Camilla Freeman-Topper
On her A.M. routine;
“In the morning I use Cosmedix Purity Solution Nourishing Deep Cleansing Oil. It’s the best product in the world. It’s a nourishing deep cleansing oil—I love it because I feel immediately fresh. It’s like a ‘ping!’ on the skin. I don’t feel fresh until I’ve cleansed with it. I then dab my skin dry and add the Biologique Recherche Crème ADN Elastine Marine Collagene Marin. I love the feeling of this because it soaks immediately into the skin. Next I put on my moisturiser. I use ASAP, which is Australian-made and owned. It’s a moisturiser with SPF 50+. I used to buy the most expensive moisturiser and sunscreen but was recently recommended this by my facialist, Melanie Grant, and since I’ve started using it my skin feels amazing. My skin can at times be very dehydrated, but this gives me the right level of moisture all day.”
“When I get home from work, the minute I walk into the house, I cleanse my skin with the Cosmedix Purity Solution Nourishing Deep Cleansing Oil. I then use the Elite Serum 24 Rapid Renewal Complex by Cosmedix—I love it because when I put it on my face I feel so fresh, and my skin almost looks better with that on than with makeup. I always like to look and feel good even when I’m at home. I never like to feel like a grub. In the evening I’ll do the same routine, but I’ll use Purity Clean, my exfoliating cleanser. I use that every second night. I mix it up depending on what my skin needs. I’ll then reapply Serum 24 and then use Cosmedix’s Eye Doctor. I’ve also been applying the White Lightening Complex from iS CLINICAL as I recently developed some pigment on my forehead. I’ve been jogging a lot more on the beach, which Mel and I think might be the cause, however I never go in the sun without a hat, so it remains a mystery.”
On her make-up essentials;
“For foundation I like to use Ellis Faas Skin Veil foundation—I put a very small amount on my palm and apply it, and then I use Glossier Boy Brow to brush up my brows for a really natural look. It feels like an eyebrow hack as it’s an eyebrow brush and colour in one with its mascara wand. I have gaps in my brows from over-plucking my eyebrows in the 90s, so this is the perfect solution. It helps me do my makeup quickly. To finish, I use MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish on my cheeks in shade Medium Deep. I get my eyelashes done weekly, which saves me so much time. It takes 30 minutes. It’s an easy and quick way to wake up looking like you’ve already done half your makeup.”
Camilla wears the Oren Blazer from CAMILLA AND MARC.
On her favourite places to visit in L.A.;
“I love The Broad, which is Downtown L.A. One of my favourite things to do is take my kids and educate them about various artists and their mediums. Seeing their faces when they saw a Warhol in person for the first time was a very beautiful moment. I experienced the same in my childhood and grew up with a deep appreciation and respect for the arts. There’s also Hauser & Wirth Downtown, which I feel merges art and architecture so well. I love to visit it, especially with the kids—it has a variety of programs catered to families. There are also some great places along the street for coffee and food, and a great ice cream spot.”
Bag, by CAMILLA AND MARC.
On her L.A. restaurant recommendations;
“I love to take a drive down to Venice Beach. There’s a great lunch spot we love, Gjelina, which has the most beautiful coffee for my husband and tea for me. The Mediterranean plates and the pizzas are incredible. Nobu Malibu is the best date spot, but my kids love it too, so we usually end up there on a lazy sunny Sunday afternoon. It’s pretty magical. Chateau Marmont for lunch is an institution, but I prefer it for dinner. La Scala is our local, as is the South Beverly Grill in Beverly Hills. That’s our favourite early Friday night family dinner hang if I’m not cooking. Pace in Laurel Canyon is a neighbourhood-style institution we found by word of mouth.”
Camilla wears the Remington Blazer and Zora tee from CAMILLA AND MARC.
“I visit Melanie Grant’s salon for the best facial treatments. Since arriving here I have been inundated with local friends’ suggestions of many different incredible treatments from various aestheticians I hadn’t heard of before. I haven’t managed to find a moment in my busy schedule to try them out, but I look forward to doing so in the next few weeks.”
