Fabulous Doodles Fashion Illustration blog by Brooke Hagel: party

Showing posts with label party. Show all posts

Live Sketching at The RealReal x Miu Miu Book Launch in Soho

Not long ago, I had the pleasure of live sketching at The RealReal x Miu Miu book launch party in Soho—and it was truly one for the books.

As a fashion illustrator who specializes in live sketching at events, it’s always especially meaningful to collaborate with brands I genuinely love and use myself. I’ve been a longtime customer of The RealReal, so getting to work with their team in this creative capacity felt like a full-circle moment.

The event, held at The RealReal’s Soho flagship, celebrated the latest Miu Miu book release and brought out a stylish crowd dressed in everything from archival Miu Miu pieces to bold, avant-garde looks. As an event artist, I live for moments like this—when the guests become the muses!

Throughout the evening, I created custom fashion illustrations for attendees, capturing their one-of-a-kind style in real time. The energy was vibrant, the fashion inspiring, and the entire experience a perfect blend of luxury, creativity, and community.

Whether it’s a private party, a brand activation, or a book launch like this one, live sketching adds a unique and memorable touch to any event. If you’re planning something special and want to elevate your guest experience, I’d love to hear from you!

Interested in live event sketching for your brand or celebration? Email me at TheBrookeHagel@gmail.com or visit brookehagel.com to learn more.

Live Sketching New TUMI Store

As a Fashion Illustrator, it can be nerve racking going into a live sketching event with a new client but this one went great beginning to end. All the managers, staff and PR team at the new TUMI Madison Ave. flagship store were a pleasure to work with and the set up they had ready for me was perfect. The guests were all thrilled to be there, and to be custom sketched by yours truly. The event went so well that the Tumi team was even gracious enough to ask me to shop the store and choose a new Tumi suitcase as a gift! I chose a beautiful carry-on sized wheely that I could use for my supplies when going to future live sketching events--and they even monogrammed it for me! All in all a fabulous experience and I hope to work with them again.

Custom Fashion Illustrations for a Bridal Shower

Today I had a meeting about sketching for a bridal shower and it got me thinking that its been a while since I shared a bridal shower I've live sketched here on Fabulous Doodles. I've sketched custom illustrations at countless private events but this pink bridal shower stands out as one of my favorites. Custom illustrating this bride-to-be, and her sisters in their custom made ensembles was a delight. The party was in the backyard of a Long Island estate and I live sketched the guests custom illustrations in a tent poolside while guests mingled about. It was a fun fete where nearly all the illustrations were in my favorite color, pink, since unbeknownst to me there was a pink dress code!

The bridal shower meeting I had today was primarily about doing illustrations of the bride-to-be before the shower so the illustration could be used throughout the Soho party as shower decor. I'm so looking forward to seeing this one come to fruition. Its always exciting to see what event planners create with my sketches! Did you see this jaw dropping party that Mindy Weiss threw for NBA star Russel Westbrook by blowing up and repeating my one custom sketch?! If you're interested in commissioning a custom sketch for your own future event or would like rates on having me live sketch at your private party you can email me at FabulousDoodles@gmail.com.

Past posts you may have missed:

Ferragamo Fashion Illustration Invitations

Custom fashion event invitations have always been a part of my business but over the past year and a half or so Salvatore Ferragamo has become one of my best clients and for them I've drawn many. Rarely does a major holiday pass where I'm not hired to sketch for Ferragamo and with that often comes illustrating a new custom event invitation. Since we've done quite a few now I thought it would be nice to take a look back and feature some of my favorites here on Fabulous Doodles. Each illustration is inspired by a look from the current seasons runway collection that the corporate team sends along. Occasionally the look is shown on a model but sometimes it is sent to me as isolated pieces photographed individually. I then interpret the pieces into a stylized sketch and photograph the sketch on my desktop for the Ferragamo design team to use on the invite layout for an designer studio vibe.

