ISABELLA BLOW We are back and we are sad

Fitting tribute: Stunning hat sits on the style diva's coffin

The fashion icon Isabella Blow ended her life by drinking the deadly weedkiller paraquat. Monday, May 07, 2007

Mrs Blow, who had recently learnt she was suffering from ovarian cancer, had made at least two suicide attempts in the past, once by throwing herself from the Hammersmith flyover in West London which left her with serious leg injuries.

On the weekend of her death she was hosting a small party at her Cotswolds mansion and house guests included Mr Treacy and his partner Stefan. Mrs Blow was as famous for her colourful life as her passion for hats and blood red lipstick. She was a stylist who was once described as of the 20 most influential people in fashion.

She was the grand daughter of Sir Jock Delves Broughton who in the 1940s had been tried and acquitted for the murder of Earl of Errol in Kenya. He later killed himself. The story was made into the 1988 film White Mischief starring Greta Scacchi and Charles Dance.

She was married to the barrister Detmar Blow whose father also committed suicide by drinking paraquat. Aged four, Isabella witnessed the death of her two year old brother John who drowned in the family swimming pool.

She married her husband Detmar Blow at Gloucester Cathedral in 1989 after a whirlwind romance. She worked as a style editor and fashion director for, among others, Vogue, Tatler and The Sunday Times. She renowned as a talent spotter and was credited with helping launch the careers of Mr Treacy, Alexander McQueen and Julien Mcdonald.

Fashion world will miss her, and owe her for eternity.