Her story is old news by now but the life and death of Issie Blow points out that the fabulous life ain’t that great. Style, breeding and parties are not enough to get one through the dark days. Issie killed herself by drinking weedkiller and was eulogized by Rupert Everett at the BEST funeral in years.
One of her first jobs was working for, and being appreciated by the Devil-in-Prada, Anna Wintour. As an editor, Issie discovered fashion designer Alexander McQueen and hat designer Philip Treacy (who did the Duchess of Cornwall’s wedding hat) while they were both still in design school! She discovered the mannish model Stella Tenant and the luminous ginger model Sophie Dahl, who was the nude in the scandalous Opium ads. Issie discovered many talented people, but did not profit from it.
She was godmother to Brian Ferry’s children. Warhol, Madonna, Rupert Everett, and Plum Sykes were among her many well heeled pals. She was considered a fashion Muse and one of the 10 most influential people in British Fashion. She was featured in fashion spreads herself and along with Treacy was subject of a book and exhibition.
She sure was something to look at. A sort of surreal Olive Oyl. She had a famous raincoat made of colored trash bags. She’d put anything on her head and make it work. She reminds one of a Edward Gorey lady — sad eyed, glamorous and tragically doomed.
To read the laundry list of her friends, accomplishments and jobs doesn’t paint a complete picture. Issie had money, but not ENOUGH. McQueen forgot her when her got the big bucks. Her parties were legend. She and hubby underwent many rounds of unproductive IVF treatment which, along with her smoking, lead to ovarian cancer. Her mother-in-law kicked her out of the familial manse. She got back in the familial manse. She had a strong marriage. It was a heck of a life, full of life.
The hats she so favored often obscured her face. Her fearless costume-y sense of style may have been intertwined with a desire to hide and divert attention. She was truly devoted to being pretty on the outside even wearing scratchy 30’s silver lame on her death bed. Neither she or her husband owned blue jeans. Treacy’s tall ship hat adorned her coffin.
“It pains me to say so,” she once said, “but I’m ugly. I know that’s subjective, so perhaps I should say instead that I’m striking. My face is like a Plantagenet portrait.”
The fatal poisoning was her third suicide attempt. Her career was in transition. She was aging in a industry fixated on youth and beauty. She was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer, how advanced is unclear. One of Britain’s greatest fashion muses was literally telling people at the BEST parties she was suicidal. She sought treatment including ECT. Those closest her to suffered greatly.
I think the life and death of Issie Blow reflects the shallowness and transitive nature of the fashion industry and society’s inability to deal effectively with mental illness.
She had it all, she had so much, but it wasn’t enough. The best article about her I found was THE SAD HATTER.
Depression sucks, but suicide sucks too.What else can be learned from the life of Issie Blow?
Comments 1
I am not a fashion person, but I find the tragic tale of Ms. Blow to be oddly compelling. That someone like her would be abandoned by those she helped does not speak well of her world.
As a contrary point to her: I own lots of jeans and no suites. And, I do have friends that would help me.
The NY Times link is a great read - highly recommended.
The final injustice to Ms. Blow will surely be a poorly performed made-for-television movie on the USA Network. I cringe at the thought.
Posted 18 Mar 2008 at 8:50 am ¶Post a Comment
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