Isabella Blow: hats off to a legend

The late Isabella Blow, influential fashion stylist and champion of the avant garde, launched the careers of many of fashion's household names, including the model Sophie Dahl, designer Alexander McQueen and milliner Philip Treacy. However, she remains best known for her extravagant hats. Here we celebrate her finest moments...

  • China girl

    Philip Treacy's “Chinese Garden” headdress, created for Alexander McQueen's 2005 spring/summer collection
    Isabella Blow: Isabella Blow in 2005

  • Ice queen

    Isabella Blow at a Damien Hirst exhibition in 2006
    Isabella Blow: 'In The Darkest Hour There May be Light'

  • It's got her name on it

    Pictured with the late Alexander McQueen wearing a specially comissioned feather hat for the launch of MAC's 'Blow' lipstick. Blow became McQueen's muse after she saw his graduation collection and bought it in its entirety. It was also reported that Blow persuaded McQueen to become known by his middle name Alexander (his first name is Lee) when he launched his fashion career
    Isabella Blow: Alexander McQueen and Isabella Blow

  • Bristle fashion

    Blow effortlessly matching her hat to her companions drink at the Dorchester Hotel
    Isabella Blow: Blow at the Dorchester Hotel

  • Pretty in pink

    Blow, in another Philip Treacy creation, attending the private view for Anna Piaggi's exhibition "Fashion-ology" at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 2006
    Isabella Blow: Anna Piaggi: Fashion-ology - Private View

  • Moving in fashionable circles

    Blow with milliner Philip Treacy, creator of much of her flamboyant headwear
    Isabella Blow: Blow with Philip Treacey

  • Red alert

    Blow sporting another Philip Treacy number at the opening of the exhibition When Philip Met Isabella at the Design Museum in London
    Isabella Blow: PHILIP TREACY HAT EXHIBITION AT THE DESIGN MUSEUM, LONDON, BRITAIN

  • Green goddess

    Blow with her husband Detmar, author of her biography Blow by Blow: The Story of Isabella Blow
    Isabella Blow: Blow with husband turned post-humous biographer Detmar
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