Influential fashion journalist, fashion stylist, international fashion icon, “one of the outstanding muses of her generation and much-lamented British fashion star”… the memory and legacy of Isabella Blow lives on.
Christie’s announced the private sale of the fashion and photographs from the estate of the late Isabella Blow, thus cancelling the public auction planned for September 15th. The collection was purchased in its entirety by Daphne Guinness, an heiress to the famed Irish brewing family and friend of Blow’s. She stated to Suzy Menkes of the New York Times, “It’s Issy – it’s her D.N.A, it should not be scattered to the four winds. Like any artist, it should not be dispersed, but remain as a monument with people having access to it.”
The collection of marquee names includes dresses by John Galliano, shoes by Manolo Blahnik, more than 50 hats by Philip Treacy and more than 90 outfits by the late Alexander McQueen; the collection also includes a number of portrait photographs by renowned photographers Steven Meisel, David LaChapelle and Mario Testino.
Famous for her extraordinary hats and vibrant lipstick, the fashion provocateur earned and maintained her place in the front row of the fashion world for over two decades. She was celebrated for her other worldly knack for discovering and nurturing fashion fledgling fashion talent, and is credited in particular for launching the careers of Philip Treacy and Alexander McQueen.
Isabella Blow committed suicide in 2007 by drinking the weedkiller paraquat after battling long-term bouts of depression. Her coffin was topped by one of her Philip Treacy hats, and she was buried in a red and gold brocade Alexander McQueen dress. “He later dedicated his spring/summer 2008 collection to Issie, and on the show’s invitations included an illustration of Issie wearing a McQueen dress in a horse-drawn carriage riding up to heaven.”
Publisher Thames & Hudson plans to offer a coffee-table book of the singularly unique collection later this fall. Consider our names signed up for that list.
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