When Philip met Isabella — Philip Treacy’s hats for Isabella Blow

When Philip met Isabella — Philip Treacy’s hats for Isabella Blow

 

 

 

 

This exhibition closed on 13 July 2003

When Philip met Isabella — Philip Treacy’s hats for Isabella Blow, celebrated 20 years of collaboration between the London-based milliner Philip Treacy and his muse, fashion editor Isabella Blow.

Since their first meeting, Isabella Blow has been Philip Treacy’s friend and inspiration. Many of Treacy’s most surreal and sculptural hats have been made especially for Blow.

When Philip met Isabella featured Blow’s personal collection of Treacy’s beautifully crafted hats. Exhibits included The ship, an astonishingly realistic replica of an 18th-century French ship; The castle, inspired by Blow’s ancestral home at Doddington; Gilbert and George, a spectacular creation of pink and green lacquered ostrich feathers; and Horns, a black satin replica of the horns of Blow’s own flock of ancient Soays sheep.

The exhibition also features images by renowned fashion photographers Steven Meisel, David LaChapelle, Juergen Teller and Mario Testino.

When Philip met Isabella was full of glitz, glamour, colour and imagination. Treacy’s hats embrace fantasy with incredible energy and reveal why he is known as the master of modern hat making.

The ship. The Hon. Honor Fraser
The ship. The Hon. Honor Fraser
photographed for Bryan Ferry’s 1995 album
More than this. Black satin, feather bones
and antique Bird of Paradise feathers.
© photo Nick Knight

When Philip met Isabella — Philip Treacy’s hats for Isabella Blow exhibition and tour organised by the Design Museum, London and curated by Donna Loveday. Supported by British Council Australia.