Its been great to have these sketches and invitations both to share on social media with my followers to let people know of the upcoming events, as well as to have the sketches to serve as examples beside me framed at the events as a sample of what it is I am there doing. I always have framed samples at my live-sketching events but this way it is 100% on-brand and representing the most recent Ferragamo collection.

I hope you've enjoyed this round up of my Salvatore Ferragamo invitations as much as I enjoyed drawing them!

Similar posts you may have missed:

NYDJ Curves Launch | Custom Illustrations

Fashion week kicked off for me by drawing over 30 custom fashion illustrations of influencers and models for the launch NYDJ's new Curves 360 collection in Los Angeles and New York. Guests were invited to preview of the collection at a brunch where my custom sketches were used as a custom place cards/gifts. I drew the illustrations prior the events digitally (on the iPad Pro in Pro Create app,) which if you've followed me a while you know is not my norm for custom projects such as this but it fit the bill for this concept. To highlight the new denim collection we decided to render only the jeans in full color with the rest of the illustration drawn as a black line drawing. I also wrote each guests name beside her sketch in the same pale pink as the NYDJ logo.

Being a curvy girl myself it was truly a fun project to work on, and I have to say I love the collection! Clients often gift me clothing and products to wear to events and represent the brands I'm illustrating for but being plus size its not usual that they even offer my size so I typically have to settle for accessories. These jeans however are available in sizes 00-28, fit me like a glove and honestly couldn't be more comfortable!

And I think I'm not alone in feeling this way. Unfortunately I was unable to attend the events due to a family loss but the outpouring of social media love and mentions was incredible. Everyone seemed to love their new NYDJ jeans and my custom sketches of them in them!

Gotham: Custom Sketch Shopping Event | Press

The spring issue of Gotham magazine hit newsstands and features a recent event where I live-sketched custom fashion illustrations of party guests! The event was for Gotham x Lands' Ends at Lands' End latest Soho pop-up shop, with proceeds from the evening benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I've live-sketched countless magazine events but my photo, in addition to my fashion illustrations, landing in the magazine is a first!

In addition to the Lands' End team guests included Gotham Editor-In-Chief Samantha Yanks (shown above, bottom right) who's daughter you may remember I previously sketched and Publisher Lynn Scotti Kassar (bottom left.) It was a wonderful event with quite a chic crowd that resulted in fun fashion illustrations the guests adored. Its always exciting to see my work in print but as a born and bred New Yorker, to have it appear in Gotham is truly a proud pinch-me moment!

(Photography by Mark Sagliocco for Getty, in magazine page and photo bottom left.)

Previous posts to check out:

Party Sketching a Beverly Hills Fashion Themed Bat-Mitzvah with Mindy Weiss

This weekend I'm excited to be working alongside Mindy Weiss again and it occurred to me I have yet to feature the last party I worked on with her! I primarily live-sketch for fashion and beauty brands but from time I do do private parties and this lavish Beverly Hills bat-mitzvah was one of them. Weeks before the event I created a custom illustration of the bat-mitzvah girl to be used on small guest placards. About a week before flying out to LA for the event, Mindy called and asked if I could send the art high res so they could also have it printed on the dance floor. I said absolutely, as they purchased the custom illustration with usage rights for the party and could print it on any and all party pieces they'd like! But when I arrived and actually saw the sketch blown up to about 30 feet I was floored! Pun intended! I've never seen any of my art on such a large scale before and it was surreal. It was nearly impossible to event capture! The photo above was taken by someone atop a tall ladder and its hard to even make out the full image.

In addition to the dance floor, the custom illustration of the bat-mitzvah girl was also pre-printed onto a large sign-in board, guest placards, and of course I was on-site live sketching all the girls for them to have their own custom fashion illustrations to take home. The party took place at the Regent Beverly Wilshire, which my Pretty Woman loving self loved and it was my first time working with and meeting famed event planner Mindy Wiess! She was utterly delightful to work with and get to know. Mindy joined me for dinner and we bonded over event stories and friends we discovered we had in common. I've been to my fair share of bat-mitzvahs but is one I won't ever forget and I can't wait to see what Mindy has planned for this weekends Manhattan fete!

