When Philip Met Isabella

Cranbrook Art Museum will present an exhibition of the extraordinary hats that the Irish designer Philip Treacy made for his friend and muse, Isabella Blow. The exhibition, When Philip Met Isabella -- Philip Treacy's Hats for Isabella Blow, draws on work from the private collections of both Treacy and Blow, and opens on June 4, 2006.

Since their first meeting on a fashion shoot in 1989 when Treacy was a student at the Royal College of Art, Blow has been his staunchest supporter and a constant source of inspiration. After leaving the RCA, he lived and worked from the basement of her London house for three years. Many of his most surreal and sculptural hats have been made for her. "Issy never says: 'You've gone too far,'" says Treacy. "She always says: 'You haven't gone far enough.'"

When Philip Met Isabella will explore their collaboration through twenty of the hats he has made for her. Exhibits will include the Ship, an astonishingly realistic replica of an 18th century French ship with full rigging made from miniature buttons, and the rose pink damask Pope modelled on the papal hat.

Also featured will be the Castle inspired by Blow's ancestral home at Doddington, Cheshire and Ludwig of Bavaria's magnificent palace. Gilbert and George is a fantastical concoction of pink and green lacquered ostrich feathers. Horns is a black satin replica of the horns of Blow's flock of ancient Soays sheep. The show will include photographs by Steven Meisel, David LaChapelle, Juergen Teller and Mario Testino of Isabella Blow wearing Treacy's hats.

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

Isabella Blow is one of the world's most influential creative directors who has 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.

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

For further information, please visit http://www.cranbrookart.edu/museum/treacy.html

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