Fashion Art Diary: Fashion Illustration

Ruben Toledo , 2008

Undeniably connected to the fashion industry, and undeniably a work of art, illustration crosses conventional categories. George Barbier first set the bar for excellence in fashion illustration during the 1920’s.

George Barbier, La Vie Parisienne, 1921

Geroge Barbier, from Le Bonheur du Jour ou Les Graces à la Mode, Paris: Chez Meynial, 1924.

Erté was an artist-illustrator who worked with designers but gained his fame with Harper's Bazaar. He continued producing illustration through the 1980's.

Erté, Symphony in Black, original 1930's, reprinted 1983

Erté, Alphabet Letter "W", 1928

Andy Warhol's famous work for I. Miller shoes and below, he also worked for Harper's Bazaar.

I. Miller, 1958

Harper's Bazaar, late 1950's

Warhol's illustration and commercial consciousness influenced his later work, especially seen in this Polaroid.

Warhol, Polaroid, 1981

Traditionally, designers have also created their own illustrations.

Lagerfeld for Chanel in 2005 and YSL from the 1960's,

from 100 years of Fashion Illustrations.

Established in the 1960's, Kenneth Paul Block was the in house illustrator of Fairchild/WWD. The artist also worked with upscale retailers Bonwit Teller, Bloomingdale’s and Bergdorf’s and has illustrated many socialites.

Babe Paley, 1964

Patrick Nagel had a unique color block style that helped him rise to popularity in the 1970's and continued until his death in 1984.

Nagel, 1982

Popular as a painter, Alex Katz is sometimes considered by the fashion world for his flat graphic style and presentation of clothing. Read my interview with Katz here.

Katz, Ada, 1960

Katz, Beach Sandles, 1987

Julie Verhoeven is a contemporary illustrator who worked closely with Galliano. Read an interview with her here.

Prada & Jil Sander, 2006

Fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo (husband of designer Isabel) works frequently with Nordstom. Below his illustrations were used as a backdrop in Spring 2009 and with a Prada shoe for Harper's Bazaar.