Ode to Blow

The subject of two new books the late great jolie laide fashion provocateur Isabella Blow’s name has been in the news recently. The rival authors (one of whom is Blow’s widower) have been shamelessly cat fighting in the press about which of Blow’s friends and family attended which book release party – as the ladies at Jezebel note even resorting to the dreaded ALL CAPS.

To many outsiders, Isabella Blow was nothing more than a semi-famous eccentric, known for her outrageous outfits and not much else. To the likes of Anna Wintour and Alexander McQueen, however, Mrs. Blow was no less than an icon.

Unlike her famous friends, Blow was not a show-stopping designer or a wily executive. Instead, it was her intangible and invaluable eye for talent that cemented her place in fashion history. McQueen, Philip Treacy, John Galliano, Sophie Dahl... the list goes on and on.

Blow was a contradiction. In between the wild parties with fashion and art's most elite, beneath the wit and I-don't-give-wha attitude she was painfully depressed. In 2007 she robbed the industry and committed suicide. During her short life, Blow left behind a venerable legacy. Her name may never be as well known as the superstars she opened doors for, but her role as fashion catalyst has secured her place among them.