Isabella Blow

scorps
Fashion Careers

Why Are There So Many Scorpios in Fashion? We Ask Astrologer Susan Miller to Explain

Could your astrological sign make you suited to a career in fashion?

As ridiculous as that may sound, Anna Wintour, Robbie Myers, Glenda Bailey, Calvin Klein, Zac Posen, Edith Head, Emilio Pucci, Kelly Cutrone, Peter Lindbergh, Alexa Chung, Isabella Blow, Daphne Guinness, Chloe Sevigny, Lauren Hutton, Jean Shrimpton and Helmut Newton are just a few of the many editors, designers, photographers and style icons who were born under the sign of Scorpio. These folks are successful, powerful, iconic and we had a hunch that it wasn’t just a coincidence.

I happen to be a Scorpio myself and considered that might be the only reason I kept noticing other fashion people with November birthdays, until I realized other people had noticed that as well, like Astrologyzone‘s Susan Miller (aka the fashion industry’s most trusted advisor).

Susan also does the horoscopes for Elle, so she’s familiar with the fashion world, and in fact, works for Scorpio editor Robbie Myers. Also, one of her daughters is Chrissie Miller, designer of Sophomore. Susan was nice enough to chat with us about Scorpio personality traits and why this particular water sign is such a great fit for the fashion industry.

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Would You Rather?

Would You Rather…? Martha Stewart Vs. Isabella Blow, the Butterfly Eyelash Edition

By Hayley Phelan Friday, Sep 23, 2011 / 12:45 PM


On the left we have Martha Stewart on the cover of the Halloween issue of her mag. On the right, the late style icon Isabella Blow, who needs no introduction.

While we appreciate Martha breaking out of her conservative Connecticut mom image and, ahem, spreading her wings, we have to call her out for cribbing from Blow, who wore the artsy style in 2006, when it was actually original. Read more »

Philip Treacy on Lady Gaga as His Intern, Isabella Blow and the Princess Beatrice Hat Backlash (He Says He ‘Didn’t Give a F***’ About Bloggers)

Philip Treacy gave the Sunday Guardian a juicy unfiltered interview, where the famed milliner dished on everything from his muse Isabella Blow, having Lady Gaga as an intern, and the backlash that followed the hat he designed for Princess Beatrice to wear to the royal wedding. The highlights:

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Menswear

Five Reasons We’re Stoked for Pitti

I’m heading off to Pitti Uomo and Pitti W next week, Florence’s men’s and women’s fairs. Other than eating authentic Neapolitan pizza, which I’m clearly most excited about, there are a ton of great events and shows going on during the week that are sure to make it a memorable few days:

1. Trussardi dal 1911. The Italian house will celebrate its 100th birthday at Pitti with a Fall 2011 runway show. The show will be live-streamed on www.trussardi.com, and brand devotees will be able to buy certain items immediately following the event on www.thecorner.com. There will also be a ton of great pieces from Trussardi’s archives on hand–including gloves from the original Dante Trussardi glove factory–for attendees to view.

2. Liberty’s Men’s Club Cocktail Party. When I lived in London I attended many Liberty of London cocktail parties. I remember one in particular, for jeweler Shaun Leane, where Elton John, Isabella Blow, and Sam Taylor Wood all showed up. Add some canapes, fancy decor, Champagne, and what you have equals magic. So yes, despite my old lady disposition, I’m am thrilled to clink glasses with the Liberty crew yet again. This time around, we’ll be celebrating the launch of their menswear collection, produced by Slowear.

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Book Club

Detmar Blow Answers Your Questions

For those of you who participated in our first-ever Fashionista Book Club session on Friday, thanks for logging in! Since author Detmar Blow wasn’t able to respond directly to your questions, we’ve put together a Q&A. More than anything, we think you’ll find Detmar’s answers sincere. Again, many thanks to Detmar for participating. More info on January’s Book Club will be posted soon!

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Book Club

Join Us December 3 at 3pm for the Inaugural Fashionista Book Club!

I picked up Detmar Blow’s biography of his late wife, Isabella Blow, while at the shows in Paris. I read it one evening in less than two hours.

I have a million things to say about Blow by Blow, but since it’s time for the Fashionista Book Club, I’ll keep quiet for a little while longer!

On Friday, December 3 at 3pm we’ll be hosting a live chat about the book right here on Fashionista. You’ll be able to hear what each of us thinks about the book, and you’ll also be able to voice your own opinion.

In the meantime, order your book here. If you have a Kindle or the Kindle app on your iPad or iPhone, you can also order a digital copy.

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Rants

Isabella Blow Book War Rages On, Takes On Jezebel

The Isabella Blow book war just won’t quit. And the authors of the competing biographies–Tom Sykes, who cowrote Blow by Blow with Isabella’s widower Detmar, and Lauren Goldstein Crowe who wrote Isabella Blow: A Life in Fashion–continue to use the fashion blogosphere to duke it out.

Crowe has spoken out again, though this time, instead of responding to Syke’s latest outrage, she’s taking issue with one of the sites covering the saga, lady blog Jezebel.

Seems Crowe didn’t like Jenna Sauers’ implication, as she recapped the back-and-forth on Jezebel, that the authors were simply drumming up publicity at Isabella Blow’s expense. “Far be it from us mere bloggers to act like some kind of voice of morality here, but a talented and troubled woman died and all these people can think about is their petty little publicity-chasing book-selling feud?” Sauers wrote.

So Crowe sent a response to us and Racked, titled, “A Letter to Jezebel.” Here it is, in full:

How strange of you to recall, step-by-step, the grisly tale between myself and Tom Sykes (“Competing Isabella Blow Biographers Attack Each Other,” November, 11, 2010) but when it comes to my completely coherent clarification to decide to “act like some voice of morality” and point out that “a trouble woman died,” and accuse us both of pandering for publicity’s sake.

