For as long as there have been fashion designers, there have been fashion illustrators. From exaggerated poses to effortless strokes of color, fashion illustrators have distinct styles that inspire the next generation of artists. Here’s a brief history of those who paved the way for the evolution of fashion illustration.
CHARLES DANA GIBSON
Charles Dana Gibson, working in the early 20th century, defined the decade of fashion illustration. He was the most influential on the development of the American feminine style with his illustrations of the "Gibson Girls."
The 1930’s represented the “golden age” of fashion illustration. New technological developments in printing began to allow for the reproduction of illustrations to be easily placed onto the pages of magazines. With the decline of Hollywood glamour, menswear trends surfaced in women's clothing such as pleats and suits.
J.C. LEYENDECKER
J.C. Leyendecker was a illustration master of the 20th century who was very much inspired by Norman Rockwell. His paintings of fashionable men and women in a sleek, idealized style rose him into fame.
ERTÉ
Erté was a Russian artist and designer known for his glamorous opera sets, jewelry, costumes, and graphic arts. Harper’s Bazaar signed a contract with Erté which lasted from 1915 to 1938—one of the longest contracts in publishing history. Today, Erté’s work can be found in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
RENÉ BOUCHÉ
René Bouché was infamous for his work in Vogue Paris, to which he remains committed throughout his life. He also illustrated advertisements for Saks Fifth Avenue and Elizabeth Arden.
ALFREDO BOURET
Alfredo Bouret achieved considerable acclaim as a fashion illustrator after he arrived in Paris from Mexico in 1948. In Paris, Bouret worked for many major couture houses, including Pierre Balmain and Balenciaga.
RENÉ GRUAU
René Gruau was the power house of the fashion scene from the 50’s to 60’s. He was an Italian artist known for his painterly style of fashion illustration. Fashion illustration requires the unique ability to use a brush in such a way that it not only captures nuance through gesture but is also able to transform the graphic representation of a garment.
ANTONIO LOPEZ
Antonio Lopez was a Puerto Rican, American fashion illustrator. In the pinnacle of his career, Lopez illustrated fashions for Women’s Wear Daily and The New York Times and eventually became a freelance artist for many of the top fashion publications, including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and Andy Warhol’s Interview. He is known to have “discovered” women like Pat Cleveland, Tina Chow, Jerry Hall, Grace Jones and Jessica Lange.
BIL DONOVAN
Bil Donovan is also one of the most prolific and esteemed fashion and lifestyle illustrators working today. To name a few, his client list includes Christian Dior, Neiman Marcus, Vogue, Kim Crawford Vineyards, Saks, New York Magazine, Elle and L’Occitane.
ARTURO ELENA
Arturo Elena created his own style in the fashion illustration world which allowed him to work with luxury brands and publications for over 3 decades. He combines the realism of fabrics and human movements with an exaggerated elongation of the figure.
GREGORY WEIR-QUITON
Gregory Weir-Quiton, still working today, has over 60 years of experience, from fashion illustration to designing logos for movies and television. His extraordinary range of work gave him the opportunity to express his unique perspective where his distinctive style and unparalleled craft cemented his place among history’s greatest fashion illustrators. A selection of his works are showcased and offered exclusively through our gallery.
