Isabella Blow at the American Embassy in Paris, 1998

…By this iconic Ms. Fanciful. A cheeky, insightful, unapologetic fashionista with a natural exoticism that she played up and played with, and shared with others. She is one of my first fashion idols, who taught me what that world is truly about: play-pretties and dress up, pantomime and art. Performance art, yes, but also about inspiration and inborn talent, things that can be faked and mocked and copied, can even be bought and sold, but can only be found in the heart of a true artist. She knew how to find it and nurture it and extoll it, but I don’t know whether she realised that she was IT, smack in the middle of it all.

Dress-up is a great game for those who are hesitant to reveal the uncertain underpinnings beneath it all; to others, and to themselves. At some point, the veil between worlds grew too thin, and she couldn’t cover for herself anymore. I miss her, but I’m still inspired by her. That’s the effect you have when you’re an icon – you never go out of style.