VOGUE nostalgia

Sometimes I think my interest in fashion is a paradox, as I am not what you call a fashionista, not even close to it. I see fashion more from a sociological perspective, and I am interested to discover how women and their role in society have evolved in relation to fashion. But this is another story, and I just mentioned it to introduce one of the most thoughtful presents I have ever received, a book with a collection of fashion drawings from Vogue magazine, starting from 1920s to the 1980s. A beautiful book of "marvellously fresh and alive" drawings.

I am not going to pretend I know what the author is talking about. I am reading, watching, discovering and learning. What I understand is that the author, William Packer, is nostalgically looking back at the times where beauty and fashion were more intimately related to art, and is trying to revive the passion of fashion drawing (not fashion design!) in young artists today.

"Photography is not the answer, and anyway it has become very boring, repetitive and limited, especially in the fashion magazines. [...] Preparing the model, the make-up, the lights: it is all related to the theatre really, in a way that drawing never is. You can train yourself to observe and remember, to absorb and recreate, but the camera can only deal with what is in front of it, at the time. Whether from memory and experience or from the model, the artist works in his own time, simplifying and transforming what he sees and know into something of his own." (David Hockney in Preface)

I leave you with some snapshots from the book, it is a must have for any aspiring fashion designer, drawing artist, or just anyone who loves art and beauty.

Thank you Marie for an amazing present!