Stylemum / 07 July 2025 / Categories: Home Interiors, People, Creative, Fashion Designers

Bella Freud and Martha Freud Two Creatives whose work I love and admire

Bella is fashion and ceramics, Martha is ceramics, pottery and interiors

For longest time I thought Bella and Martha Freud were sisters. Not true.

Martha Freud is a great-great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud and part of a famous clan that includes Lucian, Clement (Martha’s grandfather), Bella (fashion designer), Esther and Emma Freud.

Bella Freud is also the great great granddaughter of psycho analyst Sigmund Freud.

She is the daughter of Bernardine Coverley and artist Lucian Freud who was Sigmund Freud’s grandson. There are a lot of talented accomplished people in their own right in this sprawling family tree.

My exploration of how these two women are related came about simply from my love of their work.

And I guess the wit and humour of their work connects them perhaps why I am drawn to both. The iconic 1970 jumper from Bella Freud has seen its way into the main stream. I don’t actually own one, at £355 retail for the original merino slim fit made famous by supermodel Kate Moss and it girl Alexa Chung, the price is a bit steep for me but I do have my eye out for one secondhand when it comes along. It’s a piece of Bella Freud collectibility I would like to buy. They come in black and white, but I have also seen one in a rich tomato red I fancy and also perhaps less wearable but still cute pale pink.

Originals are merino wool but she’s done a fresh take on the classic in oversize, the mohair 1970’s jumper is £395 on the Bella Freud website and the merino oversize is a bit cheaper, not much at £385.

The regular original closer fitting version you can find in Selfridges or Flannels for as low at £230 on sale. Still a lot I know.

You can also get a different slogan around the £230 mark, £227.50 actually for “Cult of Angels” less iconic and easily recognisable as Bella Freud but the upside not everyone has got it, it’s a cashmere merino blend with 30% cashmere and no one is going to confuse it with the Marks and Spencer’s knock off that came out a couple of years ago or even worse version SHEIN retailing for £15.99 plus shipping.

If you like the 1970 oversize in blue I found limited sizes available XS and L available at Flannels at for £269 as opposed to £385 with (10% off on the Bella Freud website) Small, medium and extra large sold out sadly.

Fun Logan T shirts, sweatshirts and jumpers have been all the rage for the last decade so the witty slogans blazenwd across your chest my have had their day as American East Coast brands I like like Khaite and Proenza Schueler and on the west coast Co Collection out of Los Angeles, carve out a new more secretive niche wear less is more and luxury is completely understated. This new wave in fashion is called Quiet Luxury and I really like it.

The rise of quiet luxury, keeps focus on simple Minimalist design.

In the US quality and craftsmanship is bucking the fast fashion and over branded trend as consumers move away from lots and often, and look at who I’m wearing over branded fashion to a much more sustainable approach of buying one thing you love, not recognisable to everyone then wearing it and keeping it forever. And American luxury fashion retailers from NY brands you’ve probably never heard of like Proenza Schuller, Khaite and Los Angeles based Co collection are commanding eye watering prices for staple garments shoes and accessories. It’s funny I am happy to pay more for something staple and understated than a look who I am wearing statement like the Bella Freud 1970’s jumper. Which is probably why I haven’t bought one yet. Bella also offers a range of modern ceramics on her website which for me have a Lichtenstein cartoon like feel to them. I especially like the Ginsberg is God slogan.

For me I already have the wit and humour on the dinner table from the other great great grand daughter, ceramics and interior designer Martha Freud. Her plates I have collected and I absolutely love love love to get them out on special occasions, although you have to take care as these babies don’t come cheap and never go in the dishwasher. All mine are carefully hand washed and stacked away. Her handmade plates retail for £250 if you can get your hands on one.

The brilliance of her designs slogans and clever clever thought provoking phrases are as note worthy as Noel Coward or Oscar Wilde, challenging societal norms with psychology and common sense in equal measure I absolutely adore.

To finish here are just a few that make me chuckle every time I get them out. I am not a collector of anything really except Martha Freud plates. I think I’ll stop when I get to 12. They are possibly my favourite objects d’art ever. Hilarious and completely practical. What could be better. Get the plates out and it’s like food, food for thought, thought and therapy all rolled into one.

“Well well well if it isn’t the consequences of my own actions”

“Make Peace with your broken pieces”

“Less is more except for when less is less”

“protect me from what I want”

I don’t think Martha Freud’s coronation plate ever went on sale but for me this was one of her best,

“For the sake of his majesty let’s hope this is not a case of pathetic fallacy”

I’ll leave that one with you.

I love it Martha has done a few commissions where all the money, yep 100% has gone to charity. Like her choose love plates where all the money went to Choose Love charity supporting displaced people around the world.

She’s illusive but does pop up now and again. If you get the chance, Go and see one of her gorgeous pop up shops, there was one on Carnaby Street, not sure if it’s still open and see if you can leave without buying something. Impossible for me.

You can also find details of her collaborations and up

Coming exhibitions on her website.