Fabulous Doodles Fashion Illustration blog by Brooke Hagel: obsessed with

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House of Cards | Final Season Fashion

House of Cards has long been the dramatic home to one of the best dressed characters to grace the small screen, Robin Wright as Claire Underwood. Last month I had the opportunity to preview the sixth and final season of House of Cards not once, but twice! As well as attend talks at the 92nd Street Y and The Wing with Wright, Michal Kelly, show-runner Melissa James and producer Frank Pugliese, pulling back the curtain as to what goes into making this monumental series. Wright's character dons the most pristine wardrobe that is not only tailored to perfection but also magnifies the characters flawless facade. I had the opportunity to ask some burning wardrobe questions about her flawless House of Cards wardrobe, designed by Kemala Harris, who as Melissa James says has “such an eye for not only a flawless wardrobe but such an understanding of character...with such attention to detail. So many of the dresses and stuff she’s [Claire] wearing, she wears with presidential cufflinks, which was entirely Kamala’s idea." She wanted to adapt the masculinity of presidents, and incorporate it into Claire's wardrobe. A wardrobe which is made up entirely of designer pieces that are altered and customized to strategically masculine-ize the character. Robin said jokingly, but not, that one of the things she's going to miss most from the show are the Christian Louboutins and Prada dresses. I sketched the character of Claire Underwood (shown above) in the uniform-esque suit she wears through much of episode one of season six. Even before the cast and crew talks as I watched the episode I was struck by how militaristic and commanding her bespoke suit was with its gold notions, taut fit, and modest cut.

Season 6 is quite a change from sexy styling of season 5, which I'd also roughly sketched about two years ago (shown above.) I can't wait for what the rest of this final season has in store for us wardrobe wise and in plot twists, with the countries first female President. Robin said "its gonna shock the shit out of you basically!" You can watch the whole 92Y talk (here on YouTube) to hear for yourself all the juicy details. If you do watch, (and this is slightly embarrassing but I'm clearly in awe of Robin and if you've come this far in the post perhaps you are as well.) anytime she looks down to the audience she was making eye contact with me! My friend and I were front row center and concluded that the guests on the stage couldn't see too far into the audience with intense spotlights on them so whenever she'd look down and out at the audience it was right as us! We kept elbowing each other in excitement and the entire cab ride home across town we discussed how charismatic and glowingly beautiful Robin Wright was. It was kind of hilarious that as two grown and heterosexual women we were completely fangirling out!

House of Cards season 6 premieres on Netflix tomorrow, Nov. 2nd, 2018! I'm just hoping I can make it last the weekend and not binge the whole season the first night. And last but not least, I hope to see you at the polls on November 6th. #VOTE

Sketches Inspired by Resort Collections

If you follow me on Instagram (@brooklit) you'll know that over the past few weeks I've been busy sketching some favorite designer looks inspired by resort 2016 collections. I've always loved the resort season collections, which are shown mid way through the fall and spring shows. Since so fewer pieces are shown designers have to keep their designs focused and concise. They also remind me of mini collection projects I'd design back in college. Each piece needs to serve a purpose, be well thought out and fit into the overall theme of the collection. Unlike fall and spring collections which can have as many as 120 pieces with both "filler" pieces and more avant garde looks that are solely for a dramatic runway moment, resort can have as few as 15-20 pieces.

The first collection I've illustrated here is Marchesa, consistently flawless, feminine and always a favorite of mine. This Moroccan inspired Resort collection featured a bounty of embroidered flowers inspired by Moroccan tiling, with intricate laces and a beautiful color palette of blush pinks, coral, black, white, gold and navy. In rendering this collection I chose the silhouettes I liked most that were also comprised of the laces and full floral embroideries that made the collection so exquisite and I enjoy rendering. The two to the right were two of my favorites both within the collection and in the outcome of the illustration. Theres something about sheer fabrics, like the v-neck white lace jumpsuit and peach organza bell-sleeve dress that make them so chic.

