From Dior to Dore
THEIR names may not be as familiar as Coco or Dior, but fashion illustrators such as René Gruau have helped shape an aesthetic by creating iconic clothing designs that continue to echo down the catwalks of Paris, Milan and New York.
Born the son of an Italian Count and a French aristocratic mother, in the mid 20th century Gruau would collaborate with Christian Dior, honing a unique style, using a limited palette and his trademark, bold brush strokes. A pale arm in a long, black glove – Gruau’s women remain forceful, confident and expressive.
Decades later, two contemporary fashion illustrators Cédric Rivrain and Garance Doré continue the legacy, if not in style, then in establishing a global reputation as the new guard of fashion illustration.
Paris-based Rivrain has with worked with John Galliano, Martine Sitbon and Yazbukey. His arresting portraits are a blend of staggering technical detail (Rivrain’s father was a doctor) and sorbet-coloured dreams. While Kate Moss fixes you with an intense gaze, her body dissolves into flowers.
In contrast, the work of Corsica-born Garance Dore’s are both playful and classic. Gently evoking the 70s, these women, all red lips and flying hair, are effortlessly chic and on the move. Now based in New York, Dore has worked with Louis Vuiton, Kate Spade, Gap and Chloe, while her unpretentious fashion blog Matchesfashion, continues to capture the latest in street fashion.
René Gruau
www.fashionillustrationgallery.com/artist/rene-gruau
Garance Doré
www.garancedore.fr/category/illustrations
