Guest blogger Bella Freud's blog, brought to you by Vogue.com. Fashion as it happens, reported direct from the team in Vogue House. <p>There are many corners of perfection within Selfridges department store on Oxford Street. Now there is a new one - but only until April 1! Christian Louboutin has created the dream pop-up shop at the far end of the Wonder Room. It is a perfect combination of luxe, volupte and outrageous.</p><p>His shoes, boots and accessories - including bags and keyrings - adorn the space in tantalizing arrangements. To celebrate his 20 years in the business he has made special editions of some of his most popular and beautiful creations. I was overjoyed when he asked if I would make some special knitted pieces for the shop. If you can tear your eyes away from the pink, yellow or patent leather Pensee shoes, or my favourite the Daf Booty ankle boot in black leather with graffiti painted on, you may get a little crush on my Mini Cape with gold or black fringing. Also made by moi are brightly coloured leotards, soldier girl leggings, and jumpers with epaulettes and embroideries of Christian's shoes on the front. Hope you love.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2012/03/16/pop-up-louboutin" title="Pop-Up Louboutin">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:85599 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2012/03/16/pop-up-louboutin Fri, 16 Mar 2012 16:54:51 +0100 <p>My father's exhibition opened this Thursday at the National Portrait Gallery. On the Monday, our family held a memorial private view there for as many of his friends and sitters as could fit into the wood-panelled Victorian Gallery. Guests were served various delicacies including Dad's favourite nougat imported specially from Clarkes, the restaurant he went to for breakfast and lunch everyday during the last few years of his life (dinner was always at The Wolseley for its festive atmosphere).</p><p>My siblings and I had debated whether to hold any kind of memorial, as Dad didn't go in for that kind of thing, though he understood that others might have a need for it. In this case, those others were us and it was strangely anti-grief and uplifting too. Director of the Tate Sir Nicholas Serota gave a funny and fascinating speech which included an anecdote about my father musing on how he could have overcome his distaste for spinach dressed with oil or butter if it was made for him by a woman he was keen on. My brother Ali also spoke, remembering the tension of trying to put bets on dogs for Dad at Hackney races before he even had a telephone. As well as spending a lot of time together in betting shops, Dad let him keep a tab at his favourite Greek restaurant which didn't open until midnight. As Ali put it so well, "that's what dads are for." I read a poem that Dad and I had written together (well, he wrote most of it) about fashion. The last line reads "One undisputed fact remains, inside your wardrobe hang your brains." Not necessarily what you would expect, but then nothing was with him. After the speeches everyone went downstairs to see the paintings. It is the first exhibition since his death in July 2011 and it's so strange not to be reporting back to him about who was there and how people reacted. But the show is full of his spirit. It was exhilarating to see the portraits, naked and clothed, of people who loved him, hanging along the long gallery, in rooms and in the rooms off of the rooms.</p><p>When the Duchess of Cambridge attended the private view on Wednesday, her first solo visit as patron of the NPG, she asked me how I felt about the show. What I actually felt and partly told her was that the show looked so beautiful and that it seemed to me so full of tenderness and love and the opposite to the misogynistic view of women that his work is so often labelled with.</p><p>I was smitten by the natural charm and thoughtful questions of the young Duchess and rushed around the gallery asking my siblings about their conversations with her. She was spontaneous and genuine and had clearly done her homework. I felt a twinge of jealousy when she told Mary McCartney, another recent patron of the NPG, that she had looked at her website. But then Mary was wearing one of my jumpers, which filled me with pride.</p><p><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/the-culture-edit/2012/02/lucian-freud-exhibition-preview---national-portrait-gallery">SEE A PREVIEW OF THE EXHIBITION HERE</a></p><p><em>Lucian Freud Portraits will be on display from February 9 - May 27 at the National Portrait Gallery, St Martin's Place, WC2H 0HE.</em></p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2012/02/10/my-fathers-exhibition" title="My Father's Exhibition">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:84813 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2012/02/10/my-fathers-exhibition Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:50:57 +0100 <p>I have joined a band. This is definitely not a cool rock group, but three parents of children who take music lessons at The Rhythm Studio in Kensal Road, London W10. Writing this down it seems even more embarrassing than it is in real life, a few fantasists performing rock covers. But, I don't care at all. I will walk through the cringe barrier and take my place at the drum kit and make mistakes and improve slowly - I hope.</p><p>My 11 year-old son Jimmy is a brilliant drummer and manages to make proper beautiful sounding music whenever he plays. The more I learn about playing drums the more I am in awe of his talent and keep telling myself I should give up because I can never be as good as him. Then I think if he is so good maybe it works backwards and somewhere this ability is buried in me. I get so much pleasure from it. Joining the band, albeit only for 7 weeks, is the most frightening thing I have done. The teacher at the Rhythm Studio said most adults that do start music lessons there don't persevere because adults are used to being good at things and don't relish showing themselves up, especially so loudly. When I used to sit for my father and he thought it wasn't going well he would sometimes stab himself in the leg with his paintbrush, or stamp is feet very suddenly giving me a terrible fright. He never gave up though. Good lesson.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2011/11/im-with-the-band" title="I'm With The Band">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:81991 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2011/11/im-with-the-band Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:21:12 +0100 <p>On Wednesday, I held a launch for <em>Submission</em>, the short film I have made in collaboration with director Martina Amati. It took place at the Max Wigram Gallery in New Bond St, a beautiful space. I was anxious about being a poised hostess while feeling raw since coming back from my holidays, and doing everything for the first time since my mother and father died. I think things like "I'm a bit old to be feeling the lack of parents", but it doesn't work like that. Good feeling, when it surges up, connects to missing my mother or my father and then I feel overwhelmed and choked up. Mainly I remind myself that nothing bad happened to them; they died. They weren't killed and they both died peacefully. This is incredibly consoling</p><p>The thing that has got me through it all has been my wonderful friends, and my dear sisters and brothers. Wednesday was full of friends and it felt extra good to be surrounded by them. <em>Submission</em> is five minutes long, and stars models Susie Bick and Abbey Lee Kershaw, and actresses Antonia Campbell Hughes, Phyllis Wang and Olympia Campbell.