Rachel Zoe is next. Black and white is an eternal favorite of mine, along with much of the New York fashion set and her Resort 16' collection combined them beautifully with shimmer, embellishments and luxe fabrics. My favorite pieces to illustrate (shown above) were the ones that used beaded fringe, black and white stripes and chevron, and combinations of leather and suede. I illustrated these girls very elongated and stylized. This is the fashion illustration style I favor most however rarely use anymore since clients tend to prefer a "healthier" girl. To me though this is the epitome of fashion illustration. After completing these sketches I really want to keep along this vein and try to do more in this style, at least when drawing for myself, where I'm the sole opinion that needs to be taken into account.

Last up is Elizabeth and James by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. This collection, in my eyes, was the for the quintessential "cool girl." Another classic palette of black and white featuring loose and slouchy dresses, wide-leg trousers and tailored blazers. They played with proportions and volume and put together a strong resort collection. Surprisingly the pant looks were my favorite to illustrate of the all the pieces, as show above middle and below.

For design students looking for mini collection inspiration or to the fashionphile looking to explore new designers I suggest browsing through the resort collections, always a hit in my book.

Donna Karan | End of an Era

(Above: Donna Karan fashion sketch, Donna Karan RTW Spring 08')

Last week Donna Karan announced she was stepping down as chief designer of her namesake company Donna Karan International and I can't help but feel its truly the end of era. As a huge admirer of her work since my pre-teen years it shouldn't come as a surprise to me how much the news has effected me. In my early days of studying fashion design at FIT I'd often be assigned market research reports and store visits and my first stop was always the Donna Karan Collection store. I'd study the slinky gowns, chat about the collection with the staff and always ask for a lookbook to take home to study and often add to my mood board wall. (This was before photos from the collections were available at your fingertips online.)

(Above: Esther Canadas shot by Peter Lindbergh for spring 00' campaign, Donna Karan shot by Ruven Afanador, Donna Karan RTW fall 99')

Karan has always had a remarkable understanding of a woman's body. Along with sophisticated color palettes in luxurious stretch fabrics, and unique knits, made her consistently my one of favorite designers. Her luxe New Yorker esthetic alway came through in her ads which were regularly shot by the fashion industries top photographers and featuring the most sought after models of the moment from Iman to Esther Cañadas to Kate Moss and most recently Karlie Kloss.

(Donna Karan campaign shot by Patrick Demarchelier featuring Karlie Kloss and Donna Karan Atelier sketches for Anna Kendrick)

I met Karan once, it was 1999. I had just began studying fashion design full-time and the meat packing district was beginning to become a shopping mecca, you still had to walk by hanging carcasses lining the sidewalks to get to stores. Those days are since long gone, now its one pristine luxury shop after the next. I was walking around with my dad and asked if he'd mind if we stopped by the new "it" store, Jeffrey. I walked in carrying my favorite black leather bag by Karan (also my very first big ticket bag splurge) and who do I spot but Donna Karan herself shoe shopping with her daughter! Needless to say I was completely starstruck! My dad being my dad made me say hello and introduce myself but its honestly all a daze. I just remember being excited to have been holding my Donna Karan bag at the time. I rarely get that starstuck. So far its only been her and Sarah Jessica Parker that I've managed to embarrass myself meeting. (To SJP my first words were "it's you!?!" So embarrassing! Cut to a few months later though and I found myself working as a wardrobe intern on the set of Sex and the City.) I digress and seem to be going off on a tangent but I felt it was important to take a moment here on Fabulous Doodles and write about how important Donna Karan has been to me over the years and how sad I am to see her stepping down. I don't mean to eulogize her here, I realize she's not gone-gone but Donna Karan and her brand truly made a mark on me, my design sense, and the fashion industry.

Previous posts including Donna Karan:

Brooklit Fashion Phone Covers | Casetify Artist

I'm so excited to announce that starting this week my fashion illustrations are available on phone cases via Casetify within their Artist Collections. Through my Brooklit gallery you can choose not only which sketch is your favorite but they also offer nearly 30 phone models to choose from ranging from iPhones to Samsungs and even LGs. You can pick the basic snap-on case or go with something a little more special like the new metaluxe cases in rose gold or silver. (I personally love the metaluxe and ordered the rose gold "Croqui Collection" design.) As if I couldn't be more excited about this collaboration, they also ship free worldwide! So now all my friends in the United Kingdom, France and Australia and beyond can have one. Lastly I know I'm sounding like a infomercial here but I have an incentive to share, when you join and place an order through this link you will receive $10 off!!!

