1960, Gloves by Crescendoe, Illustration by Grau

"(Have you seen Crescendoe "Leather gloves by Superb" fabulous)"

"Crescendoe's Caresse, Suddenly beautiful things happen to your hands"

"Miraculous, the flattery of leather tailored gloves in Caresse, Crescendoe's marvelous new matte-nylon! Won't shrink, pill, or loose its shape when washed.
Poco, $3.00, young button shortie
Fidelio, $3.50, Long and elegant"

Illustration by Grau

-------------------------------

Don't these seem perfect for fall weather?

Cashin Coat for Spring: 1966

Bonnie Cashin's vision for Spring 1966 shows her love of texture and inventive silhouettes.  This kimono inspired coat has unique angled sleeve lines, with a diagonal wrap closure that ends in an upswing hemline.  All edges are bound in leather, which would have been colored to compliment her custom wool textiles. Doesn't it have an exciting look?  I think it could be adapted and worn today, which is one of the amazing elements about a Cashin design.

1964 Bold Wool Checks

The fashion illustrations here date from 1964. They feature shaped wool suits with bold checks. It's hard to think of a more classic 60's wool than hounds tooth, and here it is in full splendor. As examples of mid-1960's fashion, 3/4 sleeves (worn with long gloves) are almost equal to the short jacket length. The rolled collars are heavily interfaced to achieve that carefully curved line. The jackets probably have self covered buttons, in a bold, large scale typical of the Jackie O era.

Most likely drawn using colored chalk on an egg shell finish bond paper, these drawings have a glowing effect achieved by carefully controlling the lighting. For illustrating checks, these illustrations offer great inspiration and show how to not over-draw the details, rather how to suggest an overall effect to a better advantage.

When I can indentify the illustrator, I'll add that information here.

Merle Bassett: 1960's fashion illustrations

These bold and dramatic fashion illustrations were painted in the early 1960's by Merle Bassett, one of the best known illustrators of that time.  His career began in Los Angeles, studying art at Chouinard Art Institute.  He found his first job for Joseph Magnin stores in San Francisco, and later Neiman Marcus in Dallas.  He finally made his way to New York city where he would have a successful career as a fashion illustrator for several decades.

The illustration technique seen here uses strong black ink brushwork over a colored background that was brushed on first within the area, but not defining it precisely.

For more details on his fascinating career, you will want to read his own story, here.

Another 60's Romantic Wedding Look

This 1960's bride creates her own world where Victorian romance and Mod style combine to create a fairy tale princess world.  

Illustration: guache on illustration board, artist unknown

Romantic 60's Wedding Look

This late 1960's fashion illustration of a fantasy bridal look captures so much of what we tend to think about that vintage era. Fanciful petal veiling, soft hair and bouffant gown makes for a perfectly romantic look that can be inspiring for us now.

illustration: guache on illustration board, no signature

Young Innocent, 1969 by Sue Wong at Arpeja

"Young Innocent" was a junior petite label designed by young Sue Wong when she was fresh from her training at L.A. Trade Tech college. This label was under the "Arpeja" brand. Wong's designs were young, spirited and very trend conscious. These and her "Young Edwardian" designs would become iconic junior looks for that era, one of several strong junior brands being developed in Los Angeles at that time.

These illustrations show the strong design influence of Peter Max during during the late 1960's. Sort of 'trippy' in style, with elements of the 1920's illustrator John Held, the figures create a great look that identified that brand from others at the time.

Fall 1961: Fashion Illustrations for Evening

Fall 1961, fashion illustrations by Mouchy, for an editorial on evening wear and eye makeup showing the younger point of view for that season. The pages are green, white, gold and silver with the black line illustrations.