</p><p><em>Submission</em> is set in the world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu where you learn to use your opponent's strength to vanquish them. The unlikely winner engages us in her internal dialogue, remembering the moment in her childhood when she discovered how she wanted clothes to serve her as a protective armour. The film is a portrait of a group of unique women rolling on the mat in exclusive costumes.</p><p>Enjoy.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2011/09/09/submission" title="Submission">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:76380 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2011/09/09/submission Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:04:41 +0100 <p><em><br> Interior with Plant Reflection listening (Self-portrait), 1967</em></p><p>My beloved father died last week on Wednesday July 20. He was 88.</p><p>When I was younger I used to be able to make myself cry in three seconds at the thought of losing him. Even though I will miss him for the rest of my life, it seems reasonable that he should have gone.</p><p>What has been the biggest shock is my mother Bernardine dying four days after my father, aged only 68. She walked into Ipswich hospital in pain and discovered that she was in the advanced stages of cancer. A week later we were told she had a week to live, and she died 13 days after being admitted. When she was still able to speak, I sobbed in her arms as she lay in the hospital bed. She reassured me with such tenderness and said "I don't feel emotional about what is happening to me." She was fearless and calm, I am trying to be like her.</p><p><em><br> Pregnant Girl, 1960-61</em></p><p>Here is my father's self-portrait around the time they were together; the painting he did of my mother aged 18 and pregnant with me. And me.</p><p><em><br> Baby on a Green Sofa, 1961</em></p><p><em><a href="http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2011/07/22/lucien-freud-dies---artist-dead-at-88/gallery">SEE SOME OF LUCIEN FREUD'S MOST INFLUENTIAL WORKS</a></em></p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2011/07/29/a-tribute" title="A Tribute">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:75296 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2011/07/29/a-tribute Fri, 29 Jul 2011 09:46:39 +0100 <p>Missoni and the Hoping Foundation held a celebratory launch last week for the bag that Missoni designed especially, with all the profit from sales going to Hoping (the charity for Palestinian refugee children co-founded by my best friend Karma Nabulsi and I). It was the first major collaboration Hoping has done with a high fashion house - and it was fantastic!</p><p>Being a knitwear designer myself I have always loved Missoni and admired their artistry and craftsmanship. Angela and Margherita Missoni came over for the launch, which we held at their new Bond Street store. It was a beautiful sunny evening and hundreds of people spilled out of the shop onto Bond Street, smoking, chatting and admiring the cuteness of the bag. There was a general feeling that there wouldn't be many bags left after the party and we sold nearly 400 in the space of a few hours! The highlight of the night was a two-song performance by the beautiful and talented singer/songwriter Yasmin. She was so cool and committed; she even got guests singing the chorus with her.</p><p>It was great to meet Angela Missoni. Designers don't often get to spend time with each other and I liked her enormously. She is the creative director of a hugely successful company, but also very funny and fun. We had an amazing turnout of supporters including Mario Testino, Simon and Yasmin Le Bon, Alexandra Shulman, Rebecca Hall, Stephen Frears, Sheherazade Goldsmith, and many more. It was a wonderful night for Hoping and for everyone who wants Palestinian refugee children to have a chance in life. If you would like to support these amazing kids, please buy a bag from the Missoni stores in London or from <a href="http://www.hopingfoundation.co.uk/">www.hopingfoundation.co.uk</a>. Thank you!</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2011/07/11/here’s-to-hoping" title="Here’s To Hoping">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:74749 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2011/07/11/here’s-to-hoping Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:54:31 +0100 <p>Helena Bonham Carter and I</p><p>Last week my cousin Jack Freud and I gave a dinner at the Freud Museum in Maresfield Gardens, London. I managed to persuade John Malkovich, who is an ardent Sigmund Freud fan and was one of the people who made me more aware of his work, to give a little after dinner speech about how Freud had influenced him. John was in town to star in an opera about the Austrian serial killer Jack Unterweger, which is touring the world to rave reviews.</p><p>The Freud Museum is the house where my great grandfather lived the last 18 months of his life, when he came to England in 1938 after he was forced to leave Vienna because of the Nazis. By that time he was very ill with cancer of the jaw, though he saw patients until six weeks before his death.</p><p>Helena Bonham Carter</p><p>His study with all his things including his couch, his library and extensive collection of Greek, Roman and ancient Egyptian antiquities are all there, exactly as if he had just nipped out for a quick smoke in the rose garden. Guests at our soirée, including Helena Bonham Carter, Stephen Frears, Jemima Khan, Rebecca Hall, David Gilmour and Polly Samson, were given a tour of the study with fascinating explanations of the objects and documents.</p><p>Stephen Frears and Rebecca Hall</p><p>The study has an amazingly intimate and energetic feeling about it. Most of the guests, including my sisters and cousins, ended up on the couch having their pictures taken with mobile phones. We then adjourned to the next room to enjoy a feast provided by avant-garde caterers Bubble (<a href="http://www.bubblefood.com/molecular/" target="_blank">http://www.bubblefood.com/molecular/</a>), who served a superb dinner of Molecular gastronomy. This consisted of a number of tiny courses of exquisite tasting dishes of unusual flavours combined together to make a real delicacy.</p><p>John Malkovich's speech was interesting and funny and the evening became the most unlikely family reunion.</p><p>Jemima Khan and John Malkovich</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2011/06/a-freud-family-reunion" title="A Freud Family Reunion">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:74389 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2011/06/a-freud-family-reunion Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:57:48 +0100 <p>A few years ago, a young couple moved into the flat next door. I already knew the husband slightly but I became intrigued by his wife who is Italian and looks like Claudine, the heroine from a Colette novel: serious and mischievous, with the poise and elegance of 19th Century schoolgirl.</p><p>One day Martina Amati (for this is her name), dropped off a short film she had directed about a friend who made sculptures from Sellotape. She had brilliantly turned it into a thriller and my son, then aged six, was enchanted and made his own Sellotape sculpture. A few years and two short films later, when I bumped into Martina on the street she told me she had been nominated for a BAFTA for I Do Air – which she won! When I watched it, and then her next short Chalk - about teenage gymnasts - I became a profound fan. These shorts were like mini films, with a huge deep story and very little dialogue. Visually they were like the best French films but with a rogue wildness that makes them more exciting than the Nouvelle Vague.