Hedley & Bennett Review: My Deep Dive into Their Luxury Kitchenwear
As both a passionate home cook and trained fashion designer, I‘ve spent years searching for that magical unicorn of kitchen apparel: durable chef gear that actually flatters my figure while keeping up with my culinary adventures.
Let‘s just say I‘ve collected a heap of shapeless sacks and shrunken shirts with pickle juice stains in the quest.
So when I first discovered Hedley & Bennett‘s iconic aprons and chef coats making the rounds on cooking shows and Instagram feeds, I took note. Could this popular California brand finally offer workhorse worthy kitchenwear that balances beauty, brains and brawn?
I compiled this in-depth review after getting my hands on three of Hedley & Bennett‘s best selling pieces to take for an extended test drive through every cooking catastrophe I could conjure. Keep reading for the full lowdown or skip ahead:
Skip to My Top Pick
Skip to Final Verdict
Let‘s start at the origins of how Hedley & Bennett transformed basic kitchen gear into a booming business.
About Hedley & Bennett
Like many great startup stories, Ellen Marie Bennett founded Hedley & Bennett back in 2011 out of frustration with the lack of cute yet functional options for kitchen uniforms. After years working as a line cook sporting ill-fitting, uncomfortable garments, she taught herself to sew and began making aprons and chef coats for herself and coworkers.
Their enthusiastic response convinced her to turn a hobby into full fledged business catering to kitchen crews and casual cooks across America. Bennett continues leading product design from headquarters in Vernon, California. She oversees their expanded offerings encompassing much more than staples like aprons and shirts.
So what exactly does the Hedley & Bennett catalogue include today? Let‘s explore.
Hedley & Bennett Founder and "Apron Boss Lady" Ellen Bennett
What Does Hedley & Bennett Sell?
Hedley & Bennett categorizes their collection into men‘s and women‘s apparel plus a wide range of accessories and specialty collaborations. While kitchen staples like aprons and shirts sit front and center, their product line has grown to encapsulate total lifestyle dressing…albeit with spilled marinara as the inspiration.
Their aprons steal the spotlight, ranging from full length to waist apron styles. Fabrics span durable canvas, stain resistant twill, soft denim and more. Thoughtful details like reinforced stress points, pockets galore and adjustable straps prove both brains and beauty went into the design.
While nothing beats Hedley & Bennett‘s aprons, their work shirts and chef coats shine as clear runner ups. Choose between short and long sleeve styles ideal for layering as seasons and kitchens heat up. Gently tailored fits crafted from moisture wicking performance material to slouchy chambray make their uniform line as on trend as off duty wear.
Beyond the basics, they offer a range of preppy accessories like personalized knife rolls and hand stamped totes to brighten up daily duty. And their limited edition collaborations, like the recent Levi‘s team up, allow home cooks to sport specialty items from their cult favorite brand in a more casual context.
Now that you have a lay of the land regarding what Hedley & Bennett sells, let‘s get into the nitty gritty of what sets them apart from traditional kitchen brands.
Why Choose Hedley & Bennett?
Summed up simply, Hedley & Bennett gets two major elements right:
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Making classic prep essentials like aprons and chef coats you actually want to wear through smart design details and modern fabrics
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Ensuring that apparel stands up to the toughest kitchen demands through meticulous construction anchored by reinforced stress points
Mix together savvy styling and hardy construction, then finish with a splash of cheeky patterns and colors…et voila! You have kitchen apparel even cooking novices want to don daily.
But with great popularity comes premium pricing. And that higher cost remains the biggest barrier for many considering Hedley & Bennett.
Let‘s analyze other pros and cons before determining if their products warrant the price tag.
The Good
- Playful styles making kitchenwear genuinely fashionable
- Quality fabrics both breathable yet blisteringly durable through reinforced stitching
- Ethical construction with sustainable or low waste materials
- Fun customization options from monogramming to colored straps
- Stellar customer service and community engagement
The Less Good
- Expensive prices especially for aprons and chef coats
- Spotty inventory issues with colors and sizes fluctuating
- Longer ship times and sales less frequent than bigger brands
- Slim sizing that only extends up to 4XL
Reviewers praise Hedley & Bennett for singlehandedly transforming boring kitchen uniforms into coveted gear. Food network icons and home cooks alike flaunt their kitschy aprons, preppy shirts and stylish accessories as both hobby and humble brag.