For months while on my Vogue/Clinique Sketch Tour I was sharing on photos of my custom phone cases (via Instagram, Twitter and Facebook) there were so many inquiries and I felt terrible that the only way to get one was to come the actual events. One of the reasons I was so excited to be asked to join the Casetify Artist Collections was because now anyone, anywhere can have a phone case from me! I've even included the same three designs from the Vogue/Clinique tour in my Casetify gallery; Margo, Kiss Kiss and Leopard Heels.

I hope you like illustrations I've chosen to kick off my Casetify collection, shown above are just a few so be sure and head over to the gallery to see the full collection. If you order I do hope you'll share a photo as I'd love to see them! And don't forget to use my referral link/code txce7h for $10 off.

Similar posts you may like:

New Etsy Item: Fashion Illustration Notebooks
Inspired Weekend (Witty Pencils!)
New Print: Lauren & Ari {For a Good Time Call...}

Ella Henderson US Album Release Party

Earlier this week I had an incredible front row spot at Ella Henderson's US Album Release Party for her first album Chapter One and now I can't seem to stop sketching her! My British bestie Will Taylor introduced me to Ella's music about a year ago and her first single Ghost quickly became one my top songs of last year and pretty much my anthem of the last 6+ months. (So much so, I made it the soundtrack to my little 2014 year-end insta-video.)

It was surreal going with Will, one of my best friends, to this event and getting to be a part of Ella's US album release. We sang along, danced, sipped champagne and laughed the night away. It was the kind of unforgettable night that doesn't come around too often and when that happens I'm always eager to capture it. I also have to say that Ella looked fantastic and you know I love a jumpsuit! Remember this sketch of Vogue stylist Kelen, whom I toured the US with sketching for Vogue and Clinique?

If you haven't yet I highly recommend checking out Ella Henderson. Ghost and Beautifully Unfinished are my two favorites but the whole Chapter One album is great! I'm so excited she's finally here in the states and looking forward to seeing her career soar.

(Illustrations and photo by: Brooke Hagel)

Fabulous Doodles Inspiration No.3, Audrey Schilt

Today for Ralph Lauren's birthday I'd like to spotlight one of my favorite illustrators and designers, Audrey Schilt. For 22 years Audrey worked [and sketched] alongside Ralph Lauren eventually becoming Creative Director of Collection. I've been a longtime admirer of her work and after featuring her here on Fabulous Doodles a few times I'm happy to say that we've become online pals. Her gorgeous sketches continually inspire me to loosen up, play with figure positions, draping, light and shadows. If you're not familiar with her work I strongly suggest you click over to her site and check out this post from my archives of Audrey's Fashion Institute of Technology retrospective nearly 5 years ago!

(Illustration by Audrey Schilt for Ralph Lauren Collection)

Plus, few related posts you may have missed:

Inspired Weekend, Fall Finds

A new season always inspires me to do a little shopping and today I'm sharing some favorite new fall purchases. For a week now the new gold iPhone 6 Plus has been mine and I'm absolutely loving it! Since my illustrations are like my babies I chose one of my current favorites to use as my mobile wallpaper. I have to say she's been quite the conversation starter while traveling this weekend to live sketch a Vogue event in Chicago and back at a private VIP party in downtown Manhattan.

1. Today's instagram of all my new goodies including my new beautiful handmade tan leather tassel clutch by Market Colors and gold iPhone 6 Plus. (Use code: BROOKLIT for 20% off the Canyon Tassel Clutch until Friday Oct. 3rd, 2014)

2. My favorite Fashion illustration print from my Brooklit Etsy shop inspired by Karolina Kurkova in Marchesa at the Met Ball.

3. New beauty obsessions: Nirvana White rollerball by Elizabeth and James, Asos gold metal hair clip and Marc Jacobs liquid eyeliner. I pretty much love the entire MJ Beauty line and can't seem to stop adding to my collection but this felt brush tipped eyeliner pen is beyond perfection! One reason I may like it to much is that its a very similar tip to the Copic Markers I illustrate with.

