the looks. “The fit was classic and I like the subtle branding,” said Kai.
On the other side of the palette spectrum, Ferragamo delivers a multicolored-striped cashmere sweater matched with workwear-inspired camel trousers. Ferragamo’s menswear designer Guillaume Meilland looked to utilitarian pieces in warm tones this season. A vibrant knit offers an archival style and color palette of brown and yellow enforces its woven and pebbled textures. The polished look comes complete with Bankley’s calfskin leather boots, a pair that stars golden Gancini hardware on the back heels. Kai admitted he was on the search for some Chelsea boots: “I like the sound they make when you walk. I felt like a villain in a western film!”
Scroll through Kai’s lookbook above and head over to Neiman Marcus to purchase the full Ferragamo and Valentino fits.