Fashion Illustration is the communication of fashion designs through drawing. The main focus is the fashion figure or croquis used for draping the clothing onto. The true female figure measures seven to eight head lengths in height; the fashion figure measures nine to ten head lengths, resulting in a move slender figure. In fashion drawing the basic proportions of the human form from head to crotch are retained, while extra length is added to the legs to give dramatic stylised effect and give the illustrator's designs more dynamic appeal. The body is usually drawn slim with squared off shoulders and very elongated.
There are three broad groups designated for the artists of fashion illustration: The Sensualists, Gamines & Sophisticates, and Technocrats. The Sensualists are categorized as strong and silent, while their work shows the presence of the artist him/herself. They delight in materials used including paints, inks, paper, colors, textures, and explore the capabilities of those media (Borrelli, 11). Gamines and Sophisticates create imaginary worlds inhibited by vivid characters. They borrow elements of charicature and cartooning, as a result they often translating humor and wit through their work, referencing and rejecting stereotypes of fashion representation (Borrelli, 63). Last there are the Technocrats, they use computers in a way in which are revolutionizing illustration. All of the Technocrats draw but do not end with hand illustration. Technocrats digitally transform illustrations and work towards a final computer generated product (Borrelli, 125).
Fashion Illustration gives freedom to portray fashion as the artist wishes. Unlike fashion design, there are fewer boundaries in which you can express your artistic point of view opposed to your flawless sewing skills (Drake, 7). Some well known fashion illustrators are Steven Stipelman from WWD (Women's Wear Daily), Jason Brooks - a Technocrat, Jordi Labanda - a Gamine and Sophisticate (Labanda, 1-13), and Ruben Toledo - a Sensualist. All which have done work and advertisements for clients such as Vogue, Barney's NY, Nordstrom, Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue, Apple, Mercedes, and VH1 (Borrelli, 173-5).
References
Borrelli, Laird. (2000). "Fashion Illustration Now," Thames & Hudson Ltd., London. (p 6-175).
Drake, Nicolas. (1994). "Fashion Illustration Today (Revised Edition)," Thames & Hudson Ltd., London. (p 7).
Labanda, Jordi. (2003). "Hey Day," Editorial RM, Barcelona. (p 1-13).
From: en.wikipedia.org
