Isabella Blow is the main fashionista of London. Biography, cause of death

Isabella Blow, whose biography is described in this article, editor of the fashion magazine. She opened many famous designers to the world and won the "Creator of Fashion" award. At the show, Blow was expected not less than the event itself. Isabella was able to be on a par with the most famous photographers and fashion designers, which significantly influenced the fashion industry. The authority of Blow was indisputable.

A bit about Blow

The life of Isabella Blow was intense and unusual. She - a hereditary aristocrat, devoid of inheritance, an eccentric person, a lover of shocking. In her personal life, she experienced more than one drama. But, despite all the hardships and hardships of life, this amazing woman was able to perpetuate herself in the fashion world, to become a world-class star.

Childhood

Isabella Blow was born on November 19, 1958 in London to a family of hereditary aristocrats. Her father, Major Sir Evelyn Delves, was the twelfth Baronet in the Broton family. Isabel's mother is Helen Mary Shore. It was the second wife of Sir Evelyn. Before the marriage, Isabella had her father's surname. All her childhood she spent in the family estate Doddington, which was in the county of Cheshire. The estate belonged to the Broton since the 14th century.

Isabella's family was somewhat unusual. For example, grandmother Vera Delvz, a photographer, had some passion for cannibalism. During one of her trips to New Guinea, in Papua, she ate roasted meat. When she was informed that she ate a human, Vera Delvz asked for supplements.

Tragedies that have haunted since childhood

Since the childhood, Isabella began to pursue tragedy. At first, her grandfather Jock was mired in card debts and had to sell one of the family locks to which Isabella Blow looked from a small cottage that was built nearby. In it, and moved all the family after the sale of the estate. There was then a school for girls. Then the grandfather was accused of a crime (murder) and was poisoned, committed suicide.

When Isabella was 4 years old, she witnessed the death of her younger brother. While their father was engaged in mixing cocktails, the mother applied makeup in front of the mirror. At that time, Isabella's brother, left unattended, drowned in the pool. The tragedy strongly affected the parents. They completely ceased to engage in the upbringing of other children.

Left without inheritance

Grief divided Isabella's parents, and soon they divorced. At that time Blow was only 14 years old. Mother left, just shaking hands with her daughters. My father got married anew. But with the stepmother, Isabella's relations did not immediately develop. Yes, and my father became more tense. As a result, her stepmother made it clear to Isabella that it was time to start an independent life.

The father agreed, and even stripped her of his inheritance, bequeathed only 5,000 pounds sterling, although his estate cost more than a million. Isabella Blow left to live in London. But in order to live, she had to settle for the most unpresentable work. She sold cookies and washed floors.

The end of the ordeal

In 1979, the troubles of Isabella ended. She finally managed to leave for New York. She entered Columbia University and began to study the art of Ancient China. Isabella quickly made friends with a roommate, Catherine Oksenberg, who was a representative of the local aristocratic bohemia. And thanks to a friend she made new acquaintances - with E. Warhol, Guy Laroche and B. Ferry.

"Fashionable" career

Already at that time Isabella Blow was distinguished for her eccentricity. She preferred wearing different shoes, dramatic theatrical outfits, and her lips were always painted with bright lipstick. Blau's friends affectionately called her Izzy. Originality and attracted attention to it. For example, a simple hat Isabella preferred a lobster decorated with jewels, or deer horns in a black lace drapery.

In 1980, she got a job in the fashion magazine Guy Laroche as an assistant designer. In 1983, Brian Ferry persuaded her to go on an interview with A. Wintour, the new creative director. She was just looking for an assistant. So Isabella started working in Vogue. Here she worked for several years and in 1986 returned to London. She got a job as an assistant to M. Roberts in the magazine Tatler.

In 1997, she moved to the Sunday Times Style. In 2001, Isabella again began collaborating with the magazine Tatler, but already in the role of editor. In 2004, Blow decided to try herself in the cinema and starred in the film "Water Life".

And it all started with a hat

One of the brightest memories of Isabella's childhood is how she tried on her mother's mirror a hat. Apparently, this moment played a big role in her life. In 1989, Isabella took advantage of the services of the unknown at that time hat master Philip Tracy. He was a student at the Royal College of Art. Isabella liked the head grandiose "construction", which he created for her, and invited the young man to live to himself and make hats.

Isabella constantly provoked him to create more daring models. So there were hats in the form of a pheasant, a crocodile's teeth, flying saucers, etc. F. Tracy was the first talent in the world of fashion that Blow discovered. Very soon he became a very famous designer.

