As the men's collections draw to a close, we celebrate some of our favourite illustrators conjuring up clothes on Instagram
There are just two more days before the curtains close on Men’s Fashion Week S/S17, signaling the end of a particularly exciting season, but for those looking to fill the forthcoming fashion-shaped hole in their lives, there is of course the reassuring presence of Instagram and its merrily flowing stream of sartorially inclined imagery. We’ve already spotlighted our favourite Instagram-savvy fashion brands and moodboard creators, so this week it’s the turn of the fashion illustrator – that deft interpreter of fabric into fine lines – to take centre stage. From the Fendi-approved figures of John Booth to the sensual, ink-washed women of Alexa Coe, these remarkable renderings are guaranteed to brighten up your feed.
@john_booth
If you happened to catch Fendi’s S/S17 show this week, you’re sure to have admired the exuberantly coloured characters dancing all over the collection’s striped beach bags, charms and keychains. These appliquéd accessories are the handiwork of none other than illustrator and textile designer John Booth, who has previously been close at hand for the likes of Zandra Rhodes and John Galliano, as well as designing and consulting on print for Ashish. Alongside his work with fashion brands, Booth has worked extensively in ceramics, conjuring similarly fascinating faces and figures both in clay and on paper – and his Instagram is a terrific tribute to the breadth of his practice. As for Fendi – we want it all.
@alexa_coe
There’s a looseness and fluidity to Alexandria Coe’s expressive style that lends itself perfectly to nudity, so it feels apt, and perhaps not entirely coincidental, that women slipping in and out of their clothes seem to have become her subject of choice. Bolts of colour strike through the masses of long, lithe limbs to signify the leg of a swimsuit or the hem of a dress – and somehow, when rendered in ink in her delicate strokes, even the act of putting on a pair of tights develops into something quite sensual.
@charlottetrounce
As at home with a boundless collection of luscious succulents as she is with the unforgettable face of fashion doyenne Iris Apfel, Charlotte Trounce is an illustrator with many strings to her proverbial bow. Her fashion drawings, however – whether a furry Gucci loafer for an editorial commission, or a series of reimagined catwalk shots created simply for fun – are ostensibly the best of all. Bold prints and patterns are a natural fit for Trounce’s strong styles, while textiles find their match in delicate brushstrokes and watercolour gradients. All that's left is for a brand collaboration to bring these creations to life for real.