</p><p>I vowed to myself that one day I would work with Martina and last Sunday, thanks to some art sponsorship from Jo Malone, it happened. Martina directed and brought her amazing team of DOP Ula Pontikos, set designer Marie Lana and producer Nina Angelieri, and we shot it in one day at the Roger Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy.</p><p>Everyone worked for nothing. I co-wrote with Martina (my first film writing!), and we lured in the talent: cool, hot young actress Antonia Campbell Hughes, icon of fashion Susie Bick, fifteen year old Olympia Campbell, beautiful newcomer Phyllis Wang. And the mind- blowingly amazing Abbey Lee Kershaw, who flew in especially from New York, arriving at midnight on Saturday.</p><p>The story is set in the world of Jiu Jitsu and Martina persuaded some of the top girls from the Jiu Jitsu academy to be in the film. They all wore my designs. It is still to be edited, but I welled up when I watched it on the monitor. It is so good. Exciting!</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2011/06/10/girls-on-film" title="Girls On Film">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:71283 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2011/06/10/girls-on-film Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:13:00 +0100 <p>Over the Easter holidays our family went on an impromptu trip to Los Angeles. My husband James was exploring a possible work project and our friend Tao Ruspoli was about to move out of his lovely Venice Beach house - this was our last chance to spend time with him there. In general I dread the thought of going anywhere much, though when my son says 'let's go to wherever' then it suddenly it seems like a good idea, there is a reason to go.</p><p>We had a really good time in LA: James worked, which makes him happy, I went to the <em>Art From The Streets</em> exhibition at Moca - which was brilliant and gave me lots of ideas. But the main reason for the success of the trip was the presence of Black Moses. Al'Sham Jones, who introduces himself as Black Moses, is a friend of Tao's and works with him on some of his documentary film projects. He is tall, with long dreadlocks which he keeps under control with a pair of fishnet tights over his head when at home, then with a tall woolly hat sporting the Rastafarian red green and gold colours for going out.</p><p>As well as his stylish outfits of purple or turquoise tracksuits, cool T-shirts and fabulous jewellery, he spoke with a Southern flourish to his interesting, often hilarious observations. He seemed to know everything and we never made a move without consulting Moses. Most of all Jimmy was besotted. The highlight of our trip was for James and I to go out and leave him with Moses watching <a href="http://failblog.org/" target="_blank">Failblog.org&nbsp;</a> (a website of peoples' videos of absurd incidents they have recorded and sent in), or skate boarding clips on the computer in Tao's editing studio. Or feeding the baby Boa constrictors that lived in the garage with live mice (which Jimmy then rescued and set free in the garden behind Moses' back). Everything was exciting with Moses around. On our way to Disneyland we had a long educational conversation about the rapper KRS1 and Jimmy knew the words by heart (I did bring my son up right you know).</p><p>As our departure neared Jimmy fell into a gloom. Lying cuddled up on the last night trying to console him he said 'He's like my father you know.'</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2011/05/12/black-moses" title="Black Moses">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42346 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2011/05/12/black-moses Thu, 12 May 2011 16:02:00 +0100 <p>I remember the first time I saw Christian Louboutin. It was in 1991 at a trade fair in Paris where I was showing my second collection. Anita Pallenberg came onto my stand accompanied by an impish, handsome young man - Christian. From that moment on, each time I went to Paris my visit was enhanced by meeting up with Christian and often staying at his studio, which was littered with scraps of coloured leather, drawings, polaroids of friends and fascinating bits and pieces. I would linger over each of his new collections, obsessing about the shoe that was going to be my transformational focus. When I became pregnant I rang him and asked if he would be Godfather, now I compete for his affections with my son Jimmy who is 10.&nbsp;</p><p>For AW11 Christian and I have collaborated on a project: his drawings on my jumpers. There are two dresses and two jumpers with intarsias of his drawings on the front. I felt like a bit of a bully going over to Paris and watching over him while he sat on the sofa in his flat and drew. His schedule is so intense, between Syria, Asia, LA, Luxor or a few moments at home in Paris I knew this was my only chance to catch him before all the others got in with their demands first. It was impressive watching him wield a pencil and see the ideas flow instantly from mind to paper. The more he drew, the more ideas he had. It was as if the design came to life as it streamed through the lead of the pencil and he would rub out and add or change something as each idea generated a new one.</p><p>I like to give each of my collections a different name. This collection is called Fetish. You may interpret it as you wish.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2011/02/25/aw11-collection-fetish" title="A/W11 Collection Fetish">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42349 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2011/02/25/aw11-collection-fetish Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:24:00 +0100 <p>Sorry for my very slow blog life recently, I have been so busy preparing my collection and delivering my spring/summer 2011 collection - please check out my David Bowie-inspired jumpers at Matches&nbsp;<a href="http://www.matchesfashion.com" target="_blank">www.matchesfashion.com</a> and Net-A-Porter <a href="http://www.netaporter.com" target="_blank">www.netaporter.com</a>.</p><p>I have also discovered Twitter and have whiled away too many blogging moments reading Jon Snow (<a href="mailto:=@jonsnowC4" target="_blank">@jonsnowC4</a>) from Tahrir Square or Fatima Bhutto's (<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/fbhutto" target="_blank">@fbhutto</a>) brilliantly acerbic comments on Pakistani politics and anything else that catches her discerning eye.</p><p>February 2011 so far is good! Maria Hatzistefanis, the founder of Rodial Skincare chose Hoping Foundation - the charity for Palestinian refugee children www.hopingfoundation.org - which I co-founded with my best friend Karma Nabulsi, as their charity to donate to and promote at the Rodial Beautiful Awards. The Beautiful Awards took place at the Sanderson Hotel on February 1. It may sound like an unlikely audience for raising awareness about Palestinian refugee children and the hardships they endure, but I have found the fashion and beauty industry to be incredibly supportive and it was uplifting to receive such positive and encouraging feedback from so many people. Maria Hatzistefanis should have won an award herself for being the most dynamic and hardworking creator of a first class beauty brand. Thank you Rodial!</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2011/02/16/bowie-inspired" title="Bowie Inspired">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42351 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2011/02/16/bowie-inspired Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:36:00 +0100 <p>Jemima Khan&nbsp;arriving at court to defend Julian Assange.