In case you missed it, Bella Hadid has, in recent years, traded the bustling vibrance of New York for the homey comfort of Fort Worth, Texas. And the Western flair she’s been sporting ever since has unsurprisingly founded its way into her newest collab with Frankies Bikinis.
Some may remember Gigi Hadid’s 2022 collaboration with the brand, founded by California native Francesca Aiello. Bella’s 103-piece collection, then releasing in various drops and sprawling from swimwear to ready-to-wear, makes even more sense. “Frankie and I have been friends most of my life,” Hadid tells Vogue. “We have always appreciated each other’s creativity, so when the opportunity to collaborate arose, it was an instant yes. There is nothing like making art with a close friend.”
Releasing alongside is a ranch-destination campaign that finds Hadid immersed in her happy place. “I feel the most at ease when I am surrounded by nature,” she says, “whether I am riding horses, at the beach, or just taking a walk.” The collection has all the cowgirl-isms now synonymous with the 28-year-old It-girl—gingham print, studded suede, cottage-core silhouettes, and denim hot pants, to name a few.
Anyone familiar with the model’s street style era (paparazzi shots of the model are less frequent these days as she’s now more often tucked away with her beau, head down in her new beauty line, Orebella, or dominating in cutting horse events) will find the Frankies Bikinis collection full of pieces that feel right in the mix. Among her favorites, she tells Vogue, are the Lucky Leopard Austin top and Full Moon bottom. “Both have special details like the animal print trim and a special BH initial charm,” she says. “A personal touch I was so excited to make.”
Soft and sweet, traits often attributed to Hadid that guide the feel of the collection, the entire collaboration was a coming together of creatives closest to her. “Frankie and I have been trading campaign pictures for bikinis since we were 15 years old,” she says, the two having grown up nearby one another in Malibu. “It was just a matter of time before we put our heads together to create for others.” Another longtime friend of both, Alana O’Herlihy, photographed the campaign while stylist Molly Dickson handled wardrobe.
Last dinner’s at Stella in West Hollywood culminated the launch; it was a reunion of the many friends shared by Aiello and Hadid filled with giant hugs and enthusiastic squeals. On the lower level of the tiered Italian restaurant, guests turned up in their favorites from the release (Devon Lee Carlson’s ensemble included a ruffled gingham top while fellow model Gabbriette donned a quintessentially all-black ensemble). For dinner, Hadid sat sandwiched between friends Anastasia Karanikolaou and Hailey Bieber. Hadid’s outfit for the evening—a pair of tiny black briefs over tights, the word “Lucky” written across the back in red script letters, and a matching long-sleeved top—stood out effortlessly. Between offerings of a burrata-topped pizza here, a Carpaccio di Branzino there, and mobile martini carts, invitees mingled about the night, skipping from one cozy table booth to another.
Launching on March 4, it’s easy to wonder if the swim collaboration will usher in a new era of fashion designing for Hadid, who, these days, seems always to be found trying something new. “When I get a feeling or idea, I jump on it,” she says. “There isn’t always a rhyme or reason. I always trust my gut.”
