These illustrations symbolize an era in fashion, before photography was the chosen medium, that is somehow more romance than sex, more glamour than fame, more Madison Ave than Soho.
The Line of Fashion an exhibit of great fashion illustration over the years, is on display this month at Society of Illustrators in NYC.
UPDATE: By popular request, Swoon Worthy II.
Good
and
quickly
seldom
meet
~Anonymous
L’esprit de l’escalier or esprit d’escalier (stairway wit) is the sense of thinking of a clever comeback in an encounter when it is too late.
The phrase can be used to describe a riposte to an insult, or any witty, clever remark that comes to mind too late to be useful— when one is on the “staircase” leaving the scene of the encounter.
The phenomenon is usually accompanied by a feeling of regret at having not thought of the riposte when it was most needed or suitable.
Featured: Stairway at the Louvre, Paris, 2007
“A man
should look
as if he bought
his clothes
with intelligence,
put them on
with care,
then
forgot
about them.”
-Hardy Amies
“Life itself is the proper binge.”
~Julia Child
As I bounce around online looking for images I always look for the extraordinary, the esoteric, the naive, and the emblematic of a time; works that are not the pieces we often see in design history books.
Just as a map helps us find our way and shows us where we are, looking at design from years past helps us better understand the trajectory contemporary design has taken. DesignObserver.
The novelist Alison Lurie wrote: “Whatever is worn on the head is a sign of the mind beneath it.”
Stephen Jones, the greatest milliner of his generation, disagrees.
“Whatever is worn on the head is a sign of what a person would like to be."
“The golden moments
in the stream of life
rush past us
and we see nothing
but sand.
The angels
come to visit us,
and we only know them
when they are gone.”
-George Elliot
“I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fake Chanel”
Following her counterfeit faux pas, the culture’s rebellious “bad girl” Courtney Love has been granted a reprieve by Karl Lagerfeld’s court. Fortunately, the iconic rock star is now decidedly back in fashion.
In this classic novel of old New York, Edith Wharton recreates the city of her girlhood in the 1870s. The Arion edition has been illustrated with photographs of the actual settings of the story.
“Truly a thing of beauty” according to Forbes magazine, this edition celebrates a classic of American literature. The book has a special status as an affectionate record of the streets and buildings of New York City. At every moment of the novel the reader knows where the characters are, walking down a particular street, standing in front of a certain address, looking out the window of a familiar room.
The Arion Press edition is illustrated with images of the novel's actual setting, as they are today, captured by noted photographer Stephen Shore who brought to this project a personal knowledge of the historic buildings and streets that made up Wharton's New York world.
New York Times art critic Michael Kimmelman raved: "The work’s laconic eloquence speaks of an era and a nation."
Francis Bacon's sickly serene Self Portrait 1971 is a refracted faceted face akin to some of Paul Cézanne's self-portraits which are reminiscent of cut precious gem stones reflecting light. Bacon painted with a very dry brush giving the sensation of a granular, grainy effect.
The melancholia mood is of a man melting before you: a disturbing image of a disturbed man in a disturbed century. This is one of the last great self-portraits Bacon painted before he went off the rails and went back into to the lazy worn grooves of inane illustration.
The Errant Aesthete©
July, 2007 - January, 2012
The Errant Aesthete©
All Rights Reserved
If you would like to reprint an article or repurpose a photo, please email for permission.
EMAIL: worddrawing@gmail.com
I got into design illustration because of images like this. These idealized figures, called a “croquis” measures nine to ten heads high, whereas an average human being is generally seven to eight heads high. I think it was the elongation of the human form that completely swayed me to pursue this as a career.
what is the difference between the degree in illustration and drawing?
sorry to ask u to many questions, but I’m planing to become an illustrator as well.
can u please let me know of what u do with design illustration as a career. and y do u use word design not just illustration.
Fatima,
If you are seriously interested in pursuing this as a career, I would suggest you research the
field through an accredited institution. EA merely showcases the work of
illustrators. Good luck!
thank you for the heads up! this is a must see. looks fantastic. cheers, -paul
Hi,
I really love your site, and all the pictures.
Are you an artist?
An artist? Regretfully, no, not formally trained.
But blessed with a good eye and a love of
aesthetics. Thank you for your post and kind words.
do u know the name of the artist of those top fashion pieces.
Fatima,
From the top:
Blll Donovan
Alvaro
Stephen Broadway
Two other excellent fashion illustrators are Kenneth Paul Block (See EA post The Hauteur of Fashion Illustration and Antonio Lopez.
hello,
i am looking for someone who can do some fashion illustrations for my new website. if you are interested please email me at web123@bellsouth.net
its amaaaizing paint >>
i was in ramberand galary tonigt in oman muscut it was wonderfull
I love your post. Every display showcased the deep artistic nature of the artist. I would love to use one of the picture you have displayed above can i have your permission to use it on my website?. Well love your page. keep up the good work
Cheryll,
Of course you can use the imagery found here and thank you for your most kind words.
You DO have a beautiful & well designed/written web log. It struck me that someone was actually looking at old black n whites-(gee-I moss film…) & had something to say.I -as an artist-(started w/ illustration…)-was always interested in what illustrators like Brad Holland had to say-& I felt a great loss when the home p.c. turned design into ‘just another ‘mater pickin’ gig’….?
In the end tho-it’s how we are sometimes forced to press on….definately never done learning…never quite having ‘arrived’…Mark Partington/artist/ temp_mwp@yahoo.com
Show all!
very good…