</p><p>The thing that stood out for me last year (and is my standard bearer for 2011), was Jemima Khan volunteering to stand surety for some of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's bail. In doing so she brought a lot of unwelcome attention on herself, much of it snide and bitchy and much of it from other women. It is so rare that someone spontaneously reaches out to help when they are actually in a position to make a difference - and Jemima did. With her fear of any kind of public speaking it was a big step to concede further to the lawyers for Assange when they asked her to drop her anonymity with her offer of support, in order to show the world that people of repute were prepared to openly stand by him. It was brave of her and so second rate of those journalists who made it into a story about Jemima Khan instead of about the furious reaction to Wikileaks'&nbsp; riveting revelations.</p><p>At the first court hearing, when he was granted bail but not freed, I went with Jemima to catch a glimpse of the proceedings. It was packed so we ended up hanging around for three hours in the corridor with Ken Loach, Hanif Kureishi and others including Peter Tatchell (much better looking in real life), following the case via Twitter from someone who had managed to get in. Eventually there was a cheer from the crowd outside the courthouse when bail was granted against everyone's predictions. As we left, a Times journalist (male) who had written a particularly spiteful front page leader with a picture of Jemima (looking captivatingly like a Seventies political heroine), sidled up to apologise, hoping to get a bit more from her. I had to resist going into bouncer mode but Jemima still managed a smile while chastising him for his gratuitously unpleasant comments, that both he and his editor had blamed on the copy editors. Shame!</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2011/01/11/looking-for-justice" title="Looking For Justice">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42354 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2011/01/11/looking-for-justice Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:07:00 +0100 <p>When I was a 22-year-old fashion student living in Rome, I became a temporary stepmother figure to my much older boyfriend's two little sons Tao, eight, and Bartolomeo, five. I made various attempts to win their affections including English puddings and reading them bedtime stories from the Old Testament, which may sound weird but was something I really enjoyed when I was a child. It didn't seem to put them off as we are still close and I am ecstatic if they ever come to London, which Tao did last week.</p><p>Tao is now married to the ravishingly beautiful actress Olivia Wilde, who is so cool she dyes her platinum blonde hair brown. She is the star of <em>Tron,</em> Disney's new mega blockbuster which also features Jeff Bridges (I shook his hand in the foyer of Claridges!) and we were invited to the premiere. Before we went I hung out in their room and took this photo of them wearing their matching presents - luckily for me Tao is slender enough to fit my size large jumper. Happy Christmas.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/12/16/christmas-giving" title="Christmas Giving">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42358 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/12/16/christmas-giving Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:29:00 +0100 <p>I have spent the last two weekends in Portugal being on the jury of the Estoril Film Festival. The festival was created by Paulo Branco, a charismatic, easygoing man with a huge Peckinpah-esque moustache. He is a friend of John Malkovich, which is why I was invited, as they showed the three short films we made together: <em>Strap-Hanging,</em> <em>Lady Behave</em>, and <em>Hideous Man</em> (you can see them all on my website <a href="http://www.bellafreud.co.uk" target="_blank">www.bellafreud.co.uk</a>). John also did a little fashion show with his spring/summer 2011 collection, modelled by the actors from the latest Raoul Ruiz film <em>Les Mysteres de Lisboa</em>. His clothes are really good, properly "fashion". I find it impressive that in the little spare time that he has between making films and directing his operas he manages to produce exquisite, beautifully made menswear. And on top of that his drawings are masterpieces, praised by no less than my dad. I have taken photos to show you.</p><p>When I arrived in Portugal the temperature was 24 degrees and my hotel suite was of the highest luxury with a multitude of windows and a balcony over looking the sea.</p><p>Friday evening started with an exhibition of Lou Reed's photographs, in the presence of Lou himself. The pictures were beautiful: landscapes with incredible light, some with almost psychedelic shades of green or yellow - all achieved by doctoring the camera and being a fiendish perfectionist.</p><p>The next morning after drying my hair in the sun, I went to a three-hour documentary called <em>Ceauşescu Autobiography</em>, almost entirely made with Ceauşescu's own propaganda films, with clips of him meeting everyone from Nixon to Queen Elizabeth. It was interesting in a sinister way but I couldn't help nodding off rather a lot. That night there was a screening of <em>On Tour</em>, written, directed and starring the genius actor from Schnabel's <em>The Diving Bell</em> and <em>The Butterfly</em>, Mathieu Amalric. After, at midnight, a group of us went to Lisbon to listen to Fado music which I was slightly dreading - but it was incredibly good, all sung by really young people in a little club that had been a chapel. Got to bed at 5am.</p><p>Sunday there was an exhibition by Spanish photographer Alberto Maria-Alix and a documentary he had made. In spite of being in Spanish, which I don't understand, it was the most gripping and moving film and I rushed off to the airport on a high. The endorphins must have befuddled me as I lingered rather too long in the Club lounge and managed to miss my flight!</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/11/16/a-cinematic-trip" title="A Cinematic Trip">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42361 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/11/16/a-cinematic-trip Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:54:00 +0100 <p>Please have a look at the film Willem Jaspert and Stephan Langmanis directed for the collection Susie Bick and I designed together. It stars Florrie, who is the most beautiful creature. She looks like a French actress and a gazelle. The music is by Grinderman and the film is named after their song <em>When My Love Comes Down</em>. I found this poem that I had written years ago instead of a press release for one of my collections; it could have been written about Florrie.</p><p>Don't have mercy on me Baby,<br> In your Exterminating Angel dress<br> With its tiny white spangled sleeves,<br> Your look is such a success.</p><p>So Belle de Jour this afternoon,<br> Faux - formal in your cotton pique Cherry suit,<br> Posed in that sparkling pink Showbiz Jacket,<br> And those slinky, nude-beige tailored Straights.</p><p>When I came to meet you at 7 o'clock<br> You wore a dress you called The Number,<br> Almost demure in black crepe with slashed chiffon sleeves<br> Madame Claude would have admired your finesse.</p><p><a href="http://www.bellafreud.co.uk/category/films/" target="_blank">www.bellafreud.co.uk/category/films/</a></p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/10/27/florrie-the-muse" title="Florrie The Muse">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42364 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/10/27/florrie-the-muse Wed, 27 Oct 2010 11:25:00 +0100 <p>A few weeks ago I was staying with a girlfriend in the country. We were hanging out in our pyjamas in her bedroom with another friend, idly chatting about soft furnishings, when she pulled some underwear from the drawer in preparation to getting dressed. "Do you always wear those?" I asked about the tiny black thong in her hand. "Yes, I either wear thongs or big pants and - are you really interested?" "I am so interested," I replied, as I find this kind of information fascinating.