(Clutch ℅ Market Colors, photo and illustration by Brooke Hagel)

Check out a few related posts:

Inspired Weekend

I'm having a major leopard moment, which is odd since I've really never been a leopard-print-kind-of-girl, quite the opposite actually. I realize working in the fashion industry for all of my career that it should not surprise me that my taste may change or I might fall for a certain trend every now and again but this one really surprises me. I can't just seem to get enough leopard these days! Case in point, the newest notecards added to my Etsy shop and the impulse-buy slip-on sneakers I couldn't seem to take off all weekend.

1. Kate Moss leopard fashion illustration notecards with craft paper envelopes are the newest additions to my Etsy shop and this weekend I sent some out as thank you cards. (She's also available as an art print.)

2. Joe Fresh fashion illustrations. My mom was not familiar with Joe Fresh and after popping in to check it out this weekend, she became a fan and it was a big topic of discussion. She was happy to learn I shop there already and fashion illustrations often adorn the store walls.

3. The new Warby Parker Wilkie glasses in "graystone" are now mine! Although I mostly wear contact lenses it's amazing to finally have nice new eyewear that I don't mind wearing out and about. My old Prada frames were nearly 10 years old, so it was certainly time for an update, and I'm loving them.

4. My mom and me, walking around the city this weekend in our not so fancy footwear. My aforementioned H&M leopard print canvas slip-ons that are surprisingly very comfortable, and my mom in classic cons.

Inspired Weekend

A peek into my inspired weekend of adding new fashion illustration prints to my Etsy shop, sketching dessert tables, and marathon watching a new show.

1. I've been giving my Etsy shop a little revamp with an infusion of new sketches and "Poodle Proud" here is a favorite just added. (I actually drew these two a few months ago and am happy to finally be sharing them.)

2. Silver sparkle pencils from the Michael's dollar bin. I ran in for a picture frame but came out with these and love them!

3. Sketched dessert table illustrations again this weekend for one of my favorite repeat clients, sweets stylist Amy Atlas. Since I can't share the new sketches just yet here is an older one I never posted. This wintry dessert table was designed for Anthropologie's holiday catalogue preview party.

4. This weekend, while sketching I dove into a new show (new to me that is) marathoning Scandal. I'm now officially obsessed with Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope. Her wardrobe is a stunning array of monochromatic looks of whites, grays and pale blush. From her jackets, coats, sweaters to her silk pajamas and even workout wear, its one beautiful look after the next. Ahh what I'd do for this fictitious closet.

I actually illustrated Kerry Washington on Miu Miu at last years Golden Globes but I just may have to do more now inspired by her Scandal character.

Brooklit January 2014 via Instagram

Since life seems to look best through Instagram and I'm a self proclaimed insta-addict, I've decided this year I'd start a monthly feature of my favorite and most liked photos of each month. Fortunately I've been super busy illustrating my next 4 books, and sketching up a storm for both clients and myself. The top row shown above are my three favorites, starting with a white charcoal sketch I was drawing for new "Will you be my Bridesmaid?" cards for Brooklit Bride. (There must have been a lot of New Years Eve engagements this year because this month I've sold out many of my designs!) The top-middle is a shot of my apartment, and the top-right is the Empire State Building as seen from the penthouse of the Bryant Park Hotel where I spent a day live-sketching for a press event.

For a closer look at these photos and more of my daily Instragrams you can follow me @Brooklit.

Halloween Throwback, Vintage Costume Designs

(Bob Mackie sketch while working under Edith Head)

Seeing all the fun costumes out and about today for Halloween has gotten be thinking about all the costume designers and costume illustrations that I love so much. If you've been following Fabulous Doodles a while now you probably know I started out wanting to be a costume designer and even dabbled in the field interning in various wardrobe departments in college followed by a stint as a wardrobe supervisor on an off Broadway show. Although these vintage designs are nothing like the productions I worked on but a girl can dream! I'm mean how utterly spectacular is this Bob Mackie design while working under fellow costume design legend Edith Head?! (shown above)

(Edith Head sketch of Elizabeth Taylor for "A Place in the Sun")

Speaking of, it should be noted that Edith Head is the only woman to have won 8 Academy Awards and a whopping 35 nominations spanning her career. She was Hollywood's leading costume designer, a favorite among leading ladies and even earned a star on the Walk of Fame. Head designed for countless classic movies including A Place in the Sun (shown above), Sunset Boulevard, Roman Holiday, Sabrina, The Ten Commandments, and Funny Face.

