Treacy's talent continues to blossom by RACHEL MARIE WALSH

Dear Diane and Shaded Viewers,

The big SATC Movie news yesterday (and it seems there is a new item of non-information about that film every day now) is that the Nina Ricci dress SJP wore to the New York premiere last week had two previous outings- once on Lindsay Lohan and then again on some US socialite to the Costume Institute Gala at the Museum of Modern Art last month. Oh, the humanity! The sheer humiliation of wearing something another, younger, prettier woman has worn before. It could not possibly have happened with her London premiere ensemble. All four of the actresses looked sensational but her’s was the image beamed round the world, thanks to a very exclusive Philip Treacy creation, growing out of her head. 

The small, round style is called Beano and was hand made in Treacy’s studio from a natural straw fiber and hand-covered with feathers from the underside of the peacock.  These were the same feathers used by Alexander McQueen to trim the bustier of Parker’s pale green dress.  The plumage on top of the hat is turkey, geese and chicken feathers that were dyed and treated to re-texture their surface.

The elaborate butterfly is a hand-painted chicken feather and the flower a silk satin mix. The hat was inspired by the designer’s fantasy of Carrie Bradshaw in London and he stitched and preened his creation for an entire sleepless night before the premiere, just so it could perch on Parker’s blow-dried head, according to his spokeswoman, Nina Farnell-Watson.

It’s just a little over a year now, since Treacy spent another sleepless night ensuring the funeral of his friend and mentor Isabella Blow, in Gloucester Cathedral, was heart-breakingly beautiful. I can’t wait to see ‘I’m no Angel’, the art and photography exhibition dedicated to her memory, at the Blow de la Barra Gallery from September.

I don't think that woman had any idea how much more beautiful the world was for her presence. Its great to think the talents she discovered continue to blossom...even from Sarah Jessica Parker's head!

Rachel Marie Walsh

SJP in McQueen and Treacy (c)The Daily Mail