Mats Gustafson - Red Romance.

Mat's new editorial for Vogue China's new December issue is a study on the most memorable red pieces and silhouettes from the AW12/13 collections, featuring Marc Jacobs, Alexander Mcqueen, Galliano, Gucci, Dior, Valentino and Comme Des Garcons.

David Downton for Luxure and L'Officiel Italia

I'm a little late in making this post admittedly, but it's nonetheless still worth posting, as Downton scores again with a double whammy of september issues.
L'Officiel launches it's debut Italian issue with an exclusive cover of Shana Zadrick wearing Armani Privé, and Luxure commemorates it's fifth anniversary by commissioning Downton's for it's cover artist. Hopefully most readers will be aware that David famously drew Cate Blanchett for Australian Vogue's 50th anniversary issue, with a varied range of covers, all of which now impossible to find or buy online. Make sure you buy these while they are still available, regardless of content, as they will certainly become collectors items in the future. (for collectors like myself!)

www.daviddownton.com is regularly updated with all of his latest work, and his book Masters Of Fashion Illustration (which is truly recommended) has recently been released in paperback.

Cedric Rivrain for Lanvin

Over the last few years Cedric has created a handful of rare ads for Lanvin menswear, featured exclusively for magazine Paris, LA, so I've decided to place them all into a singular post (I might have posted the top one long ago) so the full effect of his work for them can be seen. Looking at them together, it really does beg the question 'Can't this be seen more often in advertising?'
Surely it could serve to break up the monotony of endless similar ad imagery, models with two bags swinging off each arm. Kudos to Lanvin for letting this happen.

Cedric also recently released his stunning first book 'Selected Drawings', where 28 of his works are reproduced on a 1:1 scale. To view more information or purchase a copy, visit dopepress

Richard Haines for Prada.

Always the innovators, Prada commissioned Haines for a multi-platform project featuring the fashion house’s collections for the season. “Il Palazo,” according to Prada, references the ‘palace of role play’ where “Hollywood leading men Gary Oldman, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe and Jamie Bell walked a red carpet runway.” 

For those unfamiliar with the concept, the project will unfold in stages, starting with a series of rare and collectable book releases of Haines’ original sketch work and culminating in a project app and dedicated platform on Prada.com. The last element will showcase a “virtual Palazo” in which visitors will be able to discover “rooms” full of Prada accessories, as well as Haines’ Prada-based artwork. Dazed Digital have an exclusive interview with Haines about the project and more information.

Click on the Prada tag at the bottom of this post to see more of their projects involving fashion illustrators.

Christian Lacroix for Tank Magazine

Tank magazine's fall issue features four different covers illustrated by couturier Christian Lacroix, who made collages and drawings based on editor Caroline Issa's selections from the fall 2012 collections. The magazine, which hits newsstands on September 15, contains a full fifteen plates of his work, as well as scented pages created by Finnish artist Sissel Tolaas. 

Original text from Tank's website:

• [x] Back

FASHION NOW

Text by Caroline Issa

Illustrations by Christian Lacroix

The autumn/winter shows are always my favourite. There is just so much more to look at. Think of all the layering pieces: the coats, the jackets, the jumpers. I was rewarded with spectacular visions by designers that entirely reflected my own tastes - promises of the trouser suit, rich brocades, deep purples and plenty of leather. 

When we were planning this issue, I wanted to ensure we had a collections story as a visual reminder of the shows that had made my heart sing. From Valentino's impressively feminine show, Thakoon's vibrant trench coat and feather confections, to Maison Martin Margiela's beautiful, if exaggerated, tailoring. These were the key looks that stood out. More than anything this season is about a new line, a shape and form that wants to take off somewhere new. Asking the great couturier and creative genius, Christian Lacroix to interpret 14 looks of the season was the easy part. And it was mind-blowing when he agreed. 

These are looks from shows I really admired. Christian with iPad and stylo (his tool of choice nowadays) generated a series of sketches, combining his legendary illustrations with new collage techniques. His digital tools only enhanced his personal touch, his distinct fingerprint on such delicate details was perfectly in tune with this issue's theme of technology and sensuality and so unmistakably Lacroix with his incredible genius to make us dream. I love his interpretation of the looks of the season by fellow creators, and hope you do too. 

Production & coordination: Jérôme Puch

Continue Reading . . .

Menswear SS10 by artist Donald Urquhart.

Back in 2009, artist and Saatchi favourite Donald Urquhart was asked to produce a series of illustrations to accompany Ponystep's seasonal menswear review (back in the pre-magazine days of their website). Impossible to find anywhere online since the website closed, I've been able to chase them down after a good while and can show them again! Looks include Romain Kremer, Dunhill Raf, Prada, and Yves Saint Laurent. . . . I think.
In honesty, the main appeal in these images is more to do with the stylistic and humourous approach that Urquhart takes, and showing the general notions and shapes that menswear was taking in 2010. Would love to see him interpret the next season.

Myself and Julie Verhoeven were also asked to produce the accompanying illustrations for the other seasons. To see Julie's click here. For mine, click here.

 (T/Y Richard Mortimer!)

WOOYOUNGMI AW2012 campaign.

Menswear label WOOYOUNGMI continue their artist collaborations for each campaign with this latest one by Clemens Krauss. Titled 'Laughter and Value', 2012, oil on canvas, 190 x 140cm.

