Isabella Blow

As it’s British tradition to wear grand headpieces to a wedding, those at the Royal Wedding over the weekend certainly did not disappoint. Some were exceptional, (a la Victoria Beckham) and some were exceptionally bad (yes, I'm talking about you Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie or, as I will now refer to you as, Cinderella's ugly step sisters), the common factor being that the unorthodox milliner, Philip Treacy, crafted most. While I was watching this, I could help but think it was all very reminiscent of Treacy's muse and original Princess of extravagant hats, Isabella Blow.

Interestingly, realising Treacy's talent after he created her wedding headdress, Blow offered to establish him in her London flat where he worked on his creations, later becoming a signature part of Isabella's flamboyant style. During Isabella's career she worked as Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Talley's assistant, a fashion director of Tatler and the Sunday Times Style magazine and shortly before her death in 2007 she worked as a creative director and stylist. She had also discovered the likes of Sophie Dahl and Alexander McQueen to name but a few. Isabella's life was certainly a mix of tragedy and inspiration and for many (myself included), she embodied English eccentricity at its best.

“If you don’t wear lipstick, I can’t talk to you.”

-       Isabella Blow

Sourced : Daily Mail, Candy Cane Ladies