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Isabella Blow: A Life in Fashion

By Amanda Jazvac

“ When Isabella was born, it was unthinkable that woman from her class would have to work for her living. But work she did – and it was work she enjoyed. This did not kill Isabella Blow, but neither could it save her..... it could not provide her with what she needed. Isabella wasn’t looking for just a career when she began to work, she was looking for a place she could feel at home.”

- excerpt from Isabella Blow: A Life in Fashion

In May 2007, the fashion world was rocked by the suicide of this wonderfully avant-garde icon. She truly was the epitome of fashion for so many people who knew her, and the power of her influence is still in motion today. One need not look further than the inspiration that drives Lady Gaga to catch a glimpse of the legacy that Blow has left behind. A legacy that she never thought she had the power to impose.

Her work in the fashion industry contributed to the development of a world where eventually she couldn’t see a place for herself. After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Blow struggled with severe depression, leading to a battle she eventually lost, which led to her death.

As a fashion student, I am mesmerized by the passion this woman had for the industry, and the beauty she saw in design. She is credited for discovering the late Alexander McQueen, a man who was undoubtedly genius and unfortunately plagued with the similar dark forces of depression. Blow purchased McQueen’s graduating collection in entirety, forcing the fashion world to take notice. She also promoted the work of Philip Treacy, an unbelievably talented hat designer, by constantly parading around with fabulous creations upon her head. She knew talent when she saw it, and it was

this passion that has had a lasting affect on the industry.

Isabella Blow has been described as many things, not all of which are positively charged, but she was more than the over-the-top fashionista most people knew and expected her to be.

I have been waiting for months, and the day has finally arrived. The biography, Isabella Blow: A Life in Fashion by Lauren Goldstein Crowe has finally been released! I am expecting it any day in the mail now, and cannot wait to read it. For information on the book or availability, go to www.indigo.ca.

Happy reading!