‘Blow by Blow: The Story of Isabella Blow’ – Detmar Blow & Tom
Sykes (2010)
Image from Amazon.co.uk
Isabella Blow was a legendary
figure in the fashion world. She was a writer, style icon, muse and had an
amazing eye for spotting up and coming talent. She is credited for nurturing
the likes of Philip Treacy and Alexander McQueen and thrusting them into the
fashion limelight. Her career in fashion spanned thirty years and she worked
for American Vogue, Tatler and The Sunday Times Magazine.
But Isabella’s life was one of
extreme tragedy and drama. Whilst she was a powerful force of creativity and
eccentricity in the fashion world, her own personal happiness and the deep
depression that plagued her ultimately lead to her tragic suicide in 2007, aged
48.
Isabella with hat designer Phillip Treacy
(Image from Oh! Ms. Blow)
‘Blow by Blow’ is an account of Isabella’s life through the eyes of
her widow, Detmar and co-written by their friend Tom Sykes. Detmar and Isabella
met in 1988, and were married sixteen days later, and despite some very
turbulent times, remained married until her death. His point of view gives the
book a very personal view of her life on a personal level, as well as
documenting her career.
The book has received very mixed
reviews, some finding the tone of the book self indulgent and accusing Detmar
of basking in the limelight left by Isabella’s legacy. However, I did not find
this to be the case. In my opinion, the book is a very honest and poignant
account of a life that was amazingly glamorous, but equally terribly tragic.
There is a lot of mention of wealthy people and famous people in the fashion
world, but how could there not be? Those were the circles that Isabella and
Detmar have moved in their whole lives.
I found that the book kept my
interest all the way through as it gave an interesting background to Isabella’s
family history (which had a deep impression on who she became as an adult)
which was an insight I had not really known about before, as well as plotting
her career. Detmar and Sykes are careful to not just include the highs of
Isabella’s career, but also her lows. It documents her fiery relationship with
Alexander McQueen (who himself had problems with depression and took his own
life in 2010), and is very open about the issues their friendship had.
Isabella and Alexander (Lee)
McQueen, photograph by David LaChapelle for Vogue UK
(Image source - Signature9)
This book is mostly for the
fashion lovers out there, and I am not sure that it would be to everyone’s
taste. However, the complicated and interesting life lead by Isabella makes for
a great read if you are a fan of biographies.
Overall, I felt that the book
managed to do justice to the genius of Isabella, whilst not being afraid of
revealing her faults. She is not painted as an angel by any means, but the
legacy she has left in the fashion world means that she will never be
forgotten.
3/5 Stars