(Cecil Beaton design for "My Fair Lady")

This next vintage costume design illustration is by another Academy Award winner, Cecil Beaton. Beaton won the Oscar in Costume Design for this very production (shown above) My Fair Lady. He was also an acclaimed photographer and worked as a staff photographer for Vogue earlier on in his career.

(Edith Head for "Sweet Charity")

Last but not least is another wonderful Edith Head illustration. This design was for the 1969 film Sweet Charity directed by Bob Fosse. I love modern cut of this 60's mini dress and all the call outs for diamond, palliates and ankle jewels.

To see more of my favorite vintage costume design illustration you can pop on over to my costume design Pinterest board. Hope your having a fabulous Halloween!

New Print: Lauren & Ari {For A Good Time Call...}

I'm happy to share this fun illustration inspired by Lauren Miller and Ari Graynor in the movie For A Good Time Call.... I drew this sketch of Lauren and Ari months ago, shortly after their film premiered but it wasnt until just a few weeks ago while visiting Lauren (who also happens to be my cousin) in LA that I finally framed it and gave it to her as a birthday present. Here it is sitting in her home along with the actual prop phone from the film and a copy of the dvd. This fabulous independent film is a must see for every girls-girl who's ever had a best friend, and experienced the roller coaster of emotion that is a female friendship. (Its also now on demand so you should check it out!)

I simply love this movie. Not that I'm bias or anything but my talented cousin not only stars in For A Good Time Call... but she also co-wrote the script, my other cousin Dan produced it, and last but not least I happen to make my big screen debut! Well, my coral J.Crew scarf did really, as I was an extra in one tiny scene but unless I'm sitting beside you to elbow you for the split second my coral scarf appears in the distance, sadly theres no chance of you spotting me.

If you'd like your own fashion illustration of print of the fabulous girls of For A Good Time Call... you can click on over to my Etsy shop because I've just added Lauren and Ari as a 8"x10" print. (The aqua and gold frame in the top photo, since people always tend to ask, is from Z Gallerie.)

(Fashion illustration: by Brooke Hagel.)

Child Fashion Illustrations {Sadie Yanks}

How insanely adorable are these little girl fashion illustrations inspired by the lovely Sadie, daughter of Editor in Chief of Hamptons Magazine and Editor at Large of Gotham Magazine Samantha Yanks!? I met Samantha about a year and a half ago at New York Fashion Week. We had great chat about her love of fashion illustration, discussed possible custom sketches, and soon after started following one another on Instagram.

Aside from the recent book I illustrated (which I just posted about this weekend) and the occasional bat-mitzvah girl, I haven't actually drawn many children. Well, cut to this summer and Samantha posting all these amazing photo's of Sadie and her adorable Hampton's-chic looks that I continually "like" on Instagram, and the conversation of custom sketching her fabulous little daughter started up again.

I chose my three favorite looks from Sadie, which turned out to be Samantha's favorites as well! I tried to capture not only her style but also attitude and personality, which certainly shine through in her photos. I have to admit, I'm sort of obsessed with how these sketches came out! Samantha loves them too and we're making them into large prints to frame and hang in Sadie's room. I can't wait to see how they look blown up and in her space.

To commission a custom illustration of the little one in your life simply click over to my Etsy shop where you can see more examples of my custom work, read about the process and purchase a custom listing of your own. Also be sure and follow Samantha through her site, twitter and instagram for all her chic and "#spyLUXE" finds.

