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first look
October 23, 2013

First Look: Meet 90 Contemporary Fashion Illustrators

By Julie Ma

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Photo: Cecilia Carlstedt

“Fashion illustration requires the unique ability to wield pen or brush in such a way that it not only captures nuance through gesture but also can readily transform the graphic representation of a garment, accessory or cosmetic into an object of desire,” writes expert Steven Heller in the introduction to Taschen’s latest trilingual tome, Illustration Now! Fashion, set to be released in December. The 400-page book, edited by Julius Wiedemann, is filled with the works of 90 contemporary fashion illustrators from all over the globe — from Ruben Toledo, Aurore de La Morinerie, and Tanya Ling, to the artists the Cut has worked with over fashion weeks, Bil Donovan and Samantha Hahn.

The hypnotizing hand-drawn creations sprawled out on full pages — a mix of precise pen-meets-digital works, inks, and dreamy watercolors — offer alternative, stunning interpretations of the attire we’ve grown accustomed to seeing photographed down runways or stylized in whimsical editorials. In a way, these works offer a sense of closure to the entire life cycle of a fashion illustration, which always begins with the initial sketches of patterns and shapes dreamed up by the designer. The creations of these 90 artists, the reinterpretations of final looks that are sent down the runway, add an additional layer to the finished designs and also elevate them to a new realm that beautifully straddles fashion and art. For a sneak peek, click through the slideshow to see an exclusive look at works of ten artists featured in the book.

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First Look: An Opulent Decade of Dior Haute Couture
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1 / 11 Photos
Cover 
Alexandre Vauthier, 2011 Gladys Perint Palmer, Haute Couture, Fall/Winter 2011-12; ink and gouache Photo: Gladys Perint Palmer
Chloe Spring/Summer 2012 Tanya Ling, International Ready-to-Wear; acrylic and ink on paper Photo: Tanya Ling
Catwalk #2, 2012 Sarah Egbert Eiersholt, personal work, poster; hand drawn and digital Photo: Sarah Eiersholt
Oscar Jacobson #2, 2012 Fredrik Tjernström, Oscar Jacobson, Art Direction: Magnus Löwenhielm; ink and gouache on colored paper Photo: F... Oscar Jacobson #2, 2012 Fredrik Tjernström, Oscar Jacobson, Art Direction: Magnus Löwenhielm; ink and gouache on colored paper Photo: Fredrik Tjernstrom
The Way We Wore, 2010 Gi Myao, The Washington Post; gouache on paper Photo: C. Gi Myao
Untitled, 2011 Cecilia Carlstedt, personal work; ink on paper and digital inversion Photo: Cecilia Carlstedt
Bill Cunningham, 2011 Alexandra Compain-Tissier, Les Inrocks magazine; watercolor Photo: Alexandra Compain-Tissier
Sunday Telegraph, 2011 Julia Pelzer; watercolor and colored pencil Photo: Julia Pelzer
Untitled, 2011 Hiroshi Tanabe, Shop Iza, website; pen and digital Photo: Hiroshi Tanabe
Maquillage Green, 2008 Lovisa Burfitt, H&M, wall decoration; ink, feather pen, brush, and colored pencil Photo: Lovisa Burfitt
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  • bil donovan
  • samantha hahn
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