Film to honour Isabella Blow, fashion’s lost guru

IT may have been the fickle world of fashion which led to her demise. But some of the industry’s biggest stars have united to turn the life of Isabella Blow, the stylist, into a film.

Philip Treacy, the milliner, and John Galliano, the creative director of Christian Dior, are both involved in the biopic which will pay tribute to Blow, who killed herself three years ago by drinking weedkiller.

Sam Taylor-Wood, the award-winning artist and film-maker, has expressed “interest” in directing the project.

Her possible involvement was suggested by Alexander McQueen, the fashion designer, before he committed suicide in February. McQueen had also offered to provide creative advice and clothes for the film. Like Blow — who spotted his talents early and championed his career — he suffered from depression.

The scriptwriters of the film believe there is a lingering sense of guilt within the fashion industry about the way Blow was treated towards the end of her life. She died aged 48.

“For Isabella, fashion in the 1980s and 1990s was about feeling, not brands and marketing,” said Max Newsom, who is co-writing the script. “But the industry became more commercial in the Noughties and I think she found that depressing.

“In a world where vanity and image is very important she shocked people by talking openly about committing suicide. The corporate world found that increasingly difficult to deal with.

“I think others have a bad sense of conscience about the way they ignored her towards the end of her life.”