</p><p>She then showed me a sturdy looking black bra. "I wear this all the time, even in bed, except when my boyfriend is here." "In bed?" we chorused. "When I first got pregnant my mother told me that if I wore a bra in bed as well my boobs would not sag after breast feeding. I went to Rigby &amp; Peller and got measured up for these kinds of training bras which are not underwired but are like armour. I wear them all the time." My friend is very beautiful and she probably looks dead sexy in the bra armour. "It does work. In spite of the two children they are still pert," she averred as we gazed at her in admiration. She added "You know my mum - she is nearly 75 and has size F bosoms. When she takes off her bra they spring out like torpedoes."</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/10/07/a-chesty-solution" title="A Chesty Solution">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42366 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/10/07/a-chesty-solution Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:34:00 +0100 <p>Richard Mortimer, the young genius behind Boombox and Ponystep Magazine, rang up a few months ago and said "I'd like to do something about your collaboration with Susie Bick, perhaps a film - I have a budget from New Look to do something creative." Amazing! The end result is a three-minute film directed by Willem Jaspert and Stephen Langmanis, starring 21-year -old singer/songwriter Florrie, who is incredibly beautiful in that French actress way i.e. looks and brains. In it she wears the clothes that Susie and I designed.</p><p>The screening took place at a new hotel that used to be the Town Hall in Bethnal Green. The film was so brief that as soon as the people settled into their seats to get immersed in the story it was over. Susie and I got all sentimental seeing our work enshrined in a film. We have been friends for 20 years and have worked together a lot but never as equal footing designers. I love collaborating and to work with Susie was fun and made me expand my thinking. Susie was adamant about keeping dresses really short. My favourite piece from our collection is a micro-mini, black, long sleeved knit dress with a white scallop hem and little embroidered white circles in each scallop. It is so demure but shockingly short. When Susie wears it, with her Snow White black hair falling over her face, people stop in disbelief she looks so good.</p><p><a href="http://www.bellafreud.co.uk" target="_blank">www.bellafreud.co.uk</a>&nbsp;- <em>where our film will be live soon. In the meantime you can checkout my new website and blog Dream of the Week</em>.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/09/15/a-collaborative-force" title="A Collaborative Force">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42369 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/09/15/a-collaborative-force Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:43:00 +0100 <p>Although I look forward to my summer holidays I dread the thought of stripping off to a swimsuit. I love other peoples' bodies, but irrational ideals about my own leave me projecting mortification and self-consciousness. It must have been that Leonard Cohen song I first heard when I was 12 - 'you've touched her perfect body with your mind' - it sets up a fantasy of perfection much stronger than any airbrushing. Once I actually get to my destination and the sun pours down, I end up back in the bikini I decided I was too past it to wear. With everyone semi-clad and imperfect bodies on show, it suddenly feels quite great to be naked - or nearly.</p><p>This year my confidence was also boosted from trying out Madonna's best kept secret - the Demilec Acoustic Wave Therapy D-Actor. Demilec AWT works by stimulating the microcirculation in fat tissue and was originally pioneered to treat ligament damage. Its unexpected and fantastic side effect was a huge reduction in cellulite. What's good enough for Madonna is good enough for me so I got on my scooter and zoomed off to the Viva Clinic at 592 Finchley Rd, London, NW11 7RX.</p><p>The Demilec machine looked like a little metal stick but felt like it had a drill inside vibrating powerfully against the flesh when Sonal, my therapist and trained nurse, specialising in beauty procedures, passed it over my thighs. She asked me to tell her if it hurt but I gritted my teeth in silence as I didn't want to forfeit any skin tone improvement just for a little pain.<br> The Demilec system sends high energy acoustic waves into your body via high frequency oscillations that help with the elimination of lymphatic congestion and tighten muscle and connective tissue.</p><p>In spite of the drastic feeling there was not the slightest mark or bruise afterwards and, what's more, there was an immediate difference after just one treatment. The next time it didn't hurt at all. I felt exhilarated by the experience of being transformed, yakking away to Sonal above the noise of the drilling sound. I'm only on my third treatment but it definitely works, in spite of an intense August bank holiday in Scotland, eating breakfast, lunch, high tea and dinner with chocolates in between.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/09/03/body-beautiful" title="Body Beautiful">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42371 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/09/03/body-beautiful Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:36:00 +0100 <p>Karma and I at Hoping</p><p>I'm still flying from the spectacular success of the Hoping event on July 10th. Each year my best friend Karma, myself and the multi-talented committee of the Hoping Foundation come up with an idea for our annual fundraiser. This year our guests were spellbound by performances from Nick Cave, Tom Jones, and miraculously a one-night reunion of David Gilmour and Roger Waters. Each act was auctioned to the audience, and then the stars stepped up. The evening seemed to build effortlessly to a mind-blowing crescendo when David and Roger played some of their original Pink Floyd numbers, topped off by an unscheduled <em>Another Brick in the Wall</em> after Arki Busson bid 50 grand if they would play it. It was so moving and electrifying that people were crying. And it all happened to raise awareness and funds for the Palestinian refugee children that Hoping supports.</p><p>It sounds quite simple writing it down, though during the two month build-up I experienced intense nerves and attacks of almost paralysing anxiety. Mostly my stomach felt nailed to my back and I woke up each morning with burning spasms of fear. This would be punctuated with waves of relaxing exhilaration when some wonderful bit of news came through like Tom Jones confirming, or Kate Moss saying she and Susie Bick (Nick Cave's wife) would dance while Nick sang Stagger Lee - that particularly bought me an interlude of blissed out calm.</p><p>I know from previous Hoping events how important it is to beware the 'I'll take care of myself when this is over' mode as it leaves me crashing into an anti-climatic vacuum. Also it means on the big day I am a blotchy faced skeleton and that is not nice. My local beauty salon, the excellent Beauty Works West in Notting Hill Gate, kept my façade intact. I had a Sjal facial which promised to relax both mind and body and I fell asleep as the white coated beautician applied a mask containing ground-up pearls, diamonds and rubies. I woke an hour later to calmer thoughts and an even skin tone. Just before the day I had a first class pedicure with hot stones and leg massage, while I texted like a maniac. Nestling among the shades of Rouge Noir and Nude was a bottle of the darkest Prussian blue that reminded me of a Rolls Royce my father had briefly owned but lost through a bet. He told me the colour was called Blue over Special Blue. My toes are still in perfect nick, and so are my memories.