Camilla wears the Oren Blazer from CAMILLA AND MARC.
“For shopping, I generally do the usual Barney’s in Beverly Hills and Saks. I always stop by Melrose Place and go to The Line for homewares, Moon Juice for an incredible selection of juices and healthy snacks, and Violet Grey for the most luxurious beauty products.”
On her favourite beauty treatments;
“I religiously get light treatment and cleanses at Melanie Grant. They take forty-five minutes maximum, and I know I’m doing the best favour for my skin. Before I went to see Melanie I’d tried so many facialists and treatments but hadn’t seen the results on my skin. Melanie is a skin angel—she’s really transformed my complexion. The treatments I receive are entirely customised to me depending on what my skin needs at the time of each appointment. I have regular weekly clinical light therapy treatments to boost collagen and elastin, hydrate, and detoxify, and annual bespoke laser facials for tone and density. My custom facials include peels, infusions via ultrasound, microdermabrasion, deep cleansing, and massage to brighten, clarify, plump, and rejuvenate my skin.”
On how she manages the motherhood-career juggle;
“Extraordinary planning is the only way I’m able to stay balanced, along with an established routine. I map out our schedule for the week a week-and-a-half in advance. Moving to L.A. has taken planning to a whole new level. When we arrived, we had this great sense that we were starting afresh, which was incredibly liberating for the first few weeks. However, reality settled in as it always does, and once we felt at home in our house, the kids’ routine needed to become far more scheduled. I start planning my weeks in advance according to how much time I need to be working each week, whether it be by phone conference with our design team at HQ, video conference with our managers or various team members, or one-on-one meetings locally and internationally. Once I factor that all in, I concentrate on what we are planning for the family and ensuring the kids and us have enough time together. Some weeks I need to pull back from work to allow more family time, and other weeks it works beautifully. When I prioritise family time equal to my work schedule, everything falls into place. It allows us time to connect with one another and go on adventures. We love spending time outdoors.”
“The kids are absolutely loving being here. It’s been extraordinary. We have this ‘let’s try it’ attitude. Travel expands you—it opens your mind to so many things. We have this beautiful sense of togetherness, too. We’re on the journey together. We’ve travelled so extensively with the kids, all experiencing something for the first time together. I’ve been to L.A. many times, but when you’re actually living in and being in a space you haven’t lived in before, everything feels different in the best way possible.”
On her personal style.
“My style is constantly evolving. When I moved to L.A. my style became more relaxed, pared back, effortless. It feels so much more relevant. If I was to put it into words it would be timeless, tailored with a street sensibility and a sense of ease.”
On how growing up in Australia and family has shaped her;
“Growing up in Australia kept me grounded. It’s such a safe country and you don’t ever take that for granted living there. My upbringing was very sensible. Morals were very important to us and we were always outdoors. We spent every single weekend swimming and surfing on the Northern Beaches and in the summer we would get on a plane and go skiing in Canada. We had this beautiful, grounded family with this great sense of fun and adventure—qualities I continue to value now in my own family.”
On the rituals that are most important to her;
“Most nights Dave and I love to do something relaxing together after we’ve had dinner with the children, discussed their days’ adventures and put them to bed after a relaxing bath or shower. It can be as simple as making a pot of tea and sitting down on the couch chatting about our days and watching our latest Netflix show together. It doesn’t matter what it is, I just find that time to be so sacred and important these days as life becomes busier and busier and as our children get older. It’s the one time in the day that I physically stop, and I look forward to it so much.”
Camilla wears the Oren Blazer by CAMILLA AND MARC.
“Every day, the moment I walk through the door from work, I take all my make-up off, cleanse my skin, and apply serum. I love my skin to feel clean—it’s that feeling of literally taking the day off. I also love to diffuse essential oils throughout the house or hotel room all day and night. We use doTERRA. At night in the kids’ rooms we use lavender oil. I also like Easy Air. In our bedroom we diffuse Zendocrine, and it gives me a beautiful sense of calm. I also like to add a few drops of lavender before bed time.”
