Isabella Blow

Isabella Blow

Fashion guru Isabella Blow lost her battle against ovarian cancer in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Blow was one of the fashion industry’s most eccentric and influential characters. She is credited with the discovery of Alexander McQueen, Philip Treacy, Sophie Dahl and Stella Tennant.

Her husband Detmar announced the sad news as he paid tribute to his wife of 19 years. He said:" She was a beautiful, brave woman; indefatigable, courageous and brilliantly intellectual.

Geordie Greig, editor of Tatler magazine for which Blow was still working as a contributing editor said:" She was the most intelligent and creative person in fashion. In many ways she was the British queen of fashion. She was intoxicating. You could never get enough of her. She was a free spirit."

Milliner Philip Treacy, who was also discovered by Isabella and whose hats she was rarely seen without told vogue:" She was a great champion of young people. She came from the establishment but she was a punk at heart."

"Her love was talent, rather than money. Her ethos was beauty and elegance."