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/07/28/heres-to-hoping" title="Here’s To Hoping">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42374 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/07/28/heres-to-hoping Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:50:00 +0100 <p>I like going shopping but I like shopping for someone else more. I can luxuriate in the intense sense of enjoyment that wells up with potential things to try on but it doesn't ramp up into one of those frenzies from which you emerge wondering what happened.</p><p>One Friday morning breakfast last month, Stephen Frears declared he needed a new jacket to wear to Cannes where his latest film Tamara Drewe was being shown. I boldly offered to take him shopping and we arranged to meet the next day at Matches in Ledbury Rd, Notting Hill, which is round the corner from where he lives.</p><p>Stephen is in his Sixties and clearly couldn't give a damn about fashion yet he has something fashionable in his demeanor in spite of himself. Most Fridays when I see him he is uncombed, unshaven, and sometimes wearing trousers with a drawstring waist, but he still looks cool and irreverent.</p><p>Matches menswear department has the greatest salesmen. They offered expresso's while I began talking to them about Margiela jackets and Lanvin shirts. I could see Stephen looking a bit anxious but then I pulled out a silver Marc Jacobs jacket and he snatched it out of my hands and dashed off to the changing room. Just as he emerged from behind the fitting room curtain, his wife Annie appeared suddenly as if from nowhere. Stephen had clearly been spooked enough by my unfettered fashion speak to call his wife to come and protect him. How did she get there so quickly? "I think you are in safe hands," she said glancing at the jacket. "I didn't want her to make me wear anything funny," he explained.</p><p>The silver jacket was beautiful - Stephen couldn't believe that this choosing clothes lark was so enjoyable. "I thought these kind of places were only for my sons" he told the shop boys. Annie left after Stephen had tried on a lovely purple striped Lanvin shirt and a John Varvatos grey jersey polo top which looked boyish without seeming ridiculous.</p><p>Two weeks later I arrived at Friday breakfast to a fanfare of appreciation. The film had received a five minute standing ovation and now I was getting one for my selection skills. As I was leaving I looked down at Stephen's feet and there emerging from his open toed sandals were a pair of shockingly neglected toenails. Next stop the beauty parlour.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/07/07/stephens-shopping-spree" title="Stephen’s Shopping Spree">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42376 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/07/07/stephens-shopping-spree Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:42:00 +0100 <p>A week ago I was sitting on the terrace of a small boutique hotel overlooking the sea - in Gaza. Boutique hotel and Gaza are not normally read in the same sentence, Gaza generally conjures up images of bombed out buildings, food shortages, or the blockade which has stopped everything including food, medicine and building material from entering. All this is true, I witnessed the piles of rubble that had once been a thriving market area providing for the needs of people on the Gaza side of the checkpoint. I saw men collecting rubble and was told there is a huge recycling effort going on and the bits of broken buildings are taken to a factory that crushes them and turns them into new concrete for people to mend their homes with. The asphalt from the defunct airport has been used to resurface roads and roofs. There are many donkeys and horse traps due to the dearth of petrol. But now the checkpoint is very quiet as no one is allowed in or out of Gaza except under very special circumstances.</p><p>I was there to see how the Yearbook Project for school leaving pupils in the UNRWA schools was progressing. The charity that I co-founded with my best friend Karma Nabulsi is called the HOPING Foundation.<br> HOPING and UNRWA (the UN agency for Palestine refugees), are organising an online Yearbook for Palestinian refugee students so that they can communicate across borders and share their interests. With all the difficulties that there are in Gaza - the electricity shortages, lack of computers, paper, components to fix the photocopiers (the list goes on), we found the students and their teachers had embraced the project with so much enthusiasm, in fact I have never met such motivated children in my life. Visiting these schools and travelling around Gaza I experienced a different side of the place. My hotel, the Al Deira, was heavenly and my room was charming with huge windows looking out on to the beautiful, sparkling sea. But the sea is also full of raw sewage because the plant was bombed and no equipment has been allowed through the border to mend it.</p><p>In the evening, the hotel dining room filled up with young people and families eating or drinking coffee and smoking apple flavoured hubble bubble pipes. It was impressive to see people managing to enjoy themselves knowing how their lives, without exception, are affected by the food shortages, deaths from lack of basic medical equipment, or the inability for students to travel abroad to take up their scholarships. Mind you, only a tiny fraction of population can afford the luxury of dining in a hotel as the blockade had collapsed the economy.</p><p>It is the spirit and determination of the people for life to be normal that made visiting Gaza such an energising and moving experience.<br> Seeing it made me desperately want to believe things are getting better for them. But it isn't. Because at the end of the day I can leave when I want to - and they cant.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/05/27/a-weekend-in-gaza" title="A Weekend In Gaza">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42379 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/05/27/a-weekend-in-gaza Thu, 27 May 2010 10:52:00 +0100 <p><br> Bella Freud © PA</p><p>I've always been a sucker for a psychic. In spite of being anti-authoritarian, I like being told what to do if it's from 'beyond.'</p><p>The first psychic I went to see, called Betty, was based at Pineapple Studios (B.C blissful Louie Spence). She was recommended by my then-business manager and the first bit of advice she gave me was to buy someone, who was obviously him, a one way ticket to New York.</p><p>Every now and then, when I was in what felt like an unsolvable dilemma, I would seek her counsel. She was sometimes spot on. One of those times I was exasperated by a relationship that after two-and-a-half years seemed like a stuck record. I had a feeling it was heading for terminal, but I still liked him enough to cling to the idea of a bit more future for us. On unburdening myself to Betty, she barely paused before saying "I think you should end your relationship, preferably this afternoon. There is someone you have already met, in the shadows of your life, and within six weeks you will be together."</p><p>Somewhat taken aback, I paid my money and left, trying to think of who - in the shadows of my life - I fancied. That afternoon I had a huge row with my boyfriend and we broke up (I did feel rather guilty!).