After a few weeks of rest, Bella Hadid was back to work again yesterday. The supermodel-in-the-making was about to see her biggest billboard yet, starring in her first jewelry campaign for Bulgari, the brand she’s been working with for over a year.
First it was the Serpenti handbags, then the Bulgari Goldea: The Roman Night fragrance and now she’s the face of the B.Zero1 collection. From the penthouse suite of the W Hotel Times Square, the 21-year old was decked out in leather pants and a vintage Vivienne Westwood top, getting ready to face the rain to see her face light up Times Square.
With New York Fashion Week and Valentine’s Day looming, we chatted with Hadid about staying sane during this hectic time of year, her ideal date, and how she expresses herself through personal style.
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Favourite piece of jewellery you’ve ever been given?
A friendship bracelet my sister Gigi made me. I’m like, we’re not friends we’re sisters [laughs] but she used to really love making them, and I kept them all.
You’re about to unveil your third campaign with Bulgari, what does it mean to star in your first jewellery campaign for the iconic brand?
It’s huge! I love working with brands that I have faith in, that I love and I really want to wear myself. This collection is so me, and it’s things I would wear everyday. You can stack the jewelry, and it’s perfect for any occasion. It’s just another amazing opportunity. I don’t think I’ve had a billboard this big, and in Times Square.
What’s your ideal Valentine’s Day?
I heard there’s a local singles spot in Times Square [laughs]. My ideal day would be an adventurous day, and dinner—but I also want a good breakfast. For dinner, a nice steak and fries, or even just saying in and having pizza.
What’s left on your modelling bucket list?
It’s crazy, I feel like I’ve done so much, and I’ve worked a lot—but I still have so much to do, so many things to check off my bucket list. I think I have a lot to do with the American fashion magazines, like Harper’s Bazaar. A lot of artistic things I want to do, it’s not always about how many editorials you can get.
It’s about working with photographers that have the same eye as I do. Not so much about the fashion even, but the real artistic side. I love makeup and turning myself into different characters. I’m really inspired by art, film, photography.
Do you enjoy opportunities on set where you have a say in creative?
When we’re on set, I always find myself figuring out hair/makeup with the team, and we’ll pull up all these ideas. I have so much inspiration on my phone. When I get to set I already know what exactly the mood board is, what kind of lighting the photographer is working with. So, it ends up feeling like a team art piece. I think it’s fun for everyone that way, that we all get to express ourselves.
Related article: These Singaporean Photographers Collaborated With Bulgari For A Stunning Photo Series
With all the travelling you do, how do you stay sane?
I went through a lot last year with my schedule. It’s hard to travel so much, last year I was traveling if not every day, most every other day. I like to focus on staying within my own power, keeping my poise, using essential oils and crystals.
What crystals do you like to use?
Amythest is my favourite crystal. I just got a new one, I forgot the name but it’s gorgeous, it’s for stabilizing energy and bringing out the power within yourself. I’m stressed out that I don’t have them with me right now [laughs]. I had my crystals in my bag last night, and I brought them into my bed and so now they’re still sleeping. With the amount of people we’re always working with, I need to keep myself zen. If I’m panicking, then people around me can see that, and then everybody panics, and that’s the last thing I want to happen.
Do you meditate?
I meditate a lot. I used to meditate almost every night before I went to sleep. If I’m not putting my energy into fully meditating, then I just listen to meditation music to sleep. I know all my music meditation playlist by heart now though. I know exactly when the second song starts, I’ll fall asleep.
Related article: Bella Hadid, Lily Aldridge & More Celebrate Bulgari’s New High Jewellery Collection In Venice
What is your key to having good personal style?
My stylist Elizabeth [Sulcer] and I work together, but she’s also very busy—so a lot of times I put my own outfits together. It’s what makes me the most happy about fashion, making my own looks.
Even when I was a kid in high school, style was always my thing. I never wore flip-flops, I always had my cute outfits, I went vintage shopping. I never bought designer fashion until I could actually afford it when I turned 18. So I had to find the cheapest, but cutest things. My sister Alana once bought me this major Betsey Johnson lace and plaid skirt—it was the love of my life. I had all my doc martins—I had style. And I’m so fortunate now I have my designer pieces—like I’ll buy a Balenciaga coat and I’ll pair it with something vintage.
What I think is so fun about fashion is being able to do whatever you want. Now I’m at the point where, yeah, I’d wear an orange, red, yellow and black fanny pack—if that’s what makes me happy— I shouldn’t care. If I had more time, I would do it myself all the time. But Elizabeth and I work really well together, and it’s both of us finding looks for me, and putting our own spin together as a team.
It’s crazy because I was never one to put outfits together for people to see me, but now of course I walk outside and photographers are outside my apartment. So now it’s a fun thing. I look at it, instead of being like f— this, I can show what I’m really made of.
This article originally appeared on Harper’s BAZAAR US.
