The Little Black Book of Style

Patricia Mears

American Beauty: Aesthetics and Innovation in Fashion

A stunning tribute to great American fashion designers--both the famous and little known--of the 20th century This beautifully illustrated book is the first to examine the relationship between innovation and aesthetics as expressed by American couturiers and fashion designers from the late 1910s to the present day. The book, which accompanies a major exhibition at The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, reveals that great design and great style were consistent elements in the work of American's best fashion designers.Patricia Mears introduces many great forgotten figures, as well as many familiar names: work by lesser-known figures such as Jessie Franklin Turner, Ronaldus Shamask, and Charles Kleibecker is discussed alongside pieces by more celebrated creators, such as Halston and Charles James; work by designers of the past is juxtaposed with that of present-day designers such as Rick Owens, Yeolee Teng, and Maria Comejo. James's grand and structurally imposing gowns from the 1950s appear alongside contemporary Infantas by Ralph Rucci; the section on draping juxtaposes 1930s gowns by Elizabeth Hawes and Valentina with more contemporary garments by Jean Yu and ...

Martin Dawber

Big Book of Fashion Illustration: A Sourcebook of Contemporary Illustration

Following the success of the bestselling "New Fashion Illustration" comes this exciting visual bible for illustrators and graphic designers. Featuring nearly 1,000 new and innovative images, it provides an unprecedented variety of approaches to the field. An international array of artists offer inspirational examples of every technique, from traditional watercolors, acrylics, and pencil drawings to cutting-edge designs using the latest technology from Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia FreeHand, and digital photography. The fabulous fashions include womenswear (including couture and bridal); menswear (from t-shirts to bespoke); children's clothing (tots to teens); and the hottest youth styles. Plus, there's stuff for sport and leisure, cool accessories, and beauty and glamour illustrations. This eye-catching resource is a must-have for any designer--and for anyone who loves fashion.

Walter T. Foster

Fashion Illustration 1920-1950: Techniques and Examples

Comprehensive and user-friendly, this volume combines four vintage instructional manuals by Walter T. Foster, the world-famous art teacher and publisher. In addition to explaining the principles of figure drawing, it provides a handy retrospective of fashions for men, women, and children from the first half of the twentieth century. This authentic guide to vintage styles features a splendid range of apparel, from ladies' lingerie and evening gowns to men's business suits and children's play clothes. Artists at every level of experience will benefit from tips on portraying figures in motion and at rest, along with advice on accurate renditions of clothing folds and patterns. Step-by-step drawings with helpful comments explain a variety of techniques, including pencil, pen, wash, and opaque.