(Instagram photos by Samantha Yanks and illustrations by Brooke Hagel)

Costume Design: The Great Gatsby

As if I wasn't excited enough for Baz Luhrmann's take on The Great Gatsby, after seeing these costume design sketches, friday can't come soon enough. For the women of Gatsby, Luhrmann and costume designer Catherine Martin collaborated with Miuccia Prada to reinterpret looks from past Miu Miu and Prada collections in 40 stunning cocktail and evening dress designs. (Some may even be memorable, like this Miu Miu beaded sheath I sketched of Kerry Washington at the Golden Globes, shown below in slate blue.) I love how the illustrator chose to only render the costumes in color and leave the figures white, similar to my Sociologie wine sketches. These beautiful dresses combined with other wardrobe collaborations including Tiffany jewels and Brooks Brothers suiting will surely make for a stunning film.

On a personal note, I've always had a love of Gatsby. Actually, I grew up in the town on the north shore of Long Island where F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby, which in the book is referred to as "East Egg." It was always an exciting element of my hometown's history. In high school we were even offered extra credit for giving the address of the "the Gatsby House" in English class. (Thank you Mrs. Aufses!) Walking around the city these past few weeks and seeing all the Gatsby themed windows, tv promos, and now these wonderful costume design sketches, has gotten me so excited for the new Gatsby! What are you most looking forward to you in the new Gatsby?

Brooklit Fashion Illustration iPhone Covers {New}

Exciting new product news today, I've just launched in my Brooklit Etsy shop fashion illustration iPhone covers! The iPhone covers feature a collection of my most popular sketches (and a new favorite posted on Fabulous Doodles a few ago.) The covers are all white plastic, hard cases which easily snap onto any iPhone 4/4s with the illustrations clearly printed on the back. Shown above is "Lively Leopard," a sketch I drew for a Fabulous Doodles tutorial post about illustrating leopard. I have her on some of my business cards, she's a constant favorite, and was must have in this collection.

The next print in the iPhone cover collection is Miriam (shown above,) one of my personal favorites as well as a best seller in the shop. In all white with a big floppy black sun hat, she's uber minimal and effortlessly chic.

The next cover features the new illustration I shared a few weeks ago and am a little obsessed with! (Inspired by this photo of Olivia Palermo from my She's A Sketch Pin board.) The original drawing was illustrated on brown craft paper so it has a great tan linen-looking background. Her shinny hair, bold striped top and rosy cheeks really pop and compliment the background color.

And last but not least is Brooklyn Ballerina, a constant best seller in the shop and another personal favorite. I've had this one on my phone ever since receiving the first samples about two weeks ago. She's been a huge hit in person, on Instagram, and even caused a little stir at the Vogue Magazine offices when I stopped by last week!

All four new iPhone cover designs are available in limited quantities in my Brooklit Etsy shop.

Creativity & the Importance of Changing It Up

(Olivia Palermo inspired Fashion Illustration by Brooke Hagel)

I'm so excited about these new sketches, especially this first one shown above. Lately I've felt stuck in a creative rut. I've been digging out some old tools and trying new things but nothing was doing the trick or "clicking." I revisited illustrating in charcoal and conte crayon, and playing around with fine point pens but that just didn't do it. A few weeks ago I dug out my watercolors in hopes that some paint would invigorate me and freshen up my illustrations, and although I had some fun and came up with a few [Golden Globe inspired] fashion illustrations, it just isn't for me at this time. After accidentally shattering the glass I used to clean brushes all over my glass desk, which then splintered into a million little shards and cut me up to the point where for two weeks it looked like I had been attacked by a cat, I decided to put the paints away. The accident also destroyed a client project I had to then redo, but luckily it just missed my new Macbook! So major crisis averted there.

A week or two ago I finally had a wave of creativity by delving into a new medium, black craft papers with white. I'm not sure if it was brought on by a stack of colored card stock paper that happened to be sitting beside me (waiting to be organized in the revolving mess that is my home office) or that I happened to be on Anthologys website that morning looking at the art of chalkboard artist Dana Tanamachi, but I decided to grab a sheet of black paper, pull up my "She's a Sketch" Pinterest board and try out a sketch in all white. Well one sketch quickly turned into three (shown above taped to my wall) and was hooked! They'd be too costly in printer ink with the full black background to make and sell prints of for my Etsy bridal shop but I'm just thrilled to be excited by drawing again and these high contrast brides were the first step in a developing my new illustrations and new style that I'm so loving now.

