A new film depicting the late Alexander McQueen’s infamous relationship with his muse Isabella Blow is reportedly in the works.
Titled The Ripper, the fashion drama will document the tumultuous friendship between the troubled designer and the eccentic fashion editor, according to Variety.
Blow spotted McQueen at the Central Saint Martins MA graduate show in 1992, and was so impressed with what she saw coming down the runway that she bought his entire collection, which was titled ‘Jack the Ripper’, for £5,000. She went onto support the designer in any way that she could and many attribute all of McQueen’s success to Blow’s connections and mentorship. Tensions between the two grew when his namesake label was bought by the Gucci Group (now Kering) back in 2001. Speaking to Cathy Horyn in 2007, her friend Daphne Guinness said, “She was upset that Alexander McQueen didn’t take her along when he sold his brand to Gucci. Once the deals started happening, she fell by the wayside. Everybody else got contracts, and she got a free dress.”
Blow’s life ended abruptly – and tragically – in suicide on May 7, 2007. She committed suicide by drinking Paraquat weedkiller – it was her seventh suicide attempt in 14 months. McQueen committed suicide less than three years later on February 11, 2010. The entire fashion industry was left reeling after the 40-year-old’s suicide (which was due to asphyxiation and hanging), which came just days after the death of his beloved mother, Joyce.
To this day, the tragic duo remain among the most prolific and intriguing collaborators in fashion history, which is why The Ripper is destined to be a must-see film for fashion lovers.
Details of the fashion film are scarce, with no hints at who will take the main roles. However, the script has been written by Gesha-Marie Bland and it will be produced by Maven Pictures.