Boots, by CAMILLA AND MARC.
On her beauty hacks;
“It’s so simple: the moment you return home from work or being out, cleanse your face thoroughly, and again gently before bed. You won’t know your skin.”
“I try to go as long as possible between washes. I think the more regularly you wash your hair, the more likely it is to strip your hair and make it oily. My hair can become relatively oily on day two and three, so to get me to day four—wash day—I’ll use Klorane’s Dry Shampoo with Nettle. I’ve tried every product on the market and this is far superior to any other I’ve used.”
What do you love to do on a Sunday morning?
“Sunday mornings are all about family time. We all look forward to it. We always have brunch together and do a hike either before breakfast or afterwards. We’re quite relaxed about it. In L.A. we’ve also enjoyed having lots of friends over. The sense of community and extended family here is really beautiful.”
Camilla wears the Maeve Coat, Udele Jumper, and Maeve Pant, all by CAMILLA AND MARC.
Designing clothing for women is a big responsibility in the sense that it’s the feeling in the clothing that shapes how women will feel. Connecting to this intention is something my team and I do regularly. Are we going to wear it? And, if so, how is she going to feel? How she feels when she wears the clothing is very important to me. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t want women to feel strong, beautiful, and confident.”
Camilla wears the Maeve Coat, Udele Jumper, and Maeve Pant, all by CAMILLA AND MARC.
“I wear Tom Ford Black Orchid during the day for work. It’s quite intense, but I also feel like it grounds me. At home I prefer something much lighter. I like to use Santa Maria Novella’s Acqua di Rose Water all over my body. I love the scent—it feels so fresh.”
What are your words to live by?
“Strive to continuously challenge yourself so you are always learning and evolving, creatively and intellectually.”
“Both my late mother and grandmothers were exceptional women and I will forever admire them. They all had such a strong sense of self. They had such diverse life experiences and I admired how they used that to shape their respective views of the world and in doing so created wonderful lives full of meaning for themselves and their families.
My late mother had three very close friends who I’m extremely close with. They are like mothers to me, and grandmothers to my children. I feel extremely privileged to be surrounded by strong, beautiful, and deeply nurturing women who I can call on for advice. With my mum passing away when I was so young, these relationships have meant the world to me.”
On the importance of taking care of her body;
“Having a busy schedule means that exhaustion is a common feeling. I also have iron deficiency, so I receive regular iron infusions to support me. If I miss those, my exhaustion is very real. During the working week I have no choice but to move through it, and, although it feels counter-intuitive, exercising helps no matter how tired I am.
I don’t drink coffee—instead I drink five-to-ten cups of piping hot peppermint tea a day, which helps with clarity if I’m feeling foggy. I also love The Beauty Chef’s products—especially the Hydration Inner Beauty Boost and Collagen Inner Beauty Boost tonics, which I make myself once a day.
If I’m feeling run down, I’m disciplined with taking time out, no matter what’s on my schedule. Otherwise, I tend to get hit by a flu that wipes me for a week. As I’ve grown older I’ve become much more in-tune with my body; I listen to it and I slow down when it’s needed.
I swear by the power nap I have each week when I have my light therapy at Melanie Grant. The light relaxes me, it’s meditative, and the twenty-minute session feels like a full eight hours. It’s heaven and I leave feeling so refreshed.”
Camilla wears the Udele Jumper and Maeve Pant by CAMILLA AND MARC.
“I’ve shifted in a slightly different direction exercise-wise. I used to do Pilates, but about seven or eight months ago I went back to full cardio and weight training, and I feel absolutely amazing. Training gives me clarity. I feel great and my body feels good. Two weeks ago I didn’t train for a week, and I felt like I was in a rut. It’s so important to strengthen and move the body.
I have the most unbelievable trainer here in L.A., Carter. My husband, Dave, trains with me twice a week, and the girls train once or twice, too, so it’s a full family affair. At the end of every session we talk about what we’re grateful for. We all have different answers every time, and it gives us a little check-in a few times a week. It’s not often we provide space in our days to think about that, so it’s a great little ritual for us all to share.