</p><p>I month later I went on holiday to visit a friend. Also visiting was a man called James Fox who I had met a few times before. Although he was very good looking, I had never been drawn to him as he had a reputation as a bit of a rotter. Over the week I discovered he was perhaps the kindest, funniest and most intelligent person. We met up a week after we returned from the holiday and this month will celebrate our 17th anniversary together.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/05/07/the-perfect-partnership" title="The Perfect Partnership">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42381 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/05/07/the-perfect-partnership Fri, 07 May 2010 12:32:00 +0100 <p>This week was supposed to be filled with wonderful plans to entertain my son before he goes back to school. Instead a headache sends me to bed for the whole day, and then continues the next day with more viciousness. This used to be a weekly occurrence until I met Dr Amir, a holistic dentist who specializes in jaw alignment. He made me a dental plate that is very slowly correcting the position of my jaw in relation to my head. It is also ridding me of headaches, which I have been plagued by for 16 years. If I get a relapse Amir tweaks the brace producing an almost magical result- a frozen, painful right side of my head and shoulder suddenly came to life as if a tap had been turned on. So when this one attacked I managed somehow to drag myself out of my sickbed and drove to Putney to see if he could help me again. This time Amir checked to see if my Atlas vertebrae was out of alignment - which it was! I'm sorry if this sounds like a Moaning Minnie confessional but I have to put the word out. It's not your usual checklist at the dentist but then he is no ordinary dental surgeon. He applied a vibrating machine to the back of my head and neck for 5 or 10 minutes and it was like a malevolent genie leaving the bottle - the headache was gone. It is amazing feeling having a headache depart in mid assault. I flung my arms around Dr Amir and returned home - just in time to take my son to A&amp;E after an accident with a supermarket trolley.</p><p>Contact Dr Amir on 020 8780 3433 or email him at amir2647@msn.com. Initial consultation: £50.</p><p><a href="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/health/article-23753592-how-a-dental-brace-could-cure-ms-migraines-and-paralysis.do" target="_blank">http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/health/article-23753592-how-a-dental-brace-could-cure-ms-migraines-and-paralysis.do</a><a href="http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/health/article-23753592-how-a-dental-brace-could-cure-ms-migraines-and-paralysis.do"></a></p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/04/16/healing-hands" title="Healing Hands">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42384 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/04/16/healing-hands Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:02:00 +0100 <p>My son Jimmy has a school friend called Tiger. Tiger's dad is called Colin, or was called Colin. He recently changed his name by deed poll to Happy Birthday. It took us all rather by surprise at first but such is his charismatic charm that now it seems completely natural.</p><p>Anyway, Colin/Happy has created a new website for dog lovers called DoDaDog which is bound to go stratospheric given the Englishman's obsession with his best friend. My son is the new owner of Joey, a Border terrier puppy, and it is as if I've suddenly discovered 3D: a whole world that I wasn't aware of, a new code of etiquette to be followed.</p><p>DoDaDog the Dog Blog has much to offer: a 24-hour vet consultation service, a photo gallery for members to post pictures or film clips of their adored ones, recipes for dog treats (Joey goes mental for these), Mystic Susan's (pictures above) horoscopes and best of all maps of walks to take your dog on. I mean real walks like 3.7 km in London NW10 or 5.49 km in Doncaster with all the street names and a mini map to print off. If you move house, or go on holiday to the country you can see where to wander without being gored by a bull. Now there is a DoDaDog App that will track your walk by satellite, which you then upload onto the site.</p><p>A brilliant touch is the find-my-dog service that alerts all DoDaDog members within a two-mile radius of where your pet was last seen.</p><p>I think Happy Birthday should change his name to Bloody Genius.</p><p><a href="http://www.dodadog.com" target="_blank">www.dodadog.com</a></p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/03/31/dodadog" title="DoDaDog">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42387 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/03/31/dodadog Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:07:00 +0100 <p>I - and my four sisters and our husbands and children - decided to go en masse to Paris for my father's exhibition opening at the Centre Pompidou last week, which also coincided with the last few days of Paris Fashion Week.</p><p>On Saturday I took Anna Wintour and her daughter on a guided tour of the exhibition. It was fashion Nirvana even if somewhat nerve wracking, but then most fashion Nirvana has an element of terror about it.</p><p>I decided to wear my new pale pink Marc Jacobs charity T-shirt with a picture of naked Chloe Sevigny on it, plus a Last Poets cardigan from my spring/summer 2010 collection. Anna Wintour was wearing a blue tweed suit and boots and she looked… amazing, of course.</p><p>Christian Louboutin was my date and we wandered through the museum with the curator enjoying the luxury of seeing the show by ourselves, with me filling in the occasional bit of background to a picture.</p><p>Afterwards Christian took me on the back of his scooter to the Tuileries where I met up with Jefferson Hack who had invited me to go with him to the Viktor &amp; Rolf show. We sat next to Beth Ditto, who I worship, and who provided an unfashionably enthusiastic commentary to the show, which was of spectacular beauty and ended with everyone, à la Ditto, cheering and shouting.</p><p>The final highlight of my trip was our whole family in the same carriage on the Eurostar, gossiping about the dinner after Dad's show. Esther said she kept expecting him to throw a bread roll at someone during the Minister of Culture's speech. He might have done but he didn't.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/03/18/a-family-affair" title="A Family Affair">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42389 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/03/18/a-family-affair Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:24:00 +0100 <p>I was slightly wary of Lady Gaga when she first appeared on the scene. She seemed too good to be true. Beth Ditto, my last crush, had worked her way out of the American South to become a beautiful superstar against the odds. Lady Gaga seemed to fall from outer space with a perfect body and some mind-blowing outfits, everything intact. Was there more there than met the eye? (Which was already a lot of course.)</p><p>It was Susie Bick, a cult figure herself, who urged me to follow Gaga. She kept showing me clips on YouTube, and then her performance at the Brits was the final straw, and I was hooked. Soon after, I found an amazing invitation in my inbox to attend an audience with Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper, hosted by Sharon Osborne for MAC cosmetics. Susie and I got quite worked up. "I'm gaga for Gaga," texted Susie. We spent ages getting ready in the lovely changing rooms at Body Works West, my new gym. Susie looked pneumatic in a black scalloped hem micro mini dress we designed together, while I dithered about which jumper to wear until a complete stranger piped up and put me out of my misery.