Isabella Blow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Isabella Blow
Blow in 2005
Born	Isabella Delves Broughton (1958-11-19)19 November 1958 London, England
Died	7 May 2007(2007-05-07) (aged 48) Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England
Resting place	Gloucester Cathedral
Years active	1993–2007
Spouse(s)	Nicholas Taylor ​ ​ (m. 1981; div. 1983)​ Detmar Blow ​ (m. 1989)​

Isabella "Issie" Blow (born Delves Broughton; 19 November 1958 – 7 May 2007) was a famous English magazine editor. She was known for her unique style and for discovering new talent in the fashion world. Isabella was a close friend and inspiration for hat designer Philip Treacy. She helped launch the careers of models like Stella Tennant and Sophie Dahl. Isabella also strongly supported fashion designer Alexander McQueen, even buying his entire first collection. She passed away in 2007.

Isabella's Early Life

Isabella Delves Broughton was born in Marylebone, London. She was the oldest child of Major Sir Evelyn Delves Broughton, a military officer, and Helen Mary Shore, a lawyer. Isabella had two younger sisters, Julia and Lavinia. Sadly, her younger brother, John, drowned in the family's swimming pool when he was only two years old. This event had a lasting impact on Isabella.

When Isabella was 14, her parents separated and later divorced. She did not have a close relationship with her father. Isabella went to Heathfield School, Ascot for her studies. After school, she attended a secretarial college and worked various jobs.

Her Amazing Fashion Career

In 1979, Isabella moved to New York City. She studied Ancient Chinese Art at Columbia University. A year later, she left her studies and moved to Texas, where she worked for a fashion company called Guy Laroche.

In 1981, Isabella married her first husband, Nicholas Taylor. During this time, she met Anna Wintour, the fashion director of the US edition of Vogue. Isabella was hired as Anna Wintour's assistant. She also worked with André Leon Talley, another important editor at Vogue. While in New York, she became friends with famous artists like Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Isabella returned to London in 1986. She worked for Michael Roberts, who was the fashion director for Tatler magazine and The Sunday Times Style magazine.

Discovering New Talent

In 1989, Isabella married her second husband, Detmar Hamilton Blow, an art dealer. Their wedding was held at Gloucester Cathedral. For her wedding, Philip Treacy designed her headdress. This was the start of a very important fashion partnership. Isabella saw Philip Treacy's great talent. She helped him set up his first workshop in her London flat. She began wearing his unique hats, which became a key part of her own bold style.

Isabella had a natural sense of style and a special ability to spot future fashion trends. She discovered Alexander McQueen and bought his entire graduate collection for £5,000. She also spotted Sophie Dahl and helped launch her career as a model. Isabella supported both the fashion and art worlds. Artists Tim Noble and Sue Webster even created a shadow portrait of her, which was shown in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Isabella was the fashion director of Tatler magazine. She also worked as a consultant for big brands like DuPont Lycra, Lacoste, and Swarovski. In 2002, an exhibition called When Philip met Isabella celebrated her unique style and her partnership with Philip Treacy. It showed sketches and photos of her wearing his famous hat designs.

Isabella in Film and Art

In 2004, Isabella Blow had a small acting role in the film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. In 2005, she took part in an art project at the Frieze Art Fair. She led daily guided tours, talking about what people were wearing at the fair. Before she passed away, Isabella was the creative director and stylist for a series of books for an Arabic beauty magazine called Alef.

Later Life and Challenges

Towards the end of her life, Isabella faced some difficult challenges. She was sad that she couldn't find a place in the fashion world she had helped shape. Her friend, Daphne Guinness, mentioned that Isabella was upset when Alexander McQueen sold his brand to Gucci and she wasn't included in the new plans. Isabella also had financial problems and struggled with not being able to have children.

Isabella and Detmar Blow separated in 2004. During this time, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a condition that affects mood. She received treatments that seemed to help for a while. Later, she was also diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Isabella's Passing

Isabella Blow passed away on 7 May 2007. Her funeral was held at Gloucester Cathedral on 15 May 2007. Her casket had one of her Philip Treacy hats on top, along with flowers. Many friends and family attended, including her godson Otis Ferry, the son of rock star Bryan Ferry. Actor Rupert Everett and actress Joan Collins spoke at the service. A memorial service was also held in London later that year.

See also

In Spanish: Isabella Blow para niños