Philip Treacy’s Hats for Isabella Blow
Cranbrook Art Museum will present an exhibition of the extraordinary hats that the Irish designer Philip Treacy made for his friend and muse, Isabella Blow. The exhibition, When Philip Met Isabella — Philip Treacy’s Hats for Isabella Blow, draws on work from the private collections of both Treacy and Blow, and opens on June 4, 2006.
Exhibits will include the Ship, an astonishingly realistic replica of an 18th century French ship with full rigging made from miniature buttons, and the rose pink damask Pope modelled on the papal hat. Also featured will be the Castle inspired by Blow’s ancestral home at Doddington, Cheshire and Ludwig of Bavaria’s magnificent palace. Gilbert and George is a fantastical concoction of pink and green lacquered ostrich feathers. Horns is a black satin replica of the horns of Blow’s flock of ancient Soays sheep. The show will include photographs by Steven Meisel, David LaChapelle, Juergen Teller and Mario Testino of Isabella Blow wearing Treacy’s hats.
Born in County Galway, Ireland, Philip Treacy studied fashion design in Dublin before winning a place at the Royal College of Art. As well as founding his own successful hat business, he has made haute couture hats for such fashion houses as Chanel, Valentino, Gianni Versace and Alexander McQueen. Isabella Blow is one of the world’s most influential creative directors who has worked for magazines including American Vogue, Visionaire, The Face and Vogue Italia. She played an important part in nurturing the careers of many designers, including Alexander McQueen, as well as Philip Treacy. Via
