12 Fierce Female Fashion Illustrators You Need to Follow

Naomi van der Velde
May 25, 2015

While the glitz and glam of the fashion world are usually limited to the designers, celebrities and models who strut in fashion weeks around the world, illustrators are making their way into the spotlight. These talented ladies share their creative prowess on social media for their admirers to enjoy, and are garnering impressive followings as a result. Find inspiration in the unique sketches, thriving colors and detailed doodles of these 12 incredible fashion illustrators.

1. Garance Doré: No fashion illustration list should ever start without the one and only. Hailing from Corsica, France, Doré’s beautiful work has been featured in GQ, Vogue, French Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. She arguably paved the way for all fashion illustrators and bloggers to make their way online, and has one of the most popular blogs on the Internet. She also has launched a YouTube series, is a regular columnist for VogueParis and has her own collection of stationery and greeting cards — talk about #girlboss material!

2. Nicholle Kobi: Also known as Niki’s Groove, this Parisian illustrator dreams of owning her own studio to promote black artists and female art. She works in both traditional and digital mediums and is unafraid of taking risks. Her artwork is fun, a little outrageous, colorful and filled with afros.

3. Lena Ker: Lena Ker began her career in fashion as a stylist, but then she discovered her passion for drawing. With nothing more than a few strokes of a ball-point pen, she creates sophisticated high-fashion models out of thin air. Suave and domineering, these ladies jump out at you from the pages of publications like Vogue Russia and GQ.

4. Markers and Microns: With a catchy blog name and even catchier illustration style, Walton uses line in a bold and eclectic way. Strong, vibrant and boundary-defying, her sketches stand out from the crowd by using markers in defining slashes of color, giving her models an edge and uniqueness that you’ll love.

5. Sarah Hankinson: With A-player clients including Harper’s Bazaar and Maybelline, Sarah Hankinson is an illustrator to be reckoned with. Her delicate and intricate line work paired with soft splashes of color perfectly captures the pulse of modern style.

6. When I’m an Old Man: Don’t be fooled by this blog name — Michelle Yu is not actually an old man. She’s an illustrator, travel and fashion writer and just an “old man” at heart. Yu is both entertaining in her writing and a beautiful creator of everything from portraits to high-fashion magazine covers.

7. Lovisa Oliv: After studying fashion design and illustration in the likes of Florence, Italy and New York City, Oliv is masterful with her watercolors. This illustrator perfectly expresses the beauty, grace and ethereal nature of fashion through vibrant paints. Her chic silhouettes exude style and confidence.

8. Fifi Lapin: This furry fashion icon is a spoiled-rotten rabbit and in-demand blogger who knows her couture from her carrots. With thousands of fans, style tips and interviews with top designers like Anna Sui and Paul Smith, no-bunny can deny her popularity.

9. Samantha Hahn: Hahn clearly stands out from the crowd. An international illustrator extraordinaire, she has exhibited her eye-catching pieces everywhere from New York to Hong Kong. Her clients list includes Marc Jacobs, MAC, Victoria’s Secret and more.

10. Ennji Lw: Steering away from traditional illustration mediums, Ennji prefers working in the digital world. She uses striking colors and abstract splashes of “paint” to portray a vibrant sense of movement in her pieces. The dynamic layers contrast beautifully with the clean-cut lines of her models.

11. Jessica Durrant: You’ve likely already seen Jessica’s work, as she has collaborations with Target, QVC.com and Glamour.com. Her watercolor paintings are elegant and whimsical, framed by bold lines and shocks of color that draw your eyes to the fashionable pieces her models wear.

12. Birdy and Me: Kelly Smith is a talented Australian illustrator who has worked with the likes of Valentino, Armani, H&M, Net-A-Porter and Vogue. Taking inspiration from fashion, film and fairytales, Smith’s work captures her subjects with textured strokes of her pencil, adding fantastic bursts of colorful ink and digital elements for a subtle contrast.

Which illustrators are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below, or by tweeting us at @britandco.

We’re Swooning Over This Artist’s Nature-Inspired Work

Bounty Paper Towels
Brand

We recently partnered with Bounty to support emerging artists and designers in a national design competition. The ask? Design a graphic for a new Brit + Co and Bounty paper towel collection themed A Clean Fresh Start, which launches this month. In this creator spotlight series, we are featuring the winners of that competition to learn more about their inspirations, their design process, and their winning Bounty design. Read on to meet…

Jill Reynolds | Jill OREY Design | @jilloreydesign | Saint Paul, Minnesota

What are your design inspirations? Getting away from my computer. I find inspiration in the outdoors, nature, organic shapes, and patterns, from something as simple as a unique leaf shape to cracks in the pavement. I love looking at textiles old and new and being inspired by vintage motifs. Travel is always an amazing way to see something fresh and feel inspired. My favorite trip has been to Japan – the juxtaposition of old and new is like nowhere else I’ve experienced.

