The Ship, The Hon. Honour Fraser photographed for Brian Ferry’s 1995 album More than This. Photographed by Nick Knight. Exhibited at RMIT Gallery as part of the exhibition When Philip Met Isabella – Philip Treacy’s Hats for Isabella Blow. 

Isabella Blow with Alaia's French bull terrier, wearing Millitary Hat, 1990. Photograph by Steven Meisel. Exhibited at RMIT Gallery as part of the exhibition When Philip Met Isabella – Philip Treacy’s Hats for Isabella Blow. 

Isabella Blow wearing Horsehair Helmet with Swarovski Crystal Button by Philip Treacy Photographer: STEVEN MEISEL © 1993. Exhibited at RMIT Gallery as part of the exhibition When Philip Met Isabella – Philip Treacy’s Hats for Isabella Blow.

Isabella Blow wearing Pom Pom with black laminated lace by Philip Treacy (carrying Azzedine Alaia's Pug) Photographer: STEVEN MEISEL © 1993.Exhibited at RMIT Gallery as part of the exhibition When Philip Met Isabella – Philip Treacy’s Hats for Isabella Blow.

When Philip Met Isabella – Philip Treacy’s Hats for Isabella Blow 

Eccentric style icon, Isabella Blow and master milliner Phillip Treacy celebrated fifteen years of collaboration with an exhibition of 30 extraordinary hats. The exhibition also included photographs by legendary fashion photographers of Blow wearing Treacy’s hats.

The Exhibition When Philip Met Isabella – Philip Treacy’s Hats for Isabella Blow was organised by the Design Museum, London and curated by Donna Loveday. The Exhibition Tour has been organised by the Design Museum, London.

When Philip Met Isabella – Philip Treacy’s Hats for Isabella Blow featured Blow’s personal collection of Treacy hats. Exhibits included the Ship, an astonishingly realistic replica of an 18^th century French ship with full rigging made from miniature buttons, the Castle, inspired by Blow’s ancestral home at Doddington, Cheshire and Ludwig of Bavaria’s magnificent palace. Gilbert and George was a fantastical concoction of pink and green lacquered ostrich feathers. Horns was a black satin replica of the horns of Blow’s flock of ancient Soays sheep. The show also included photographs by Steven Meisel, David LaChapelle, Juergen Teller and  Mario Testino of Isabella Blow wearing Treacy’s hats.

Born in 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 made haute couture hats for such fashion houses as Chanel, Valentino, Gianni Versace and Alexander McQueen.

Isabella Blow was the Fashion Director at Tatler Magazine, the UK’s high society bible.  She was one of the world’s most influential creative directors who 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.

When Philip Met Isabella – Philip Treacy’s Hats for Isabella Blow is full of glitz and glamour as well as colour and imagination. Treacy’s hats embrace fantasy with incredible energy and reveals why he is known as the master of modern hat making.