Fashionblows1

The Fashion Blows exhibit runs until November 1 at The Room at Hudson’s Bay on Queen Street in Toronto. Photo: Courtesy Hudson’s Bay

If you haven’t made it down to the Fashion Blows exhibit at the The Room at Hudson’s Bay on Queen Street in Toronto, you’re missing out on experiencing a slice of fashion history. The free exhibit, which was created by Hudson’s Bay and The Isabella Blow Foundation, showcases 55 pieces from the famed fashion director’s collection. It’s a rare chance to see iconic work from Alexander McQueen, Dior, Galliano and Deborah Milner.

There are also 15 fantastical hats from Blow’s long-time friend Philip Treacy. Last week, Treacy and fellow designer Daphne Guinness attended the gala dinner held at The Room. Funds raised will be used to send a
Canadian fashion student to London’s famous Central Saint Martins College as well as support programs at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). In a touching tribute to his friend and muse, Treacy recalled meeting Blow in the 1980s and being struck immediately by her attire. “Most women who worked at magazine offices wore pearls. Isabella was wearing a transparent cobweb top with a skirt and high-heeled Manolo Blahnik shoes—she looked completely different from everyone else.” The pair were entwined in each other’s lives from the moment Blow asked Treacy to design hats for her wedding. “I was expecting a bride in white, but it soon became very clear that for someone like Isabella, this wouldn’t be a traditional dress," laughed Treacy.
What did Blow say when someone questioned why she chose a student hat maker for her wedding?
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