Similar posts you may be interested in:

Burberry | Semi-Custom Fashion Illustrations

If you follow any of my social media you may have noticed over the past few months I've been working quite a bit with Burberry. I wanted to share one particular event we collaborated together on here on Fabulous Doodles. A few weeks ago I live-sketched semi-custom fashion illustrations at a private party for Burberry down in Washington DC. The party was the culmination of their annual general managers conference, where Burberry employees from across both North and South America gathered. Since Burberry has such a rich history and brand identity I suggested doing something a little different for this live-sketching event. Instead of full custom illustrations of each Burberry employee in the party outfits they were wearing as I normally do, I pre-draw fashion illustration bodies of Burberry beauties and beau's in the classic Burberry trench coat. They loved the idea and its exactly what I did!

I pre-drew a man and woman, both headless, and we pre-printed the illustration bodies on paper ready for their customized heads. Since all the party guests were proud Burberry employees and it was the culmination party of their conference, they were all ecstatic to have themselves drawn in a traditional Burberry trench! I have to say it was some of the warmest responses I've had at a private party in a while. Hugs, kisses, and tons of insta-love followed each semi-custom illustration!

I've only done this pre-printed body concept once before, for Viktor & Rolf where I illustrated four different couture looks from their collection and customized party guests heads atop them. Since I can spend time perfecting the illustration before hand, and not under the time crunch of party sketching it has such a nice outcome. And as I said, the guests and clients love it!

Similar posts to check out:

Party Sketching for Gotham Magazine & Lands' End

Tonight I'm heading downtown to live-sketching custom fashion illustrations for Gotham Magazine and Lands' End at their new pop-up shop in Soho. I'll be sketching, while you can be shopping in support of a great cause, raising awareness for breast cancer. Guests will enjoy 15% off all purchases, free monogramming (as shown on my fabulous new classic tote pictured above,) cocktails and custom sketches of themselves! Speaking of the image above, If you follow me on social media you may have noticed I'm a little obsessed with drawing these tiny silhouette people. You can watch a video of this one being drawn over on my Instagram this morning.

Back to business though, last week I got a sneak peek of the Lands' End pop-up and all the plans for the evening and I can confidently say this is going to be a fun event! I'm also pretty excited to sport my new head-to-toe Lands' End ensemble. (Confession: I've already been rocking the coat since it arrived early last week!)

November 1st, 6-8 PM

Lands End Pop-Up Shop

580 Broadway

New York, NY

I hope to see and sketch some of you there. (And for you New Englanders, I'll be live-sketching again in Boston tomorrow.)

Past posts you may be interested in:

Brooks Brothers Boston Event

I'm so excited to be heading up to Boston again for the second year to live-sketch Brooks Brothers annual BCRF soirée. This time around I was asked to illustrate not one but two Brooks Brothers inspired fashion illustrations as the perfect preppy pair to adorn the invitation (shown above.) Guests will receive 15% off and proceeds will be donated to BCRF for Breast Cancer research.

Wednesday, November 2nd

6-8 PM

Brooks Brothers

46 Newbury Street

Boston

RSVP: Schinsky@bcrfcure.org

It was fun to draw this poised pair with their preppy pops of pink. (Try saying that one ten times fast!) I especially love how the man's suit turned out. I don't draw men too often as I'm quite self critical of how they come out but this one's a keeper.

Hope to see and sketch you there, but even if you can't make it be sure and follow along on Snapchat (@brooklit) and Insta-stories because as usual, I'll be sharing sketches in progress from the fabulous fête!

