(FASHION DESIGN). (ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS). FOSTER, Simon. [16 original illustrations of suits and shoes].

Original Artwork for London Fashion Houses  & a Ferragamo Retrospective

(FASHION DESIGN). (ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS). FOSTER, Simon. [16 original illustrations of suits and shoes]. (London: ca. 1987-89) (418 x 299 mm.) Comprised of 11 watercolor and ink illustrations, one pen illustration, and four pencil illustrations with paper cutouts pasted on. Most with sample fabric or leather swatches either glued or pinned on. Minor signs of handling, two illustrations with an old tear and tape repair (browned due to adhesive), but clean, bright, and well-preserved overall.

A fabulous collection of large-scale illustrations by a designer well-versed in fashion history and traditional tailoring.

Full of swagger and style, these beautifully rendered illustrations represent a mix of styles favored by well-heeled Londoners in the late 1980s, and looking toward the early ‘90s. Some of the designs embody the "Sloanie" aesthetic embraced by the old money, featuring sharp tailoring, traditional textiles such as tweed, silk, and velvet, and an emphasis on country pursuits; others are the epitome of "Yuppie" city fashion, featuring slouchy suits with wide lapels paired with dark shades. All are signed by the illustrator, Simon Finch, who, we believe, was educated at the Royal College of Art and likely became an independent designer and consultant. He seems to have been particularly adept at creating smartly tailored looks for upscale clientele; however, as several of these illustrations demonstrate, he was also interested in design history and may have had a connection to the Victoria & Albert Museum.

The illustrations in this collection all date from 1987-89 and can be divided into four groups:

- Four (4) detailed pencil illustrations relating to the historic retrospective exhibition "Salvatore Ferragamo: The Art of the Shoe 1927-1960" held at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Each illustration includes several tipped-on leather samples. All dated 20 November 1987.

- Five (5) watercolor and pen & ink designs for the London fashion boutique Whistles, depicting coat and blazer designs for the Autumn 1990 line. All dated 5 February 1989.

- One (1) watercolor and pen & ink design for staff uniforms for Langan's Brasserie, a ritzy restaurant and member's club (co-founded by Sir Michael Caine) in Mayfair, with two fabric swatches. Dated 27 January 1988.

- Five (5) watercolor and pen & ink designs with fabric swatches pinned on, and one (1) pen & ink only design for Bazaar (which may denote the fashion label started by Mary Quant, rather than the magazine), featuring on-trend suits. The pen & ink sketch is dated December 1988, while the others only say they were created for the Autumn/Winter 1990 collection. (1164)