Dear Shaded Viewers,
One of fashion's recent tragedies was the death of Isabella Blow. Lauren Goldstein Crowe managed to capture the energy and eccentricity of her subject. Even though it is a sad story you can not control your laughter on reading Isabella's antics as a fashion editor and her total disregard for foolish things like 'budgets'. She was capable of spending a years budget on a single shoot. Crowe does a rather comprehensive job of taking us through the ups and downs of an eccentric fashion editor.
Issie feeding her godson, Otis Ferry circa 1982. Photo by Lucy Birley
Crowe takes you through Isabella's childhood and the difficulties she had with her parental rejection, her own insecurities, her love for dressing up, her relationship with McQueen and how her personality made her appear ten times more beautiful than she actually was. Her thirst for glamour had no boundaries and her love for fantasy was as insatiable as her hunger for love, sex and adventure.
Isabella photographed in corset by Mr. Pearl for Russian Vogue in 2000. Photo by Zanna.tv
Many of Blow's dearest friends were interviewed for the book with the exception of Detmar, the husband who had his own agenda and was writing his own book dedicated to Blow. Those closest to Blow had little love for Detmar. Crowe goes into Blow's outrageous adventures, meticulously researches her subject and leaves us laughing through our tears. The book is a tribute to a woman living in a time that nolonger exists.
Isabella and artist Tim Noble outside the Modern Art Gallery before the Tim Noble, Sue Webster show "British Wildlife," September 9, 2000. Photo by Sue Webster.
Isabella in a 1988 advertisement for Liberty. Photo by Zanna.tv
Diane