"Pig finding truffles"

"Pig, finding truffles" - that's what Isabella Blow called herself. Life in fashion - it was her natural state. She did not think herself without original outfits. And it played a great role in the search for talent. And she had a rare gift.

After F. Tracy Blow "found" Alexander McQueen. Isabella found a young man in a fashion show at St. Martin's College students. And as soon as she saw the collection of McQueen, immediately acquired it for £ 5,000. Soon everyone started talking about the young designer. His creations excited, attracted. Isabella Blow and McQueen were friends for the rest of her life as a trendsetter.

After this, Isabella "discovered" new talents: H. Chalayan, who created luminous dresses, S. Dal and many others. She invited them to photo shoots and shows, told about them in her articles and interviews.

Obsession with fashion

The main fashionista of London was formally only a stylist and a fashionable editor. But, as it turned out, her influence on the fashion industry was simply huge. Isabella became for many a muse, an expert, a valuable advisor and fashion trendsetter. She was obsessed with Blow.

She never missed shows, all new collections were subjected to her close attention and appreciation. Without Isabella's participation, not a single premiere or fashion exhibition was held. Thanks to her own style, Blow became the authority for many. Her advice was carefully listened to, and all recommendations were carried out without reservation. Isabella not only appreciated the fashion, but she also dressed in fantastic outfits.

And quite often shocked the audience. Isabella always claimed that she was thirsty for positive emotions so extravagantly.

The standard of style Blow for herself has always been called Neil Gwyn. This is an ordinary girl with an amazing fate. She grew up in London brothels, she sold sweets and fish. Then she began to shine on the stage. And in the end she became the mistress of the king.

Perhaps the kinship of fate so attracted Isabel. In addition, they were similar. Like Neil Gwyn, Isabella possessed a sparkling humor, charm and her own style that she could not repeat or falsify.

From her subordinates, Isabel Blow always demanded the perfection of appearance. And the employees, hearing her voice, were in a hurry to change into shoes on their heels and make up their lips. Blow always came to work in her fantastic outfits and with evening make-up. The hat was its invariable attribute.

Personal life

First, Isabella married Nicholas Taylor. But their marriage lasted only two years, and in 1983 they divorced. In 1988, Isabella met Detmar Blow at a wedding ceremony at the Salisbury Cathedral. In 16 days they got married. As she said, on the day of their acquaintance she was wearing a hat with an ostrich feather, and Detmar was in a pink coat of her grandfather. He worked as an ambassador to Sri Lanka.

Between Isabella and Detmart, love flashed at first sight. Many of them remembered their marriage. Not one fashion magazine described the wedding attire of Isabella. She dressed in a purple velvet dress, on which was an amazing embroidery in the form of a wide collar-necklace. But most importantly, there was a fantastic wedding hat that looked more like a medieval helmet than a headdress. The bride made a complete sensation.

But with the children Isabella was unlucky. She could not conceive in the usual way and eight times underwent artificial insemination. But nothing came of it. Then they with the husband from a grief have got a dog, a pug. And after a while left. Detmar began a new affair with a journalist, and Isabella went to Venice, where she began to meet with the gondolier. But the separation of the couple was short-lived. And after a year and a half they again began to live together.

Death

Before Isabella reconciled with her husband, she began to be treated for bipolar affective disorder and underwent electroshock therapy. And then Blow discovered ovarian cancer. Isabella fell into the deepest depression and several times tried to commit suicide.

At first, she swallowed a sleeping pill, but she was "pumped out" in the hospital. Then Isabella jumped off the bridge, but only broke her ankles and subsequently could no longer wear heels. In 2007, sitting behind the wheel of his car, deliberately crashed into the truck at a huge speed. But she survived again.

Stubbornly pursuing the goal of suicide, she after a few days drank a large number of tranquilizers. But nothing came of it either. Then Blow tried other ways - drowning and poisoning with drugs. But in these cases, fate did not let her die.

Yet perseverance has borne fruit. On May 7, 2007, Isabella Blow died in the hospital. The cause of death, as it turned out later, is the use of a herbicide (a chemical for the destruction of weeds). Blow died in the hospital. And on the eve, on May 6, nobody paid attention when Isabella reported at the party that she was going to the store.

In fact, she just disappeared from sight of the guests and drank poison. Found it only a few hours later, lying on the lawn near the house. Blow's funeral took place on May 15, 2007, at the Gloucester Abbey.

F. Tracy specially created a new and last hat for Isabella - black in the form of a ship. This headgear was decorated with a coffin lid. To honor the memory of Isabella came 750 people. And in September of the same year in memory of her F. Tracy created a separate collection of hats, dedicating it to Blow.