A bit of a shock this morning as we have all awoken to news that Isabella Blow (one of my style heroines…. and I don’t have many), died yesterday of ovarian cancer at the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital at the age of 48. There’s no need to bring out the rollcall but her fashion discoveries can’t be denied; Alexander McQueen, Philip Treacy, Sophie Dahl. You also can’t forget the signature ‘Blow’ look of hat, lipstick and risk-taking outfits.
Why I love her so can be discovered here so I won’t extoll too much only to say, my heart goes out to her friends and family, especially her husband Detmar. My closest contact to her was sitting a row behind her at a Manish Arora show. I guess I should have gingerly tapped the shoulders of her vintage Chinese satin cape and then meekly said ‘Your hat….it’s breathtaking.’ Of course the hat comment would have been meant as a subtler, less-fangirl version of ‘I adore your style!’. Sadly, I was too in awe to do the shoulder tap and now it’s too late.
The British fashion world, or for that matter, the fashion world in general for has indeed lost someone irreplacable.
(I love these pictures shot by Steven Meisel in 1993.)
i cant believe it
i didnt know she was ill
her hats were incredible and she made fashion seem so fun (in comparison, i think anna wintour always makes fashion look serious and somehow snobby)
:'( she was incredible. rest in peace
A true fashion mavric,,,,so sad.
A true fashion mavric,,,,so sad.
I don’t think the fact of her illness was well-known. But, what a lady. We’ll miss her.
it’s so sad. : (
She seemed like such a vibrant and creative person that had much more to offer if it weren’t for her death.
hoo that’s so sad, such a fashion icon, i’m also sad about steven robinson death (galliano assistant).
it is tragic indeed. there’s no force of personality like that anymore these days.
oh. that’s really sad. i just did a post about her a couple of weeks ago about that philip treacy exhibit. at duesseldorf/germany.
oh those hats. I’ll miss her incredible style…
didn’t now she was ill. that’s just too bad… I’m really sorry!
It’s so sad. Poor Issy. Let’s all wear hats tomorrow!
what? what? what? that is so wrong. so sad.
fashion television did a remembrance show about her. You can stream it online at http://www.fashiontelevision.com/videos/?fr_story=acc6208e65b193e03c8cb8cf0910f7ab00ba7ee5&rf=bm
oh no! i had no idea she was sick. that’s too bad. i loved the philip & isabella show at the london design museum, like in 2003… or 2002… i forgot, it was a loooong time ago. but still striking thier relationship, and the creative hats that came to be. at least she’s not sick anymore, and gone to a better place.
I just found out that she committed suicide – she drank weedkiller. :o(
its funny how life plays out, really. she, along with Anna Piaggi, are my biggest style icons. That other day in march, i think, i was at my cousin’s house for a photoshoot they were doing for this book collaboration between Villa Moda and vogue or something and Isabella was directing it. She had met my cousin the day before and i had NO IDEA that it was her, she didnt tell me. the next day though i freaked out when i fund out it was actually isabella she was talking about. then, she never came. she attempted suicide again that day, they found her in the hotel bathroom, on the floor. so close… but rest in peace Isabella.
To whom it may concern,
we would like to inform you that we have built a Tribute Website for our loved
and missed Isabella Blow
It would be a delight if you could feauture it on your site, and also it would be great if we could exchange links banners, and maybe feauture your blog and blog replies on our website….
for more info do not hesitate to contact us on
Isabellablow@mail.com
http://www.isabellablow.co.uk
Many thx
Tina Rink