Lesson 9

The Reading Module

Read the text: Fashion Illustration

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 nine to ten head length, 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 stylized effect and give the illustrator’s designs more dynamic appeal. The body is usually drawn slim with squared off shoulders and very elongated.

Not all designer are good illustrators, therefore some of them hire the services of an illustrator.

Fashion illustration has been around for nearly 500 years. Ever since clothes have been in existence and there was a need to translate an idea or image into a garment there has been a need for fashion illustration. Not only do fashion illustrations show a representation or design of a garment but also served as a form of art. Fashion illustration shows the presence of hand and is said to be visual luxury; especially today in a world of “24 hour celebrities” (Drake, 9).

More recently, there has been a decline of fashion illustration in the late 1930s when Vogue began to replace its celebrated illustrated covers with photographic images. In the 1960s several leading artists, such as Rene Bouche of Vogue, died (Drake, 7). From the 1960s to the 1980s fashion illustration was still on decline. Then in the 1980s fashion illustration finally made its comeback, the 1980s were said to be the “boom time” and when fashion illustration took its root (Borrelli, 6).

There are three broad groups designated for the artists of fashion illustration: the Sensualists, Gamines & Sophisticates, and Technocrats. The Sensualists are categorized to be strong, silent, and their work shows the presence of the artist his/herself. The delight in the materials they use such as paints, ink, paper, colors, textures, and they explore the capabilities of those medias (Borrelli, 11). Gamines and Sophisticates create imaginary worlds inhibited by vivid characters. They borrow elements of caricature and cartooning. As a result often translate humor and wit through their work by 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 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 the artist the freedom to portray fashion as they wish. 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, and Ruben Toledo – a Sensualist. All who 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).

I. Reading exercises:

Exercise1. Read and memorize using the dictionary:

fashion illustration, fashion design, drawing, croquis, draping, height, length, result in, slender, retain, basic proportions, crotch, dynamic appeal, squared shoulders, elongated, hire the services, garment, decline, replace, portray, flawless skills

Exercise 2. Answer the questions:

1. What is fashion illustration?

2. Why was there a need for fashion illustration?

3. What is the “boom time” of fashion illustration?

4. What are three groups designated for the artists of fashion illustration?

Exercise 3. Match the left part with the right:

1. Gamines and Sophisticates create	1. the freedom to portray fashion as they wish.
2. Fashion illustration gives the artist	2. designated for the artists of fashion illustration.
3. There are three broad groups	3. imaginary worlds inhibited by vivid characters.
4. Fashion illustration	4. has been around for nearly 500 years.

Exercise 4. Open brackets using the right words:

Fashion illustration gives the artist the freedom to portray fashion (_/as) they like.

The Speaking Module

II. Speaking exercises:

Exercise 1. Describe fashion illustration; draping; designate; basic proportions; decline using the suggested words and expressions:

fashion illustration

communication; design; drawing

draping

focus; fashion figure; clothing

designate

groups; artistic; categorize; delight; imaginary; inhibit; vivid characters

basic proportions

fashion drawing; human form; head; crotch; retain; extra length; add; effect; dynamic appeal

decline

fashion illustration; replace; celebrate; cover; photographic images

Exercise 2. Ask questions to the given answers:

1. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: There are three broad groups for the artists of fashion illustration.

2. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: All of the Technocrats draw but do not end with hand illustration.

3. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: Fashion illustration gives the artist the freedom to portray fashion as they wish.

4. Question: ____________________________________ ?

Answer: Fashion illustration has been around for nearly 500 years.

The Writing Module

III. Writing exercises:

Exercise 1. Complete the sentences with the suggested words: create, there are, inhibited by

_____ three broad groups designated for the artists of fashion illustration.

Gamines and Sophisticates _____ imaginary worlds _____ vivid characters

Exercise 2. Fill in the table with words and expressions from the text:

	When?
There has been a decline of fashion illustration
Fashion illustration made its comeback
The 1980s were said to be the “boom time” of fashion illustration

Exercise 3. Compose a story on one of the topics (up to 100 words):

“What is fashion illustration?”

“A decline and the “boom time” of fashion illustration”

“Three groups designated for the artists of fashion illustration”