Similar posts you may like:

Custom iPad Illustrations | Macys Front Row NYFW

I kicked off this New York Fashion Week by live-sketching Macy's Front Row party for the second consecutive year. This season however I used an Apple Pencil and iPad to draw custom fashion illustrations of party guests. Digital sketching is quite different from my traditional live-sketching with my actual art supplies on paper. I have to admit its a lot more challenging especially when trying to complete each sketch quickly and not make the illustrations not look too cartoony. The guests (and clients) loved them though and it certainly makes posting to social media quick and easy since digital files of the completed sketches are sent instantly.

Macy's upped the entertainment wow factor this year with surprise guest performances by Spinderella and Salt-n-Pepa! Sketching party go-ers while these women rocked the stage was incredible, and certainly took me back. (Salt-n-Pepa's Let's Talk About Sex was actually one of my very first CDs!) Their performance, along with spotting fashion icon Betsy Johnson, who I snapped a quick pic of and had to draw (shown above, bottom left) and meeting and drawing loads lovely guests, some of which were even sketched by me last year and came to find me again, made for a fun night and great start to my fashion week. You can check out Macy's Front Row fashion show which airs tonight at 8pm on E!

Party Sketching for Brooks Brothers

Recently I sketched another Brooks Brothers event, this time live-sketching custom fashion illustrations of party guests at their Madison Avenue flagship here in New York. The event was a charity cocktail shopping party, and custom illustrations were given to guests as gifts with purchase. A few of the woman at the event were so excited about their new Brooks Brothers x Zac Posen designed buys that they chose to be drawn in them which was a unique aspect to this event. Some women even went back to the fitting rooms to model their new frocks for me to sketch!

It was a really fun night working with the Brooks Brothers team again live-sketching, mingling with wonderful women, raising money for those in need.

Inspired Weekend: Spring

Yesterday was the first official day of spring and although it was actually snowing here in NYC I had quite the spring inspired weekend. So much so I thought I'd write a new "Inspired Weekend" post, which I haven't done in ages!

1. Flower crowns have been on my mind the past few since live-sketching a Beverly Hills party where half the girls I drew were wearing them from the on-site florist. They were so pretty and really added to the illustrations and when I returned home I found myself drawing them over and over again.

2. Saturday afternoon I celebrated my friend Joanna's birthday. Each guest was asked to bring a bouquet or two of blooms for a flower arranging party. To my surprise not only did we learn how to arrange flowers in antique teacups but we also learned to make our own flower crowns! I rarely post selfies but I couldn't resist once I had mine on!

3. Last week Woops bakery reached out to me to share that in addition to being the first day of spring, Sunday was National Macaron Day and they wanted to print a box of custom macarons for me. I immediately thought portraits of some of my flower crown girls could be adorable on a set of french macarons. They came out even better than expected, tasted delish and although I wasn't sure at first, I ended up loving the sketch assortment I sent them of portraits from previous instagrams and client projects. (Modified this Dreamdry x Teen Vogue sketch with a flower crown, a Viktor and Rolf bowed beauty, and two Naeem Kahn/Frida Khalo inspired illustrations.)

4. Last but not least, I finally added a bevy of new beauties to my long neglected Etsy shops! Even though I sketch new work constantly it had been forever since I added new prints to the shops. I decided to list some new prints with groups of three looks, like these pink, black and white embellished designs inspired by Giambattista Valli Couture.

Honest x Ladurée | Apple Pencil Party Sketching

Last week I flew back early from LA to join Jessica Alba and live-sketch custom fashion illustrations at her intimate affair for "Honest in Paris" at Ladurée Soho. The event was for select journalists and bloggers to give them a sneak peek at Honest's new Parisian themed products. It was my very first time drawing on an iPad Pro and trying out the new Apple pencil. I was quite nervous about it so I arrived an hour early in the hopes of getting some practice in and getting a feel for the program but the new iPad wouldn't acknowledge the new pencil! I ran to Apple and they got it working but it didn't leave me much time to get back and experiment before the doors opened. Jessica was my first sketch of the day (shown below) but in all honesty here, it took two tries before I felt I could share it with her!

