Many a time I have pored over beautiful fashion shots in magazines, and there is little more iconic than the vintage fashion shoots of Twiggy, Brigitte Bardot and their contemporaries. The same goes for the fashion drawings that graced magazines throughout the sixties, seen often in their great dress pattern features.
In The Big Book of Fashion Illustration, Martin Dawber’s vast collection showcases the very best of fashion illustrations, from retro to this minute. And they’re rather a feast for the eyes.
While this book primarily serves as a bible for budding fashion designers and fashion artists, it is a joy for us ordinary folk to pore over. Unfortunately, being a catalogue of works, this gives no real insight into the techniques used and how the art of fashion illustration has changed and developed through the years. In fact, save the preface, there is virtually no text throughout.
However, if you’re looking for some retro images of fabulously dressed females, there’s enough to tickle anyone’s fancy amid the more modern styles. It could even serve as a textbook of inspiration for girls who live for style, which isn’t bad for under £15. That said, though the pictures are stunning, unless you’re in it for the art this won’t be one you’ll return to again and again.
