Blow, Isabella

▪ 2008

Isabella Delves Broughton  British fashion editor

born Nov. 19, 1958, London, Eng.

died May 7, 2007 , Gloucester, Gloucestershire, Eng.

discovered and promoted fashion designers (Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Jun Takahashi, and Hussein Chalayan) and models (Stella Tennant, Honor Fraser, and Sophie Dahl) while becoming memorable for her own flamboyant style of dress, especially the extravagant hats designed for her by Philip Treacy. She was best known for her association with couture milliners Stephen Jones and especially Treacy, for whom she served as muse. This relationship was the subject of an exhibition in 2002 at the Design Museum in London, “When Philip Met Isabella.” In 1981 Blow became assistant to Anna Wintour, then fashion editor of the American edition of Vogue magazine, but she returned to London in 1986. She was fashion director of The Sunday Times Style magazine (1997–2001) and of Tatler (from 2002). Blow died by her own hand.

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