shelf help: illustration now fashion

Illustrators have the same magical aura as as ballerinas or an architects. Growing up, everyone wants to be one and tends to keep those dreams alive even into adulthood. I'm not going to lie, even I have a notebook of doodles in my purse, just in case someone looks over my shoulder on the subway and decides I'm the next Maurice Sendak or Mike Mills. (Hey, it could happen....) I also regularly enlist our Digital Design Director, Liz Riccardi, as my illustration surrogate to create artful images to accompany my articles. 

My point is that illustration might be one of the most magical and alluring types of art. Don't believe me? Just look at the whimsical and inspirational illustrations in Illustration Now! Fashion published by Taschen. Featuring works by Jean-Philippe Delhomme, Carlotta, Ruben Toledo, Mia Maria Overgaard, and more the 400 page tome is like a wonderland of pen and ink. McQ dresses come to life in watercolor while Balenciaga separates are sketched with precision on the book's pages. Anything is possible inside, and daydreaming that you're the gal in the Proenza Schouler leather coat is a lot easier when its being worn by an imaginary girl than by Karlie Kloss. Just saying.

See some of our favorite illustrations in the gallery below and then get your copy of Illustration Now! Fashion here and start dreaming. 

Lovisa Burfitt

Maquillage green, 2008

H&M, wall decoration; ink, feather pen, brush and color pencil

Hiroshi Tanabe

Untitled, 2011

Shop Iza, website; pen and digital

Katarzyna Bogucka

Untitled, 2011

M.O.D.A., K. Świeżak, Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry; digital

Gi Myao

The Way We Wore, 2010

The Washington Post; gouache on paper

Tanya Ling

Chloe Spring/Summer 2012

(from Ling’s series International Ready-to-Wear; acrylic and ink on paper)

Erin Petson

Versace, Fashion Face-Off Top Trumps, 2012

Sunday Times Style Magazine; mixed media, pencil, acrylic, fabriano paper and digital