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Blow by Blow
http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Blow-by-Blow-Detmar-Blow-Tom-Sykes/9780007353132
The Story of Isabella Blow
By
Detmar Blow, Tom Sykes
RRP $22.99 $15.36 Save $7.63 (33%)
Free shipping Australia wide Ships from local supplier | Rating: | | | Format: | Paperback, 304 pages | | Other Information: | 40 b/w illus, 50 col plates (16pp) | | Published In: | United Kingdom, 09 June 2011 |
A life of extreme tragedy and remarkable inspiration, the story of Isabella Blow is a dramatic and compelling tale of a courageous icon. Isabella Blow was the epitome of English eccentricity. A legendary figure in the fashion world, she nurtured and championed the talent of some of fashion's most recognisable and important figures, all the time hiding her own personal unhappiness and severe depression. The news of her tragic death in 2007, aged 48, shocked the international fashion world. Her thirty year career in fashion began as Anna Wintour's assistant at American Vogue, and took in stints as fashion director of Tatler and Fashion Editor of The Sunday Times Magazine. But she is perhaps best-known for the iconic images of her in Philip Treacy's hats, the first of two designers to launch his career from the basement of Isabella and Detmar Blow's house. With similar passion and verve, Isabella enthusiastically displayed her admiration for young designer Alexander McQueen, buying his entire first collection after he graduated from Central St Martins, in a move that many believe launched his career. Detmar Blow was engaged to Isabella sixteen days after they first met in 1988, and the couple remained married until her death. In this visually stunning portrait, Detmar and Tom reveal the truth about the intriguing world of Isabella, providing incredible behind-the-scenes insight into the world of fashion and high-society, as well as tracing her ancestry and early childhood, offering a fresh and penetrating look at her domestic life, and celebrating her incredible achievements. |
ReviewsWhile other authors with new books about Isabella Blow (see Martina Rink's and Lauren Goldstein Crowe's titles, reviewed below) knew or admired her through her professional life, this is a much more personal story. Written by her husband, it is a love story as well as a biography of a remarkable woman who inspired artists and designers and created iconic images. She was 48 in 2007 when she committed suicide after a long battle with severe depression. Detmar Blow was engaged to Isabella 16 days after their first meeting in 1988, and the couple remained married until her death. In this portrait, Detmar and coauthor Sykes offer a look at her early childhood and her genius and eccentricity as well as an excursion into the high-society fashion world. Detmar depended heavily on his diary and interviews with family and friends. (According to Crowe, he refused to be interviewed for her book.) Verdict A good story about an intriguing 20th-century personality, this is also a devastating portrait of a difficult marriage. Recommended for readers who love fashion. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 8/10.]-Susan L. Peters, Univ. of Texas, Galveston (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
| Publisher: | HarperCollins Publishers Ltd | | ISBN: | 0007353138 |
| EAN: | 9780007353132 | | Dimensions: | 22.0 x 15.0 centimeters (0.65 kg) |
| Age Range: |
15+ years |
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