Images via Somerset House
To honour London Fashion Week we take a look at one of the most important fashion icons to come out of Britain who can be credited with launching the career of Alexander McQueen and being a muse to hat designer Phillip Treacy for many years. Blow passed away in 2007 and this year Somerset House in London staged an exhibit with all of her clothing and accessories entitled, “Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore!”
So who was this woman? Why would the home of London Fashion Week, Somerset House, host an exhibit to commemorate her life and work?
I spent most of my time in London last week walking through galleries, admiring art work, visiting different types of exhibits, and some left lasting impressions on me while others, although extremely interesting and beautiful representations of history and art, did not stick with me as I walked out the door. “The Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore!” is one that stuck with me.
Isabella Blow was an English magazine editor who worked at American Vogue under Anna Wintour, she also worked at Tatler and the Sunday Times Style magazine. Blow also worked with famous photographer Steven Meisel producing a shoot entitled Babes in London.
“…in her time assisting Anna Wintour at American Vogue she was known for cleaning her desk with bottled Perrier water”
If you are a fan of Alexander McQueen you have Isabella Blow to thank for assisting in launching his career. After seeing his graduate collection from the London Central Saint Martins, Blow purchased his entire graduate collection for ₤5,000, and paid it off in ₤100 weekly instalments.
The collection features all of her amazing clothing and accessories, now owned by Daphne Guinness, is said to be one of the most important private collections of late 20th Century/early 21st Century British fashion design.
“She saw her clothing as armour, as a form of protection from the everyday— from the slings and arrows of daily life.”
Amongst the amazing collection it became apparent that her clothing as well as her styled shoots featured a lot of natural elements in her wardrobe choices. There were under water creatures, primal animals, as well as pieces that featured feathers.
Another key characteristic that is notable of Blow’s work is that she enjoyed styling amongst the rubble of destruction, she loved mixing history with fashion and it was this choice that created such visually stimulating and meaningful fashion spreads.
Stand out pieces of hers included:
1) a ship hat by Phillip Treacy, fashioned in the style of women who would wear ships in their hair back in the days of Marie Antoinette, the hat is made entirely from feathers
2) lobster necklace by Erik Halley
3) all of the looks from the show McQueen and Treacy made for her
I would have to say my favourite part of the entire exhibit was the runway show that Alexander McQueen and Phillip Treacy created and dedicated to her after she passed, called “La Dame Bleue” s/s 2008. The entire runway show was very inspiring, it featured beautiful pieces, but perhaps the most endearing moment was at the very end when McQueen and Treacy walked out and it became extremely apparent just how important she was to them and how much she meant to them. Thus proving just how important stylists and editors can be.
Overall I felt it was a wonderful exhibit. I feel as if I got to know her by walking amongst her wardrobe and the stories each installation told. She had a deep admiration for Treacy and McQueen and it was reciprocated, evident in the show they dedicated to her.
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