Isabella Blow blazed the fashion world during her career from the 1980s until her tragic death in 2007. The muse of milliner Philip Treacy is credited with discovering models Stella Tennant and Sophie Dahl as well as the fashion designer Alexander McQueen.

The exhibition displays over 100 items including her personal collection of clothes, photographs and illustrations and leaves behind a legacy of one of fashion’s most talented mavericks.

In 2010, fashion muse, patron and artist, The Honourable Daphne Guinness purchased Isabella’s wardrobe and established the Isabella Blow Foundation. Guinness will visit Australia to open the exhibition and appear at a number of public events at the Powerhouse Museum and Westfield Sydney.

Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts, Troy Grant said the Powerhouse continues to attract world- class exhibitions that will draw visitors from across the state and internationally.

“Isabella Blow: A Fashionable Life takes visitors on a journey of twentieth century British fashion through the lens of a fashion editor. Blow’s influence on local Australian and global trends is both immediately evident and fascinating,” he said.

“With Collette Dinnigan: Unlaced also on show until the end of August, there is the chance for visitors to get a double dose of fashion at the Powerhouse this winter.”

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events, Stuart Ayres said this exhibition continued to build Sydney’s reputation as the Australian home of fashion.

“This winter, visitors to Sydney have the opportunity to get a close up look at famous works by seminal British designers. With this exhibition exclusive to Sydney, this is the only place in Australia to see original, early works by designers who are now household names.”

“Against the backdrop of Wool Week, Vivid Sydney and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia, this exhibition provides yet another reason to head to Sydney this May,” he added.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of events including a week-long pop up at Westfield Sydney, which will feature intimate talks from Australia’s leading designers, and an event with Daphne Guinness in conversation with Harper’s BAZAAR editor Kellie Hush at the Powerhouse Museum on 12 May, 2016.

The fashion exhibition was opened by the Honourable Daphne Guinness, owner of the Isabella Blow Collection, to an audience of 250 guests including Dan Single, Bambi Northwood Blyth, Jodhi Meares, Collette Dinnigan, Pip Edwards, Luke Sales, Jenny Kee and Eva Galambos.

As the fashionable set sipped on Bird In Hand wine, they celebrated a life well lived.