Beautiful pastries and petals filled the party and both the clients and guests were trilled with their custom illustrations but being my own worst critic I do wish I had the opportunity to practice using the Apple pencil beforehand so my digital sketches were on par with my traditional pencil-to-paper fashion illustrations. If clients are going to insist on digital sketches I think its time I bit the bullet and invested in a tablet and stylus but now the question is Apple or Samsung? I'd love to hear opinions from those of you who have used them for creative work. Have you been able to achieve the same effects as with actual art tools and which brands and programs have you used?

Similar posts to check out:

Custom Fashion Illustrations | FENDI

I recently live-sketched custom illustrations for Fendi at a private event down in Atlanta, Georgia. It was a fabulous fête hosted by southern socialites in which guests were given a custom sketch as a gift with purchase only after spending a whopping $1k, all to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia.

I so enjoyed chatting with all these lovely ladies while helping to raise money for a cause they were so passionate about. Live-sketching in a beautifully designed new boutique as Fendi Buckhead was quite the treat as well. I even snapped photos of my business cards styled alongside the iconic baguettes (shown below) to share with my social media before the party started.

It was my first time in Atlanta and hopefully it won't be my last because although I was only there for a short visit I met such nice people, had some fantastic meals, and did some much needed holiday shopping. All in all, it was quite the successful little work trip. For more information on my event-sketching and availability for your next event, you can email me at FabulousDoodles@gmail.com.

Similar posts you may enjoy:

Party Sketching Golden Portraits for La Prairie

Today I'm sharing custom painted golden portraits of beauty editors I created for luxury skincare brand La Prairie at a private press preview party for their new products due out in February. The brand requested I work only in gold and custom illustrate only profiles. Painting solely in gold was a unique request, and it took a few trips to the art store to settle on the right mediums to achieve various effects and looks I was after to render highlights and shadows in all one cohesive color. It took a few tries to find what worked but in the end I found the right golden portrait formula. I really enjoying experimenting with new mediums and techniques, and dabbling with mixtures of gold acrylic paint, gouache, ink, pastel, brush paint pens and pencil to successfully render golden profile portraits that reflected La Prairies new "endless radiance" product.

La Prairies new product being launched contained gold so it was only natural the event was held at "golden hour" atop the Hugo Hotel with views of the Manhattan sunset. It was also the perfect event for my new luxe desk accessories! I recently received the most gorgeous Addison Weeks brass and moonstone cup (show above) as a gift which was perfect to hold and display my bevy of brushes. I scoured Etsy for new business card holders to compliment my brass and stone beauty and found a great shop of handmade stone objects created by a kitchen fabricator in California saving smaller unwanted pieces. He took my request for white marble and made me a long card holder of Carrara marble. It displays three cards at once so guests could see an assortment and choose their favorite. I couldn't be happier with how my new presentation pieces came together and complimented this event and venue.

I custom sketch at parties and events quite often but this one was unique with the clients request of rendering in only gold and profiles, and to be honest I was a little nervous. But its important to try new things and push yourself out of your comfort zone sometimes. As usual this event went really well and both I, the client, and all the beauty editors I live sketched were happy with the radiant results.

Similar posts you may want to check out:

Boston Bound for Brooks Brothers

Today I'm Boston bound to live-sketch custom fashion illustrations at Brooks Brothers annual soirée benefitting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I'm looking forward to not only to meeting and sketching all the preppy and posh Brooks Brothers guests, but also to help raise money for such a great cause. It'll be my first visit to Boston, and I'm excited to sketching at Brooks Brothers famed Newbury Street store. A few weeks ago I illustrated a look from their recent womens collection for the invitation (also shared a sneak peek on Instagram) of a woman in a beautiful black shearling coat atop a silk dress adorned with a floral engineered print. They then took part of the floral print I rendered on the dress and used it as a decorative frame on the inside of the invitation, and I'm so pleased with how it came out!