But such dedicated construction and limited runs come at a cost – literally. So who should pay their higher prices versus look toward cheaper alternatives?
If terms like foodie, kitchen warrior or chef life resonate with your hobbies and aesthetic, investing in Hedley & Bennett likely feels worth it. Their cult following started amongst passionate pros after all.
If you just need a basic apron for weekly baking or grill duty though, cheaper options get the job done.
Now let‘s take a hands on look at some of Hedley & Bennett‘s greatest hits.
My Top Pick: The Icon Apron
The Hedley & Bennett Icon Apron in action
Why It‘s My Favorite
As both Hedley & Bennett‘s signature piece and my personal go to, The Icon Apron delivers on all fronts. I‘m picky about finding aprons with perfect pocket placement, durable fabrics and straps that actually adjust to fit. The Icon gets an A+ on all counts.
I especially like the midweight Japanese selvedge denim that softens beautifully over time but springs back after endless tosses in the wash. My version features three roomy pockets fitting everything from tasting spoons to timers to dish towels when my hands get full.
The Icon Apron accommodates my 5‘4 frame comfortably thanks to the adjustable neck and waist straps. And it transitions seamlessly from food prep to serving and clean up duty unlike stiffer styles.
While the $95+$ price tag exceeds basic options from Sur La Table and Williams Sonoma, the elegant construction proves this apron designed BY a chef to perform FOR a chef. Or in my case, a passionate home cook prone to getting carried away with complex recipes!
Beyond aprons, I took two of Hedley & Bennett‘s other bestsellers for a spin across three months of near daily use. Keep reading for my full reviews!
Testing the Core Kitchenwear Lineup
Hedley & Bennett roasted onto the scene by transforming boring kitchen basics into coveted gear that performed even harder than it looked. I took their flagship apron, chef coat and knife bag through a true torturous series of messy meal prep, elaborate dinner parties and grilling sessions galore to see how they held up.
Here‘s how three of their classic pieces stacked up:
The Studio Work Shirt
Occupation: Keeping cool as a chef while casually cute off duty
The Studio Shirt stands out for balancing professional polish and everyday ease. I tested the sky blue chambray style made from a soft cotton, poly and spandex blend. The breatheable fabric, cropped sleeves and subtle distressing blurs lines between business casual and kitchen couture.
Thoughtful details give it dual design power too. Snaps inside the collar keep apron strings secured in place. While a hidden inner chest pocket provides easy access for pens and thermometers without damaging the streamlined exterior.
The tailored yet relaxed fit accommodates movement with minimal clinging as the weather and kitchen heat up. It quickly became my go to over dresses for managing dinner duty and transitions seamlessly into patio hangs once the cooking ends.
The Downside: Availability seems seriously inconsistent. Multiple negative reviews cite wrong sizes shipping despite accurate orders. Confirm your dimensions against their size chart first and order early with fingers crossed.
The Verdict: Hedley & Bennett blends fashion and function beautifully with this shirt balancing on and off kitchen duty. Pay the $115 price to get the year round utility…if you land the proper size from their fluctuating inventory.
The Mise 2.0 Knife Bag
Occupation: Keeping precious cutlery secure in style
My knife collection rivals my absurd spice stash at this point. So I heavily rely on a durable, protective case keeping everything damage free whether heading to culinary class or traveling to holiday feasts.
The Mise 2.0 knife bag impressed me with supple full grain leather construction offering equal parts elegance and security. The bag easily fits 6 knives plus my in progress sharpening gear and extra tweezers for precise plating.
Customizable storage includes options for sheath style knives or loose blades separated by protective linen dividers. An adjustable shoulder strap ensures comfortable carrying even when loaded down. Whether heading to my parent‘s annual Thanksgiving dinner or weekly trip to the farmer‘s market, the Mise 2.0 keeps my blades ever sharp and scratch free.