Tell us your design process? I like to play and experiment a lot. I don’t have a hard structure to my work and instead I prefer to let ideas flow and come about with experimentation. I love to use different objects to paint with and create imperfect textures and marks that I’ll piece together. I work with traditional mediums as well as Adobe programs and Procreate. Color is really important to me and I love an unexpected combination.

How did you get into illustration? My career goal when I was 10 was to travel the world to find inspiration for the books I would write and illustrate so from a young age, I knew instinctively that I wanted to create. I’ve always followed what I’m good at and what I enjoy and that has created a career path that has eventually brought me to becoming a full time surface pattern designer. I still strive to illustrate my own series of children’s picture books.

What are three IG accounts you love?

Fantastic Fungi They forage all these amazing mushrooms and discuss the texture and color and other magical properties. With some ASMR thrown in, it’s addictive!

Lucy Tiffany She paints from her imagination on large-scale using beautiful color palettes and bold strokes. I like designers who take risks, create from the heart, and aren’t following trends.

Domino Magazine There are lots of amazing interior accounts out there and Domino has been one of my favorites for aspirational and real-life living spaces.

How do you know when a piece of art, like your winning Bounty Paper Towel design below, is “finished”? I just know. I can’t really put my finger on it but there’s a certain level of balance and being slightly ‘off’ that I find satisfies me.

What will it be like for you to see your design on a Bounty paper towel at your local store? To see my designs in my local store will be such a thrill! I imagine it’s like when a musician hears their music on the radio. A lot of work and moving parts goes into the final product and it’s starts with an idea and some imagination. It’s a huge reward as a creative to see my thoughts become a real tangible product that people can use. I always hope my work at the least spreads some joy and I think we have done that with these new prints!

Be sure to look out for Jill’s winning design wherever Bounty Paper Towels are sold!

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Wow, Paul Wesley Just Revealed The Most "Forced" Relationship On 'Vampire Diaries'

The Vampire Diaries eight-season run means that the writers had to come up with a lot of plot lines. Jeremy seeing ghosts, vampire pregnancies, the whole concept of turning off your humanity and then having to deal with the consequences. But after Nina Dobrev exited the show after season 6, the writers decided to include a relationship that, during a game of Hot Ones Versus, TVD star Paul Wesley (who played Stefan) said should have been left in the writer's room: Stefan and Caroline.

Here's what Paul Wesley had to say about Stefan and Caroline's relationship on The Vampire Diaries.

Paul Wesley teases Caroline & Stefan never should have gotten together.

In the latest installment of Hot Ones Versus, Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder went head-to-head to discuss all things love languages, the Lost ending, and, of course, The Vampire Diaries.

Right out of the gate, Ian picks up a card about Vampire Diaries and asks which single storyline Paul thinks shouldn't have "made it out of the writer's room." What a way to start!

“After Nina left the show, they were like: We need to pair Stefan with some romantic partner and then Stefan and Caroline ended up having a wedding and getting married, right?” he says.

I've always been a MAJOR Caroline and Tyler shipper (anyone else?!) so I remember not being a fan of Stefan and Caroline the first time I watched the show (although to be fair I didn't like Caroline and Klaus either). As a viewer it did feel like it was a random addition with no real buildup beforehand.

“It was a little forced but it was cute,” Ian says. "She's pretty and you're pretty."

“It was cute,” Paul agrees.

But Ian Somerhalder loves that his "longest relationship" is with Paul Wesley.

Ian Somerhalder exclusively told Brit + Co at the Nutro Farmer’s Market for Dogs that Paul Wesley is his "longest relationship," and that working on The Vampire Diaries "feels like it was yesterday." (Even though the show just had its 15th anniversary!)

“It's so funny,” he says. “Obviously, it was a lifetime ago, but it feels like it was yesterday. And so, you know, obviously streaming changed the game. The show is one of the most viewed shows in history, period — that's been seen by over a billion people, which is 1/8 of the planet.”

Ian continues that because of its reach, “[The Vampire Diaries] allowed me to build a platform. To work on things that were very close to my heart, but at the global scale, and it's allowed me to help create, enact, or build the road for a lot of change."

Let us know your favorite The Vampire Diaries relationship on our Facebook — and which one you think should've stayed in the writers room 👀.

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Peek Inside This Graphic Artist’s Inspiring Creative Process

Bounty Paper Towels
Brand

We recently partnered with Bounty to support emerging artists and designers in a national design competition. The ask? Design a graphic for a new Brit + Co and Bounty paper towel collection themed A Clean Fresh Start, which launches this month. In this creator spotlight series, we are featuring the winners of that competition to learn more about their inspirations, their design process, and their winning Bounty design. Read on to meet…

Clara Sasiene | Gumption Road Creative Co. | Santa Fe, NM

What are your design inspirations? My design inspirations really come from everywhere: tiles, murals, local business logos or buildings, food (especially dessert), fashion, landscape, etc. I love to travel so anytime I'm in a new place I have a lot of fun looking at things through that design lens. I also love antiquing and have a small collection of print paraphernalia, like old magazines, old ads, vintage matchboxes, plus art and books. I do look for inspiration online too (mostly on Pinterest or Instagram) but try not to rely on that too heavily to keep my work fresh.


