 Bate was the daughter of Frederick Blantford Bate (c. 1886–1970) and Vera Nina Arkwright (1883–1948), who was also known as Vera Bate Lombardi.Although born in France, she spent her youth in England and attended schools in England, France, and Italy.She moved to Paris at age 16, to live with her mother, where she worked as a model for Coco Chanel.