My dual careers as a Theatrical Milliner and a Costume Set Supervisor (Key Principal Costumer) have flourished, bringing me the vitality of imagination and skill exploration, with an opportunity for creative personal expression. When starting out, making waist coats and ‘wild rags’, along with re-shaping hats for Cowboy Poet friends, turned into my business West Wind Garment Company Inc.
Later, delving into making Couture fashion hats with my brand of Bizzy Blue Skies Millinery has also become another welcomed artistic dimension. With a lot of miles traveled from that beginning home base of Alberta, Canada, the views of those wide open prairie skies have stayed with me and in turn become the ability to see that the view is filled with a world of possibilities. On any given day, there are ‘Blue skies….. nothing but blue skies.’
When the rolling racks full of costumes get loaded into a wardrobe trailer and the costume plot pages are reviewed again, with yet another updated script, it’s show time! This is when my job as a Costume Set Supervisor kicks into another gear and all the hard work of the entire costume department starts to be showcased.
Whether on top of glaciers, in rain forests or on arid prairies, in Canada, Mexico, Greece, USA, Spain or Japan, I have laughed with, learned from and worked alongside amazing crews dealing with costumes, actor’s action and story elements. Every project has been unique with much that has been shared and captured in memories and photos.
If it goes on top of a head, I can make it! With a headwear design sketch, scribble or reference photo, my creative mind starts to whirl. Tuning into the historical period or the fantastical world of each piece and the character being portrayed, brings together all the elements I love most about creating hats and headdresses for stage and screen.
In Canada I have worked at The Stratford Festival, Citadel Theatre, Banff Centre for the Performing Arts, and abroad at The Royal Opera House (England) and The Australian Ballet (Melbourne).
There has also been film and television Millinery work on projects for Disney, Paramount Studios, TNT, Netflix and Sony/Columbia Pictures to name a few. Have a look at the scale and scope of my work thus far and reach out if you would like to collaborate on a project.
Bizzy Blue Skies – Millinery showcases finely hand-crafted headwear designs that are an eclectic mix of classic elegance and sculptural flare.
Isabel “izzy” Bloor blends her depth of expertise in traditional and contemporary millinery techniques with the finest materials and trims to offer you exceptional detail and luxurious quality in every design.
“I have always found such joy in making headwear of any kind. When that creative energy begins to flow, a bit of magic happens as all the elements come together. It is that special “Joie de vivre” in every piece that I love seeing expressed to its fullest when each client puts it on and channels their own “take on the world’ attitude.“
Whether it is for a Raceday gala, fashion shoot, bridal event or leisurely afternoon out with friends enjoying those blue skies, there is a headwear style as unique as you are… waiting right here… ready for you to find it.
