Book description
A life of extreme tragedy and remarkable inspiration, the story of
Isabella Blow is a dramatic and compelling tale of a courageous icon.
Isabella Blow was the epitome of English eccentricity. A legendary
figure in the fashion world, she nurtured and championed the talent of
some of fashion's most recognisable and important figures, all the time
hiding her own personal unhappiness and severe depression. The news of
her tragic death in 2007, aged 48, shocked the international fashion world.
Her thirty year career in fashion began as Anna Wintour's assistant at
American Vogue, and took in stints as fashion director of Tatler and
Fashion Editor of The Sunday Times Magazine. But she is perhaps
best-known for the iconic images of her in Philip Treacy's hats, the
first of two designers to launch his career from the basement of
Isabella and Detmar Blow's house. With similar passion and verve,
Isabella enthusiastically displayed her admiration for young designer
Alexander McQueen, buying his entire first collection after he graduated
from Central St Martins, in a move that many believe launched his career.
Detmar Blow was engaged to Isabella sixteen days after they first met
in 1988, and the couple remained married until her death. In this
visually stunning portrait, Detmar and Tom reveal the truth about the
intriguing world of Isabella, providing incredible behind-the-scenes
insight into the world of fashion and high-society, as well as tracing
her ancestry and early childhood, offering a fresh and penetrating look
at her domestic life, and celebrating her incredible achievements.
DETMAR BLOW was born in Stroud in 1963, and was educated at Harrow
School and the London School of Economics, where he read history. After
leaving LSE, he did a law conversion course and was called to the Bar in
1989. Detmar met Isabella Delves Broughton in September 1988. The couple
got engaged sixteen days later, and remained married until Isabella's
death in 2007. Detmar currently lives between Lisbon, London and Gloucestershire.
TOM SYKES is a writer and journalist. He trained as a news reporter on
the Evening Standard and Daily Telegraph before moving to New York in
2003 where he was nightlife reporter and gossip columist for the New
York Post.