Each season WOOYOUNGMI will collaborate with an artist to support their work and allow them to interpret the season's collection. The artist will not only produce a piece of work that will become the print advertising campaign but also exhibit their work in MANMADE WOOYOUNGMI. 
These are only the first two in the running series, I absolutely loved their last campaign artwork by Lee Song (below) 'Around The City' (detail), 2011, oli on canvas, 162cm x 130cm and the slight nod to Ed Hopper, one of Lee's favourite artists.

Information from WOOYOUNGMI's website:

The whole concept of how modern man lives all isolated without fulfilling the needs of being attached in a group and being loved, which is the third stage of the psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, is what WOOYOUNGMI 2012 A/W Collection and Clemens have in common in their work.

In his series 'Concepts of Isolation' Clemens Krauss consequently explores the vulnerabilities of the individual in the social context. Although modern times seem to provide all sorts of amenities, society at the same time is faced with growing alienation and isolation. Yet men are social beings who after fulfilling basic physiological and safety needs long for love, friendship and intimacy

Clemens Krauss distinctively painted those modern men living their lives alone and isolated as they are not being loved and alienated from their busy lives with family and co-workers, with his very thick impasto depictions and has thrown a big question mark for the solutions for recovering from everyone’s suffering.

Lee Song, one of Korea's current rising artists, was chosen as the first collaborator. The WOOYOUNGMI designers Woo Youngmi and Woo Janghee not only admire his unique style of simple line with sophisticated detailing but also connect with his approach to his work. In the short conversational film entitled Let Me Eat Cake both artist and designers express their desire to describe and heal their contemporary through their work. Both are examining the modern world and its ongoing daily routine. They would like to offer something to their viewer / customer as a break from the habitual. Fashion and art are not vital to our existence but through them we can taste a different outlook. 

Judith Van Den Hoek

Dutch illustrator and graphic designer Judith is someone whom I have been keeping an eye on for some time.


The influence of Gruau and Downton is clear in her work for sure, yet it avoids being completely derivative, due to the slightly more sharper approach to her lines and the soft grey tones of her backgrounds. There is a clear sense of determination to boil the image down to as little as possible, demanding the absolute satisfaction out of just one single line or two for the silhouette, the complete hallmark of a true minimalist approach. Judith openly states her love for Gruau in her interview with Fashionarium, and her sense of reductivism is something I greatly admire.


Materials wise, Judith uses Paint tools, Copic Ciao Felt pen (100 Black), pencils and Black marker. Photoshop is also used after drawing to give to the illustration a fresh and clean look. Her work has won her interest by Vogue Nederland whom she now currently illustrates for. For more of her work, check her blog or tumblr. 

Continue Reading . . .

F.I.G's open evening - Vogue's Fashion Night Out.

As part of the annual event, Fashion Illustration Gallery showcased the prints and originals of it's roster of illustrators at it's venue on Cork St in London (situated just behind Bond St).

I strongly suggest going to F.I.G's open evenings whenever possible if you are fortunate enough to live in London. William Ling, gallery owner and the man in charge, has created a public platform for showcasing the most prolific illustrators in the business, something that has been somewhat lacking when it comes to fashion illustration. Seen as the minority and occasional alternative to photography and editorials, public and industry folk alike aren't always aware of the history of fashion illustration and aren't exposed to just how incredible some of the best talents are, or the work they put out for for high profile clients. With a focus on displaying commissioned pieces, F.I.G had three gloved assistants on hand to display to visitors both prints and originals from the artists.

A big focus of the open evening was on David Downton, who was on hand to sign copies of Masters Of Fashion Illustration in the new paperback edition, and previewing a new series of prints with the gallery which will be available later this year. I managed to have a small chat with Downton again after meeting him previously at LCF's Go Figure exhibit, talking mainly about Gruau and naturally asking him to sign my copy of Pourqoui Pas? (fanboy moment - being very flattered when he mentioned he loved my work, argh). It was also great to manage a brief catch up with Decoy favourite Richard Gray (Downton and Gray have known each other for years having both illustrated from the couture shows and salons) who I'm happy to say is still interpreting Keko Hainswheeler's accessories for a series of personal works after illustrating one previously for the double page spread in Decoy 3.

On display; Downton's original of Cate Blanchett for Vogue Australia's 40th anniversary issue.

With illustration legends Gray and Downton at F.I.G.

Also showcasing their newest member, a series of three new prints by Ricardo Fumanal are available with F.I.G, including 'Automatic Lover' for Hercules Magazine, 2008, which was used for Decoy's cover on Issue 2.

I unfortunately ended up rushing out to meet a friend and didn't get a chance to have a look through their selection of rare books like 'Antonio's Girls', or take enough photos for this post like I should have. Regardless, make sure you sign up to F.I.G's mailing list or their facebook to keep updated with their latest news, signings, and available pieces.

Commons & Sense issue 43

I'm honoured to say that I'm featured in the new issue of Tokyo based Commons & Sense along with good friend and talented illustrator Tara Dougans. C&S is a goldmine for anyone with an interest in fashion illustration, holding the most illustrated content I've seen in a high profile mag in years. The last two issues included Decoy favourites David Downton and Richard Gray (link to editorial) and have introduced me to several talents I had not yet come across. I'll be updating this post with more information and illustrators once I receive my copy in the post . . .

Click images to enlarge.

Issue 43, from Alexander McQueen fall 2012 editorial, by Tara Dougans.

Issue 43,  from Hermes fall 2012 editorial, by Richard Kilroy 

issue 42, from David Downton's beauty editorial.