Fashion Illustration 1920-1950: Techniques and Examples

by Walter T. Foster

Comprehensive and user-friendly, this volume combines four vintage instructional manuals by Walter T. Foster, the world-famous art teacher and publisher. In addition to explaining the principles of figure drawing, it provides a handy retrospective of fashions for men, women, and children from the first half of the twentieth century. This authentic guide to vintage styles features a splendid range of apparel, from ladies' lingerie and evening gowns to men's business suits and children's play clothes. Artists at every level of experience will benefit from tips on portraying figures in motion and at rest, along with advice on accurate renditions of clothing folds and patterns. Step-by-step drawings with helpful comments explain a variety of techniques, including pencil, pen, wash, and opaque.

Genres: Art, Fashion

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2010

About the author

Walter T. Foster was born in Woodland Park, Colorado, in 1891. In his younger years, he worked as a sign painter and a hog medicine salesman. He also performed in a singing and vaudeville act. Walter invented the first postage-stamp vending machine and drew political caricatures for several large newspapers. He's well known as an accomplished artist, art instructor, and art collector. In the 1920s, while running his own advertising agency and instructing young artists, Walter began writing self-help art instruction books. The books were first produced in his home in Laguna Beach, California, where he wrote, illustrated, and printed them himself. In the 1960s, as the product line grew, he moved the operation to a commercial facility, which allowed him to expand the company and achieve worldwide distribution. Walter passed away in 1981, but he is fondly remembered for his warmth, dedication, and unique instruction books.

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice additional tips given here!

[Anna Katherina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I expected this to have more information, even with as small as it is, But this is definitely less a book about illustration technique in fashion design, and more "one technique and a bunch of body studies".

Now, the technique it teaches you is interesting- and I did actually find it much easier to use than the method I originally learned forever ago from various "how to draw" guides... But outside of that? It's literally just that one technique, plus a bunch of examples of it being used, and a bunch of random body studies in various poses; there's no information about how to illustrate different patterns or fabric types, or anything else.

Outside of that one / two page spread that teaches you the actual technique, it's not a very useful book at all.