</p><p>Although Cyndi and Gaga were only talking about the new lipstick shades they have designed for Mac's Viva Glam campaign (all the money goes to Aids sufferers), they still managed to be utterly beguiling and convincing. Especially when discussing the merits of protected sex and even celibacy; Lady Gaga said "What keeps me warm at night is my identity."</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/03/05/gaga-for-gaga" title="Gaga For Gaga">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42391 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/03/05/gaga-for-gaga Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:45:00 +0100 <p>When I was working for Vivienne Westwood in the late Eighties I assisted on a shoot for <em>Elle</em> magazine featuring Vivienne's Mini Crini collection. One of the models was a black haired, white skinned creature who seemed to move in slow motion, so graceful and elegant was she. Her name was Susie Bick and we struck up a friendship which is going strong twenty years later. Susie is one of the great models; she's the girl Kate Moss looked up to when she first started. She has modelled in all my shows - and most of my films - and now we have designed a collection together for autumn/winter 2010-11. The collection is made up of 12 pieces of knitwear, each piece infused with Susie's outrageously demure allure. It was such fun to work together, though I had to get used to Susie's apologetic "Sorry Bel, I wouldn't wear that." It made me think outside my normal frame of references. Susie's ideas were very specific; she knew exactly what she wanted which was very freeing. This is just the beginning.</p><p><a href="/blogs/laura-bailey/100224-suzy-bick-and-bella-freud-.aspx" target="_blank">See Laura Bailey's blog about Bella's collection</a></p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/02/24/bella-and-bick" title="Bella And Bick">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42395 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/02/24/bella-and-bick Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:26:00 +0100 <p>On Friday I went for breakfast with Stephen Frears and Hanif Kureishi. Stephen and Hanif have been meeting for breakfast on Fridays since they made <em>My Beautiful Launderette</em> together over 20 years ago. A few friends and admirers usually join them for some sparkling conversation. Being in their company reminds you how important it is to read books as it is thrilling to occasionally get one of their references. Stephen was talking about a film by Roberto Rossellini called <em>The Rise of Louis XIV</em>: "He had this brilliant idea to make all his courtiers obsessed with clothes so they didn't rise up and conspire against him." I want to see how The Sun King did it.</p><p>Later that day, I was sitting in a branch of Itsu outside Vogue House. While I savoured my detox soup and honey and fennel cashew nuts I watched the different looks go by, mostly turning into the Condé Nast building. I suddenly spied a stylish looking man in a long coat, cowboy hat and strange boots. He was pushing a supermarket trolley which he parked and went back down the road 10 paces and pushed along another trolley, and then another. The three trolleys were full of exciting looking clothes, suitcases and boxes - like something from a Marc Jacobs window display. I assumed he was a tramp but then I wondered if he might be a stylist, so upbeat was his demeanour and so intriguing the contents of his fleet.</p><p>I am heartbroken by the sudden death of Alexander McQueen. Everything he did was radical. People who said they cried at his shows didn't sound melodramatic. When he unleashed his spectacular displays of beauty and innovation, it undid something inside you. Fashion will never be the same without McQueen.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/02/15/lady-and-the-tramp" title="Lady And The Tramp">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42397 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/02/15/lady-and-the-tramp Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:00:00 +0100 <p>When I was a child I had a recurring nightmare: I was on a train with a corridor, like in European trains. One of the compartments was filled from floor to ceiling with pins, and a giant was telling me I had to move all the pins from one compartment to the other in three seconds or… I knew the "or" meant death.</p><p>By the time the giant had finished telling me I had to move the pins the three seconds had already passed - never mind that it was impossible and completely pointless (no pun intended). That dream was so frightening and the mood of it could be conjured up during the day too, to add to its sinisterness.</p><p>I still dream vividly most nights, though thankfully they are more benign than when I was eight. I can remember dreams from 20 years ago like the one where I was driving horribly slowly in a Mini that was being chased by menacing tramps. They started licking the outside of the car - then I managed to take off in the Mini and flew away. The feeling of escaping, the doors open like wings, was wonderful.</p><p>The dreams I like best now are the silly ones like last week when I dreamt that Jarvis Cocker told me he was writing for The Archers.</p><p>A favourite was an erotic dream about Daniel Craig, except that I spent the first part of the dream showing him my top beauty products until he finally kissed me and I didn't resist, in spite of my happy marriage. I arose in a good mood the next morning, which was nice.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/02/03/whats-in-a-dream" title="What’s In A Dream?">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42399 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/02/03/whats-in-a-dream Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:06:00 +0100 <p>"Staying up all night seems to do wonders for the complexion," trilled the lady's cut-glass tones. I can't remember who the lady was but I remember hearing this kind of comment as a child, when we occasionally moved in the cut-glass accent circles. The general gist was some kind of bemused curiosity that an early night with a pot of cold cream on your face wasn't necessarily the remedy for good skin. It was the Sixties and new heroines like Marianne Faithfull set the beauty bar.</p><p>Her face was innocent and flawless-looking yet we all knew what she got up to and it wasn't early nights. Not everybody appreciated her look, my father said her eyes looked like "two holes burnt in a blanket" - but I thought that sounded great.</p><p>There is a particularly alluring skin tone which is hard to emulate once you are over 25. It's the alabaster pallor combined with a delicate consumptive-looking blush. This tiny glow of colour heightens the glittering eye and the rose lips. This is not a top make up artist at work but the result of a night not spent in sleep but in fun.</p><p>The nearest you could get to this is to try and get an appointment with Joanne Evans at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.skin-matters.co.uk" target="_blank">www.skin-matters.co.uk</a>. Joanne is a genius skin specialist and her facials leave you looking as young as it's possible to look at your age (assuming you are my age). What I love is her laser treatment, which is a little wand that gently bashes your skin and causes the collagen to rise up and plump up the face.</p><p></p><a href="/blogs/bella-freud/2010/01/26/glow-on" title="Glow On">Continue reading...</a> urn:www-vogue-co-uk:1:docid:42402 http://www.vogue.co.uk/blogs/bella-freud/2010/01/26/glow-on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:16:00 +0100 Thu, 25 Aug 2016 14:10:49 +0100 http://www.vogue.co.uk Thu, 25 Aug 2016 14:10:49 +0100 condenet.technical@condenast.co.uk en-gb