the helen benton story

            Alright, hey y’all!! Long time no see!! Lately, I’ve been posting lots of random pieces of information about “The Helen Benton Story” event that is happening next month and I thought it might be fun/informative to post the overview of the story on here (for anyone who is interested)!

            Helen Benton is my grandmother (my dad’s mom) and my soul sister.  We refer to her as “Nene.”  …Nene and I look alike, act alike, dream alike, think alike, scream alike, you name it.  Carbon copy.  Growing up, our family never could figure out who I looked like and then one day in 11^th grade we took a photo together and realized that we were twins.  

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Ever since then I’ve realized more and more every day that we are alike in more ways than one.  I am so proud to be celebrating her over the course of this next month through this event.

            So March the 10^th at 7:00p.m. the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion will host “The Helen Benton Story” in the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Ballroom – join us for music, modeling, vintage fashion, modern fashion, art, fellowship, champagne, hors d’oeuvres, and a guest appearance from my friend, Savvy Shields, Miss America 2016.  Tickets are $150 and funds will benefit the Mansion.  For tickets visit www.friendsofthemansion.org or call 501-324-9805! 

Nene is the only Arkansan clothing designer to have been featured on 5^th Avenue in New York City.  Because of this, she has received many wonderful opportunities to style influential women in the great state of Arkansas.  For example, a few years ago she had the opportunity to design the inaugural wardrobe for First Lady Susan Hutchinson.  After developing a friendship with the First Lady, the Governor’s Mansion offered the opportunity to host this event, and Nene - being the adoring party planner that she is - agreed and couldn’t have been more excited, honored, or humbled.  The event will debut many of her designs from the 70s and 80s, and even some new ones that she designed in the past few months to showcase specifically at this event.  It is going to be an amazing evening!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Governor Hutchinson and First Lady Susan Hutchinson with Nene and the art piece that she painted of the gown she designed for Mrs. Hutchinson.  (She loves to paint, too.  I wish I'd gotten more of her creative genes!)

Ever since the decision to partake in the event, the hard work has been day-in and day-out preparation for Nene and those helping her with this project.  She is the most driven person I know, and at her age (you’d never guess it) she is still moving through each day with more energy than the day before.  I know the show will be a wonderful success and I am so proud to be a part of her family and this project.

______

            Her story goes a little bit like this:

            She says it all began with a dream to create.  She lived in the small Arkansas Delta town of Helena, and grew up knowing that she didn’t have a passion for “school” or “sports” but for something different.  She says she owes her successes to never having any formal design training.  Growing up, all of her inspiration came from the outdoors – God’s creation - whether a butterfly or a sunset, etc.  It all started when she picked out fabric from a local store in Helena.  The fabric was for a dress that she would wear to a cousin’s wedding and after the dress was made, it turned out not at all like she had envisioned, but the process of designing gowns and appreciating fashion definitely began there.  Nene designed most all of the clothes for her sons and her daughter – my dad, aunt, and uncle – and she began to design more gowns as time went on.  A couple to note were my Aunt Dorothy’s Debutante Ball gown and a gown for her friend who was Chair of the Dallas Symphony Ball.  Thus, Helen Benton Designs had begun.

Eventually, as her clientele grew, she received an invitation to come to a Bridal Show in New York City, so she grabbed her best friend, loaded down a van of Helen Benton Designs wedding gowns, and drove to New York City.  After being “judged” for her accent, southern home state, etc, she finally found an outlet and her career began.  Fast forward, and next thing she knew, photos of her gowns were being printed in "The New York Times" and she was walking down Fifth Avenue of New York City seeing her gowns in the windows of Vera Wang and Bergdorf Goodman.  I quote her journal as she tells the story, “What an introduction to the fashion world!”

Her sales began to grow into new stores – Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and other bridal shops across the country.  She tells amazing stories about the famous women that she was able to dress for the most important day of their lives, and she absolutely loves being a part of that intimate moment for a bride.   Tracy Gold, Kim Bassinger, a Kennedy wedding, and more.  It is so fun to listen to her recall the events.  She designed the inaugural gowns for Betty Tucker, Janet Huckabee, as well as First Lady Susan Hutchinson, and several gowns for Hillary Clinton. 

“I have met the most wonderful people all over the country and cherished being a part of one of the monumental occasions in a family – the wedding of their children.”

“Few minutes in the lifetime of every bride as she is pictured in her gown will remain the most beautiful image she will ever convey.  She will forever look back on the few hours she wears the dress of her dreams and is presented to her future husband remains the highlight of their lives.”

In the height of her career, a benign tumor was found in her brain and the removal of the tumor caused her to lose the majority of her hearing.  She was unable to continue working at the same pace and decided to return to her role as a mom and grandmother (which oh my word she is so good at – most hospitable person I have ever known).  Although her career didn’t play out the way she may have expected, the memories are still as clear as day and she has no regrets as she looks back on those times. 

fam :)

Day before yesterday, I was in Little Rock modeling her gowns from the 80s as b-roll for the mini documentary video that we were shooting to cover her story.   The video will be played at the event to explain her story to the audience.   I. Cannot. Wait. to see it.  We had so much fun spending the day together playing dress up and looking through the old torn out magazine pages and memoirs.  For the first time I saw her hand written thank you notes from the Vera Wang herself!  A dream of a Saturday for a 21-year-old gal.

Before the videoing of the gowns took place, it was just an interview of her telling the story.  I’ll never forget listening to it all told in the “journey” format.  I didn’t really realize how amazing she was until that moment.  She overcame so many obstacles and so much adversity to make it to New York City.  As she told the story, she talked about the hard work and determination that were required.

“When you approach a red flag, you have to walk around it.”

I hope that anyone who hears her story will be encouraged by her persistence and boldness, as well as her strong faith and confidence.  She reminds me day after day that you can achieve your goals, you just have to work hard for them.  I am so thankful to be her granddaughter.

“It is never too late to start a career,” she says, “God has given us all a talent and a vision that paired with a lot of hard work makes dreams come true.”

“When you wish upon a star your dreams will come true.”

Thank you for letting me share her story - I am ecstatic for her to relive the glory days with the people of Arkansas on March 10^th.  Hope you’ll join us! Thanks for reading!!

Click the link below to watch her tell her story:

⁠Helen Benton - FINAL⁠⁦‪vimeo.com‬⁩