If you're in Boston, I would love to extend the invitation to you. Below is all the information, including the RSVP. 25% of the evenings proceeds will be donated to BCRF, so you can shop while benefitting a great cause. Hope to see some of you there:

Thursday, October 22nd

6PM to 8PM

Brooks Brothers

46 Newbury Street

Boston, MA 02116

RSVP: MGREEN@BCRFCURE.ORG

646-497-2675

Last Stop, Charlotte | Vogue x Clinique

This Friday is my the last live-sketching event for this years Vogue x Clinique tour! I'll be down in Charlotte, North Carolina and I'm hoping to see and sketch some fashionable southern belles! In addition to this being my first time in Charlotte, its also my first time sketching at a Belk, which I'm excited about. Come by to just say hi, receive a fall trend review with a Vogue Stylist, a skin consultation, and get sketched by yours truly. Once again, we'll be turning the custom fashion illustrations into smartphone covers or you can pick from of my pre-printed designs, one of which is shown here on the invitation.

October 16, 2016

Belk SouthPark, Clinique

4400 Sharon Road.

RSVP: 704.364.4251 Ext. 267

Make sure to RSVP and reserve your spot! And if you can't make it, be sure and follow me along on Instagram for some snaps and sketches from the soiree!

Similar post you may want to check out:

New Sketching Tour Dates | Vogue & Clinique

This week I'm heading to Westchester, NY and Orange County, CA to live sketch custom fashion illustrations and again, you're invited! My Vogue x Clinique 2015 tour is continuing on to two more place I've yet to live sketch and I'm so excited to meet and draw new people. Guests will receive a fall trend review with a Vogue Market Stylist as well as a custom fashion illustration by yours truly that will also be printed onto a custom smartphone cover, free with a $55 purchase.

First up is Westchester tomorrow (sorry for the short notice, I've been slammed this fashion week!) followed by California this Saturday. I hope to see you all there and make sure to RSVP and for an appointment! Its first come first served, but if I'm unable to get to you I've sketched this fun fashion pattern pre-printed onto cases (shown above) that will also be available at each event. Here are all the details for the next two events:

September 16, 2015

Lord & Taylor, Clinique

750 White Plains Road Scarsdale, NY 10583

RSVP: 917.723.7700 Ext. 230

September 19, 2015

Nordstrom, Clinique

500 Brea Mall Way Brea, CA 92821

RSVP: 714.529.0123

If you can't make it, be sure and follow me along on Instagram and Facebook for a chance to win a custom illustration and cell phone covers! I'm planning to post a giveaway or two within the next week.

Similar posts to check out:

Vogue x Clinique Sketching Tour 2015

I'm thrilled to announce I'm hitting the road with Vogue and Clinique again touring the country, live-sketching in various US cities starting this weekend in Seattle! Guests receive a custom illustration, which I'll draw on the spot as free gift with purchase, as well as a cell phone case customized with their illustration. I've also created two new patterns especially for these events which are going to be available as pre-printed smartphone covers, one of which is shown on the invitation above. It's a playful pattern of black and white fashion illustrations I hand painted in gouache, then scanned and photoshopped into a pattern.

Last year I was so pleasantly surprised to meet SO many of you, Fabulous Doodles readers and social media friends from across the country and I'm so excited Vogue and Clinique have brought me on board again. I'll also be visiting some new cities, I've yet to live-sketch in, and hope to meet even more of you fashion illustration enthusiasts. First up is Seattle:

August 22, 2015

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Nordstrom, Clinique Counter

100 Bellevue Square Bellevue, WA

RSVP at 425.455.5800

If interested in coming please do RSVP, as these events tend to fill up! First is Seattle, WA this Saturday followed by Houston, TX the following Saturday. There will be more cities throughout September and October and I plan to post all the invites and information here as they become available so be sure and check back often, RSVP and follow along on my social media channels. Hope to see and sketch you soon!

Pages