CHRISTMAS SALE x PARTY AT BELLA’S
Written By Bacall Michaels
Friday, I went to a part of West London, where half of the street is the oddest of industrial, and the other contains moss-covered British neo-gothism. I was on my way to Bella Freud’s Christmas Party. Layered with crocheted bits, a lucky garter, my black hooded coat, and thick wool socks, I dashed from the station in heels. Quite proud of myself about fifteen minutes later, I missed a cobble and almost kissed the stone purple. (My goal to conquer the uneven, random pavement of England in inches, hopefully, has almost been accomplished.)
Walking into the dulled numbers, with a spin, I pressed her bell. Up a winding staircase, I made my way into the reception room. Instantly it felt like my roots. It’s funny how the slightly bohemian part of the industry (internationally) has a similar smell, and feel. It was a relief- no questionable swimmers stuck in the shallows, just the real people up the mountain.
Over tea, minced pies, and various other treats, we chatted about Bella’s knits. The current collection, “Fetish”, was on display alongside her friend Jessica Jones’ book The Elegant Art of Falling Apart.
The book is quite the story of mishaps, but with Jessica’s bright personality shining through the text, they’re nonetheless entertaining. With Bella’s warm lighting, squishy chairs, and floor to ceiling bookshelves, I had to restrict myself from curling up in a corner to read a couple chapters.
The thing about Bella’s Knits is that they’re simple, but bold. Made of the softest wool they have either a bit of text scribbled about, an illustration, stripes, or a logo. Nothing more. Thus it makes them widely versatile, and with sayings such as “Ginsberg is God, Goddard is Dog”, “SEX” plastered on the front with “rock” on the arm, and her defining piece of Autumn- “Fetish” she has a wide range of defiant souls sold.
Towards the end, after running around and sick with sweets, I was given my own sweater. As my standstill budget is only my own, it was a perfect christmas present! Bella had given me the “Fetish” jumper, oversized- just how I like it. It has silver glitter amongst the black, and white text isolated on the front.
After my blackberry finally met its end, I realized I had to rush back east, so I said my goodbyes and asked Bella’s opinion on shops for movie night. (Video City was her recommendation.)