Just beware uneven finish issues in early production runs. Multiple buyers complain of marks marring the otherwise beautiful leather exteriors. Thankfully Hedley & Bennett‘s stellar customer service department promptly resolves any quality problems that pop up.
The Verdict: The $240 Mise 2.0 justifies its price for cooks wanting a stylish yet sturdy home for high quality knives enduring daily duty or regular travel.
More Best Sellers Overview
Beyond their trademark aprons, work shirts and knife carriers, almost everything Hedley & Bennett produces wins rave reviews for style, construction and creativity.
Let‘s quickly highlight more customer favorites:
- The Flat Top Utility Apron offers a modern take on the classic butcher style. It‘s extra durable, generously sized and even features magnetic closures on the triple pockets.
- The Selvedge Denim Smock Apron delivers heavy duty protection in deliciously fade resistant black or indigo blue Japanese selvedge denim. Just beware overly generous sizing per reviews.
- The Mise En Place Roll Bag expands your portable prep space with this slim roll packing mini cutting boards, handy tools and small bowls in water resistant coated canvas.
- The Short Sleeve Chef Coat reimagines stale uniform shirts in moisture wicking fabrics ideal for hot kitchens.
- Linen Popover Work Shirts combine breezy, antimicrobial natural fabric with two way stretch for supreme mobility.
- The Apron Overalls deliver signature H&B style as the ultimate throwback for hip kids and quirky parent pairs.
A sampling of Hedley & Bennett customer favorites
Now for the final verdict on whether Hedley & Bennett warrants a spot on your shopping list.
My Final Take: Should You Buy Hedley & Bennett?
So who should pay Hedley & Bennett‘s higher price points versus looking to cheaper alternatives? Here‘s my overall take after months of hands on testing:
Worth Investing In If:
- You‘re a passionate home cook wanting fashion meets function
- A professional needing commercial grade gear
- You value socially conscious companies and practices
Look Elsewhere If:
- Style matters less than budget friendly pricing
- You need extended plus size offerings
- You prefer traditional versus modern designs
Here‘s my conclusion – Hedley & Bennett makes zero apologies for focusing more on quality over mass appeal. They orient toward purpose driven cooks wanting beloved tools matching their creative passion.
While imperfect inventory and slightly smaller sizing dimishes their glow a bit, they deliver impressively constructed gear blended seamlessly with playful panache. Investing in Hedley & Bennett does good for both your kitchen endeavors and businesses committed to ethical production.
If that mission and community speaks to you like it does me, I fully endorse carving out room in your budget for their small batch kitchenwear. Start with one or two affordable basics like their iconic apron or preppy Market Tote. Then let the H&B obsession blossom from there!
Still debating exactly what to get or where to find additional savings? Keep reading.
Getting Your Hands on Hedley & Bennett
Once you decide to dive into Hedley & Bennett‘s catalog, you have plenty of options for sourcing their artisanal kitchen couture.
I suggest heading straight to their website first since you may unlock limited discounts or early access special releases.
Where to Buy
Beyond HedleyandBennett.com, their products also sell at:
- Amazon: Usually with free Prime shipping but limited color/print availability
- Select Sur La Table and Williams Sonoma locations
- Specialty culinary and kitchen stores like Bristol Farms, Eataly and Bounty Hunter Wine & Spirits (full list on their stockists page)
Saving on Hedley & Bennett
As a premium brand, Hedley & Bennett rarely offers site wide sales beyond seasonal specials. However they do share exclusive discounts from time to time for:
- New email subscribers
- Healthcare professionals
- Students and teachers
- Military and more
Flash sales around bigger cooking holidays and education seasons offer temporary markdowns worth checking too.
I suggest joining their email list for first dibs on discounts plus new product launches and restocks. Their inventory fluctuates wildly. So getting notifications when popular items come back in stock ensures you snag favorites before they sell out again!
I hope this mega Hedley & Bennett review offered deeper insight into why their products elicit such ardent fans. While expensive compared to basic options, their purposeful designs masterfully balance form, function and everyday playfulness.
Got any additional questions I can help answer? Drop them in the comments below! I‘m happy to lend my expertise after months of hands on research.