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Rants

The Isabella Blow Book War Rages On

Two competing biographies of Isabella Blow, widely regarded as one of the most brilliant and creative forces in fashion, hit shelves this week. There’s Blow by Blow, Detmar Blow’s biography of his late wife coauthored by Tom Sykes, and there’s Isabella Blow: A Life in Fashion by veteran fashion writer Lauren Goldstein Crowe. Crowe’s is being optioned for a movie. Detmar’s bio is the required reading for our first Fashionista book club (virtual) meeting.

There’s a lot of bad blood between the two books. At the New York launch party for Blow by Blow, Detmar told WWD that he had “no interest” in Crowe’s book. Following the London launch party for Isabella Blow: A Life in Fashion, Crowe wrote to tell Racked.com: “Personally I thought it more interesting that Detmar’s sister and cousin were there as were both Isabella’s sisters and her step-mother and a variety of cousins. Also Philip Treacy and Lucy Ferry who didn’t attend Detmar’s launch. But hey, that’s the world we live in.”

And now Tom Sykes, coauthor of Blow by Blow (and brother of Plum and Lucy) is fighting back. He sent us a long, angry email to comment on what he called the “outrageous slur that has been made today on our book by Ms Crowe on the fashion blog racked.com.”

Here it is in full (we’ve bolded the best bits):

‘Hey, that’s the world we live in’? What the hell is that supposed to mean?
Lauren Golsdstein Crowe’s outrageous insinuation seems to be that somehow her book is the ‘approved version’ because Issie’s sisters came to her book launch. This cannot go unchallenged. Lavinia, Isabella’s beloved youngest sister, came to the launch of our book in London, and was an honored guest at the dinner afterwards at Annabels. Freddie, Lavinia’s son and one of Issie’s cousins, was also at our launch in New York. And, for God’s sake, DETMAR WAS ISSIE’S HUSBAND FOR ALMOST TWENTY YEARS!!!!

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People & Parties

Last Night’s Party: A Lovely Evening With Detmar Blow and Tom Sykes at Anthroplogie’s Launch of Blow by Blow

Isabella Blow was one of the most brilliant, creative and fascinating people in fashion. Last night I got to talk with two people who were close enough with her to write a book about her life. Anthropologie hosted the launch party for Blow by Blow: The Story of Isabella Blow (which, in turn, is the launchpad for the Fashionista Book Club!).

Anthropologie co-prez Wendy Wurtzberger felt the company and Blow’s story were a great fit,. She took me through the amazing in-store gallery exhibition featuring iconic images and artifacts from Isabella’s life. Fun fact about one particularly interesting photograph of Issie and Detmar Blow, her husband and co-author of the book, in a field next to a castle: There is a mysterious bunch of flowers hanging at the top of the frame–those flowers are being held by Alexander McQueen.

Next, we spoke to Detmar, who was wearing a suit that had “The Modern Art” printed all over it in pink letters so tiny they almost looked like pinstripes. “Alexander McQueen picked out the fabric,” he told me, “He said the one I had originally chosen was too pink.”

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Book Club

Introducing the Fashionista Book Club: Blow by Blow by Detmar Blow

I picked up Detmar Blow’s biography of his late wife, Isabella Blow, while at the shows in Paris. I read it one evening in less than two hours.

I have a million things to say about Blow by Blow, but since the book won’t be released in the US until November 9, I’m going to hold back on my lengthy opinion.

Indeed, Blow by Blow is the ideal launchpad for the Fashionista Book Club, a series we’ve been wanting to start for some time now.

On Friday, December 3 at 3pm we’ll be hosting a live chat about the book right here on Fashionista. You’ll be able to hear what each of us thinks about the book, and you’ll also be able to voice your own opinion.

In the meantime, pre-order your book here. If you have a Kindle or the Kindle app on your iPad or iPhone, you can also pre-order a digital copy.

Enjoy Blow by Blow–we can’t wait to hear what you think!

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Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Nordstrom To NYC, What Designers Will Wear on Halloween, & An Isabella Blow Biopic Is In The Works

SoHo Gets a Nordstrom: New York City is finally getting a Nordstrom. Except it’s not just any ordinary Nordstom–it’s a concept shop with a charity angle. The store will donate all of its earnings to charity. While most of the details are not yet worked out, the store will occupy 11,100 square feet at 350 West Broadway. {Racked}

When Designers Get Into Costume: With Halloween only a few days away, T Magazine asked some of their favorite designers what they were going to be for Halloween. Pamela Love is going as Georgia O’Keeffe, Joseph Altuzarra will dress as wolf from Little Red Riding Hood, Eddie Borgo is going to go as Pee Wee Herman and Chris Benz is deciding between a matador and a bellhop . {T Magazine}

Isabella Blow Biopic: There has been a lot of rumors surrounding the making of a biopic focusing on the life of the late Isabella Blow. Apparently, it’s really happening. The film’s director and producers have all been chosen, and the screenplay has already been written. Set to be involved in the film are John Galliano and Philip Treacy, both who were very close to Blow. {The Cut}

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Shopping

Fashion’s Night Out Details From Around the World

Fashion’s Night Out is quickly approaching and it’s going to be huge. During the week of September 10 events will be taking place across the globe. As we already reported, Vogue will be staging the biggest fashion show ever on September 7. As follow up, there will also be a CBS special on the 14 and a FNO-themed Gossip Girl episode on the 20.

But what about the day of? Not everyone’s plans are 100% locked down yet, although we’ve been getting scoops from a few retailers from NYC to Berlin and we just couldn’t wait to share! It’s never too early to start preparing for fashion’s biggest party, right?

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