After black I decided to try out some of the silver, gray and tan papers as well. I also added more tools to the illustrations to try out different effects. I started with only white pencil and white charcoal but have now added black sharpies, Copics, opaque white markers and colored Prismacolor pencils. I'm so excited and invigorated by these new sketches. I happen to be traveling but I'm eager to try printing these once I'm back in my studio and seeing if I can easily reproduce them and make prints for Brooklit. I especially like the illustrations on the tan craft paper, both in the final resulting look of them and the process of creating them. It feels great to be excited about sketching again.

Honestly its a challenge to stay creative and passionate when your passion becomes a business, and clients want a specific style or look and it can feel really stale and uninspiring. Even though I'm a person who tends to resist change I'm learning that its important to change it up from time to time and try new things, especially in my artwork. In this case it was finding a new medium that's exciting me and livened up my work but it could be any change. A change of scenery, or maybe enrolling in a class and trying new techniques or sketching from models instead of images on paper, a screen or your imagination.

Thank you for all the encouragement. Working solo without a team around you is sometimes tough but every time I tweeted, Instagramed (@Brooklit) or texted something I was working on, I received such wonderful feedback and encouragement. I can't wait to continue playing with these new tools and techiniques and see where it takes me.

Vintage Vogue Fashion Illustration Covers

(June 1935 by Jean Pages, Dec. 1945 by Carl "Eric" Erickson)

Today I'm spotlighting some of my favorite vintage Vogue covers featuring fashion illustrations in anticipation of a party I'll be live-illustrating at tonight hosted by Vogue Magazine! I'm so thrilled to be working with Vogue, a magazine with such a long history of supporting fashion illustration.

(Clockwise from top left: Feb. 1935 by Eric, Nov. 1939 by Eric, June 1931 by artist unknown, and Oct. 1948 by Eric)

The majority of the covers shown here are by fashion illustrator Carl Erickson, who was known as and signed his drawings and paintings as Eric. Other notable fashion illustrators who were commissioned by Vogue include Rene Bouche, Cecil Beaton, Andy Warhol (whom I featured here before with his work for Harpers Bazaar), Jean Pages, Erte and Antonio Lopez.

(Clockwise from top left: Sept. 1953 by Rene Bouche, July 1935 by Cecil Beaton, and Aug. 1912 artist unknown)

I know models and in more recent years celebrities have become the norm to adorn the covers of Vogue but I have to say that although I may a little bias, I absolutely adore these vintage fashion illustration covers and wish they'd make a comeback.

Wish me luck and stay tuned for my sketches from tonight's Vogue event!

Happy 3rd Birthday Fabulous Doodles

Today marks the 3 year anniversary of Fabulous Doodles, this little fashion illustration blog I started to share my projects, sketches and fashion illustrations that inspire me. Its been an exciting 3rd year of career highs so for this "blogiversary" I thought I'd take a look back and spotlight some of the 3rd years best moments:

Being commissioned by Barbie to create sketches for New York Fashion Week was certainly a dream project! Attending a slew of Fashion Week shows and events for the Fall 2012 collections was pretty great as well.
In April my sketches appeared as giant wall decals on VH1's latest fashion focused reality show, House of Consignment. The illustrations continued to make cameo's on every single episode of the season.
Months after sketching Kate Middleton wedding dress predictions for the Nate Berkus Show, I added a Kate Middleton bridal illustration to my bridal print shop, Brooklit Bride and she quickly became the most popular print in the shop.
This year I met lots of VIPS and added them to my photo album. It was a thrill to see which illustration(s) of mine they chose to snap a pic with. (VIP post 1 & VIP post 2)
Working on custom bridal illustrations is something I really enjoy, especially when I get to sketch gowns as stunning as this and ladies as pretty as these beautiful brides.
Attending a "Talk with Tom Ford" was something I will not soon forget.
And last but not least, this year I brought back two of Fabulous Doodles most popular series, Secret Weapons and Tuesday Tips.