It’s so important for children to have an understanding that it’s really important to move and look after your body. I talk to my children about focusing on how it makes them feel, the movement, the energy it gives them, the smiles they have on their faces afterwards, and that it’s more about mental health as opposed to the physicality of the exercise.”
On her career advice;
“Know what you want to achieve, have a vision, surround yourself with a diverse mix of people with varied skill sets who genuinely care about advancing your career. Be authentic and make sure those around you are too. There’s nothing more important. Personally, my support network and my team are a big part of the reason we have been so successful.”
Camilla wears the Maeve Coat, Udele Jumper, and Maeve Pant, all by CAMILLA AND MARC.
On her most treasured item of clothing;
“My late grandmother’s navy Lanvin trench coat. She must have bought it over fifty years ago. It’s still in perfect condition.”
What’s your earliest beauty memory?
“My aunty was a makeup artist for Revlon back in the day and she would do makeup tutorials on me when I was eleven. My mother and father were mortified at the time. I thought it was so hilarious.”
Camilla wears the Maeve Coat, Udele Jumper, and Maeve Pant, all by CAMILLA AND MARC.
“My mother was such a warm woman, everyone who met her adored her. She had impeccable manners, she was deeply caring and she nurtured us in a way that allowed us to achieve anything we wanted to. It’s those qualities I like to think I carry and pass on to my own children”
Running THE FILE certainly comes with its fair share of “pinch me” moments. It’s not uncommon for us to find ourselves on location in the dreamiest pockets of the world, exploring drool-worthy closets and beauty cabinets like kids set loose in a candy store. This was precisely the situation we found ourselves in when we recently landed on the doorstep of Camilla Freeman-Topper‘s magnificent mid-century home in Beverly Hills. The beautiful, warm-hearted, and hilarious Creative Director gave us a tour of her heavenly home, and we felt as if we’d just stepped into a real-life Slim Aarons photograph. A real treat for the senses.
You only have to take one look at Camilla’s meticulously curated shoe collection to realise she does not do things by halves. Alongside her brother, she launched her luxury label, CAMILLA AND MARC, back in 2003, and has since grown it into a hugely successful multi-million dollar business coveted by style-savvy women the world over. We were curious to know what words the highly accomplished designer lives by, and they are every bit as inspiring as you’d expect: “Strive to continuously challenge yourself so you are always learning and evolving, creatively and intellectually.” The most recent example of Camilla’s fearlessness and determination is the expansion of the label into the US market, with their incredible show at NYFW last year and recent relocation to Los Angeles.
Camilla has been driven by an inviolable desire to make women feel confident, beautiful, and free as the breeze in her clothes since launching. The true genius of the brand lies in her precise understanding of the sartorial tools women need to carry themselves through their everyday lives—from dropping the kids off at school and picking up groceries to heading into the office or meeting friends for an after-work drink. It’s unsurprising that the brand, with its effortless and elegant aesthetic, has gained a dedicated following both in Australia (where it was born) and internationally. Today her customer base has ballooned to include a dizzying lineup of VIP fans, with Chanel Iman, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, Karlie Kloss, Bella Hadid, and Olivia Palermo among them.
Closer to home, the talented designer’s love of life is palpable. Having grown up in a tight-knit family with strong roots in nature and a healthy sense of fun and adventure, Camilla is now recreating that for herself, her husband, and their three children in Los Angeles. Since arriving in Los Angeles, the fam has adopted a “let’s try it” attitude with everything they do (which, fortunately for us, has resulted in a very extensive list of must-dos that span shopping, gallery-hopping, and, most importantly, eating).
Camilla moves through her various roles in life—mother, designer, businesswoman, wife—with the same ease and grace that her label engenders. As this gallery will attest, she is the ultimate woman of style and substance.
Words, Madeleine Woon. Photography, Maggie Shannon.
