Illustration by Megan Hess
Fashion illustration – the new (old) media of magazines.
Fashion illustration is hardly a new form of art, but it is definitely making a comeback.
In the days before photography was widespread, sketching what you saw was the only way to share it. Magazine covers featured whimsical drawings of beautiful girls with pouty red lips and big hair, and a common sight at runways would be illustrators bent over their sketching pads, tracing the models walking by them.
By the 70’s, photography reigned as the primary form of visual media, while fashion illustration, seen by many as outdated and old-fashioned, faded into the background. However, the fast-paced frenzy of the technology age has made many consumers crave the simplicity and quiet elegance of an illustration.
Illustration is in so many ways more relatable than photography because it doesn’t quite mimic real life. It’s easier to relate to the nostalgic mood of a quirky sketch than with the impossible standards of a retouched supermodel’s photo shoot. With illustration, your imagination can run wild.
Fashion illustration is taking the fashion crowd by storm, and there’s no better way to showcase their work than on Instagram.
Here are the big players of the fashion illustration world…
David Downton @daviddownton
Eris Tran @eris_tran
Bil Donovan @bildonovan
Brooklyn Hill @sketchfashionillustration
Megan Hess @meganhess_official
Jianlin Huang @jianlin_huang
Fashion Fleekend @fashionfleekend
Meagan Morrison @travelwritedraw
Blair Breitenstein @blairz
Katie Rodgers @paperfashion
READ NEXT: The latest sneaker-head obsessions you need to be a part of
AUTHOR: Nina Duffy
