I’ve come across the fashion illustrations of Joseph Larkowsky before, he is after-all gaining quite a bit if notoriety in the fashion illustration world.  The 20 year old London based student has had his illustrations grace the pages of Vogue.com,  The Times and The Metro: London, just to name a few.

At first glance you cant help but notice the fluidity of his illustrations, as they capture the fleeting, whimsical traits of the fashion industry.  Its in his about page and interviews that Larkowsky’s illustrations really come alive and that you begin to understand and see not only how but why he illustrates with his unique style.

Fashion illustrations today often provide detail not only about the garment, but about the model.  As an art form that communicates the trends, styles and looks of a time period and/or genre, this make sense.  Models and celebrities are the style icons of our time, gracing the covers of top magazines and strutting couture designs down the red carpet.  However, before models and celebs covered the magazines, fashion illustrators were commissioned to view a line and tell a story with their illustrations.  Fashion illustrations conveyed detail, shape, and the style of a garment often displayed on a faceless, nameless, quick sketch of a model.

Larkowsky hones the ideals of fashion illustration as an art form specifically and solely dedicated to the garment.  Larkowsky defines his style as quick, expressive and informal with a concentration on the fluidity and feeling.  Similar to the definition of his style, Larkowsky’s illustrations evoke a quick, direct, and entertained reaction.  His ability to communicate the detail of a dress without overwhelming the composition allows viewers to fill in the blank pertaining to the model.  Starting with the garment and filling the rest in from there, these truly are fashion illustration.

View more from Joseph Larkowsky on his website.