I drew the sketch shown above especially for this 3 year blogiversary post and since I like how she turned I think I'll print up some birthday cards featuring her and add them to my Brooklit Shop. Thank you Fabulous Doodles readers for following me, commenting and encouraging me and my work.

Mad Men Fashion Illustration Portraits

How stunning are these David Downton illustrations inspired by Mad Men characters? I'm so in love with them that even though they're not my own I had to share them and their fabulousness here on Fabulous Doodles. Mad Men has been one of my favorite television shows since its premiere episode. In addition to the allure of the main characters, such as Don Draper, Joan Harris and Roger Sterling, the costumes are always a sight to see and in my opinion costume designer Janie Bryant is a genius. (Who also happens to have one of my dream jobs!)

It always amazes me when an artist, like Downton who works in a very stylized way can really a capture a person, feeling or mood without being overly literal. His illustration of Roger Sterling played by John Slattery (whom I actually spent a day working with when I was a wardrobe intern for Sex and the City!) in particular is so dead on in looks and attitude, it truly amazes me.

In the not so distant future I'm hoping to feature some more Mad Men illustrations, both by costume designer Janie Bryant (fingers crossed) and myself. (I'm thinking a "Women of Mad Men" series could be a fabulous addition to my print shop. What do you think?) In the mean time I'll certainly enjoy these three fabulous Downton Mad Men sketches.

(Illustrations by David Downton)

Tuesday Tip: Illustrating Zebra

This week I have another animal print illustration tutorial, zebra print. Similar to leopard print, which I wrote about here last tuesday, its organic, fluid and always different, therefore pretty difficult to mess up.

The key to a successful zebra print rendering is having a brush tip marker for the stripes. A brush tip is essential because you have to really "work" the marker tip. By pressing down hard for the thick areas then releasing up to the thin tip, you can achieve sharp points that create those fluid zebra stripes. Something else to keep in mind is the zebra stripe needs to be darker that the base color you choose. Here I chose black and white, but even in the examples below, with the more contrasting combinations, I rendered the stripes always darker than the background. It is possible to reverse them and render the stripes light with a charcoal pencil or gauche, but its not something I practice or recommend.

1- Color the base coat color and fabric shadows. For my example here since I went with a classic black and white print, I skipped putting in a base coat and only drew in shadows, which you can see in faint gray on the left side of the bathing suit, beneath the bust, and into the shoulder gathers.

2- The zebra stripes are next. As I said, a brush tip marker is vital for these to be really successful. You can start your stripes from the top of the garment in simple horizontal stripes then alternate from side to side. (See example below.) First a thick stripe coming out from the left side of the garment into a thin center line. Then from the right, pressing my marker down on the right side and releasing the marker tip up into the center just below the previous stripe from the left. And so on, covering the whole garment.

You can also start with or put somewhere in your print a "V" formation. This will mimic the center of a real zebra hide. (As I did towards the lower half on my bathing suit illustration.) If you'd like to opt for something more stylized or just do not want that center V shape, then you can stick to stripes, as I did with some of the illustrations below.

3- Highlights. With a white pencil or white charcoal add highlights. This will give the print depth and dimension. I added highlights along both front sides (or princess panel area's for those of you design students) as well as into the gathers at the shoulder.

Similar again to leopard, zebra can be rendered in any combination of colors to achieve different looks. Shown here (above) are two illustrations I drew with browns and natural tones for a more natural/safari look. While below are two where I went a little nuts with color. The first one on the left is a very 80's vibe with the saturated fuchsia and black combo and the one on the right is something a little sweeter, a pale pink background with coral stripes.

Zebra is truly one of my favorite prints to illustrate, paint, and have in little bursts around me, like on my umbrella, a clutch or scarf. In college I even had an entire accent wall of my bedroom that I painted in black and white floor-to-ceiling zebra stripes! Its classic and chic and in my book a fashion staple.

Let me know in the comments section how your zebra stripes turn out and what Tuesday Tip tutorials you'd like to see in the future.

(For this post I used pencil, white charcoal and Copic Sketch double-ended markers, offering both medium broad and super brush tips.)