bits and bobbins

channeling my inner isabella blow

as some (or many) may already know, the late isabella blow was a british stylist who wore hats (and clothing) with utmost panache and style. i rarely bow myself to praise too many celebrities, but isabella is one of the few exceptions, because she is a style icon who deserves praise and adoration.

i relate to isabella so very much…she was not beautiful in the classic sense (and hell, neither am i), but she was intelligent, ridiculously creative, innovative, and cheekily daring, and that’s just scratching the surface. isabella was called a “free spirit”…something i’d give my eye teeth to be remembered for as well. how fab would that be?

life’s too short not to take (fashion) risks…isabella’s life was short too. here’s hoping she made the most of it when she was here. if her personal style is any indication, she certainly did.

***

ms. blow wore hats better than i could ever dare to wear them. but just for a fleeting moment, i let myself channel my inner isabella blow [with the help of some MORE newly thrifted vintage hats]:

channeling my inner isabella blow

channeling my inner isabella blow

channeling my inner isabella blow

channeling my inner isabella blow

[sorry there have been so many photos of moi lately!]

July 27 2007 | Posted in fashion musing, i thrifted this.

Comments

15 total remarks on this post.

  1. July 27 2007 at 10:31 pm

    Jackie

    Those are fabulous…you look especially darling in the grey one.


  2. July 28 2007 at 4:08 am

    lisa carbide

    these are great! you wear them very well. i bought a gorgeous pale blue 40s hat yesterday and have spent ages sitting in front of a mirror, trying to see how it should sit – i suppose that hats are so rarely seen that i don’t have much for reference in how they should look, but i bought a cloche a couple of years ago and grew to love wearing it, so i think exposure helps.

    there was a great exhibition here last year (maybe earlier?) on philip treacy and isabella blow – his designs and millinery, her as muse and model. i left it very much in love with her.


  3. July 28 2007 at 8:39 am

    trashpicker

    amazing hats. seductive. smart.


  4. July 28 2007 at 5:46 pm

    Jeannine

    oh, but we like the posts of you!


  5. July 29 2007 at 8:49 am

    ellie

    the amazing combination of your eyes is hair is so enhanced when you peek out from behind those veils. it’s gorgeous!


  6. July 29 2007 at 11:27 am

    Tommy

    You look very cute in those hats.


  7. July 30 2007 at 12:11 am

    ambika

    There should be no apologies! The hats look fabulous, as if you were born to wear them. & I don’t mean that as so much hyperbole–you look very comfortable in them while I always look as if I’ve got a cat on my head when I try to pull it off.


  8. July 30 2007 at 12:13 pm

    S.

    VERY becoming!


  9. July 30 2007 at 12:17 pm

    bee

    so chic. you look just lovely.


  10. July 31 2007 at 12:50 pm

    chantal

    I like the red hair on you.


  11. July 31 2007 at 7:18 pm

    Tara

    can we talk about how much i love your hair?
    i am new to the site, so you may have already covered this, but i would love to know what your styling routine is. lovely. :)


  12. July 31 2007 at 9:14 pm

    tricia

    thanks everyone!

    tara: my styling routine? hrm, do i have one? :P i guess i do…! ha.

    i have baby fine straight hair with very little body. i pretty much use all “Bumble & bumble” hair products. it was a habit i picked up while living in NYC for some reason. i use the “thickening” shampoo and conditioner, and when styling, i use a little of their “styling lotion”, sometimes the “surf spray”, then blow dry, and almost always some “sumo tech” (a styling wax). all in an attempt to somehow lift and separate! :P

    umm, also now that it’s red like this i just wash it about 1x a week (as to not lose too much of the red color). in the interim between washings, i’ve been using Bumble & bumble’s “hair powder” in red to keep it from getting too greasy and also give it a tiny bit of body.

    sounds like a lot when i write it down! but it’s different each time, sort of…i don’t always use everything every single day.


  13. August 2 2007 at 9:47 am

    brittany

    So cute!


  14. October 29 2007 at 6:36 pm

    Annette

    Those hats are so lovely… great blog :)


  15. March 10 2008 at 11:27 am

    bits and bobbins » archives » (not so) random links

    [...] -not couture asks, is millinery back? i say ‘duh’!!! see these old posts (one, two, three) of mine about vintage hats and making your own hats in general way back in early 2007. the more hats, the better, i say! *** [...]