Tell us about your design process. I wish my creative process was linear but it rarely is that straightforward. It often depends on the scope of a project, but the first thing I almost always do is make a list of the knowns/requirements. I'm the kind of person who makes lists for my lists so this helps me feel like I've set a baseline or boundaries for a project and can brainstorm from there. Next step is research and inspiration where I usually create a Pinterest board to collect different possibilities and ideas.Branding projects are one of my favorite things to work on. After the research and inspiration phase, I use the brand adjectives to narrow down brand elements like colors and fonts, then look at logo ideas, brand marks, patterns, etc. The key for me is defining brand adjectives and aligning the work with a brand persona or character. That makes it much easier to decide on direction throughout the process by asking, "Does this look/feel/sound like <character/persona>?"

For illustration projects like this one, I finished the inspiration phase and then really just started drawing. I had a good idea of the direction I wanted to go based on the prompt and knew I wanted to stick to my natural design style. In the end, I had 17 different artboards going but felt most passionate about four designs. I kept playing around with my work and ultimately chose the two that felt most like me, that answered the prompt the best, and that I thought would translate to paper towels the best.

Tools and platforms that help me be my most creative self...For me, this spans the digital and physical gamut. It often depends on the project and what direction the client wants to go, but usually I look through my archive of books and old print stuff, at Pinterest, through my saved Instagram collections, and look at brands/creative work that has a similar feel to what I'm trying to create. This really helps me to piece a lot of things together to create something new, unique, and exciting.

As far as specific design tools go, I use Adobe Creative Cloud almost exclusively and work in Procreate when I want to hand-draw something. I'll also look at creative asset websites like Creative Market for direction on a project and general ideas.

How did you get into illustration? I've been a graphic designer for almost 10 years and have never been any good at drawing. I have always been so jealous of that skill in others and wanted so badly to be able to illustrate beautiful things like them. I'm still mostly terrible, but a few years ago I decided to just go for it – I bought an iPad, downloaded Procreate, and started watching tutorial after tutorial. (For some reason that felt easier than traditional pen and paper.)

What are three IG accounts you love? It's so hard to choose just three! Here are my top favorites: @oliviaherrickdesign, @malikafavre, @missmelodymiller, @nationalparkservice, @amauryguichon, and @charlyclements.

How do you know when a piece of art, like your winning Bounty Paper Towel design below, is “finished”? The simple answer is: when there are no more changes I want to make and everything feels harmonious. It's rarely as straightforward as that and often depends on the scope of the project, but most of the time I get to a stopping point where I feel like I could keep going but don't want to overwork it. The thing I have to remember is to not get too caught up in the minutia and sometimes the best thing I can do is just walk away for a while, then come back with fresh eyes, especially when I'm feeling stuck. It's like when you say the same word over and over again and it loses all meaning; after staring at something for so long, it's easy to get lost in the details and overwork the piece. At some point, a piece usually just feels ready and I have to resist the urge to keep picking at it.

What will it be like for you to see your design on a Bounty paper towel at your local store? I think seeing my design on Bounty paper towels at the store will feel like a really great fever dream -- totally surreal and just incredibly exciting. I'm sure I'll be the annoying, squealing with joy, crazy lady who makes all the other shoppers look over and wonder if I've forgotten to take some sort of medication but I won't even care because it will be a moment of pure joy and happiness. Then I'll ask my husband to take dozens of pictures of me next to the paper towels, holding the paper towels, cuddling the paper towels, and people will think I'm even crazier and it will be absolutely wonderful.

Be sure to look out for Clara’s winning design wherever Bounty Paper Towels are sold!

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We Just Got An Exciting Cast Announcement For 'The Handmaid's Tale' Sequel!

The Handmaid's Tale is one of the best, yet eerily specific dystopian shows we've watched which is why we couldn't wait to see Offred get her sweet revenge. It's without a doubt Margaret Atwood's most memorable books so we're excited The Testaments, the sequel to the exhilarating series, is in the works! Adaptations can be a hit or miss, but we have high hopes for this one based on how its predecessors had us glued to TV screens.

Learn everything we know about the highly-anticipated The Testaments series!

What is 'The Testaments' about?

Euan Cherry/Getty Images

The Testaments is set to follow the book's plot (via Variety) and will feature three central characters — Aunty Lydia, Agnes, and Daisy. As the Republic of Gilead continues its rampage, the intersection of their lives changes the course of history.

Is casting information available?

Joe Maher/Getty Images

Yesterday Variety announced Lucy Halliday (Blue Jean) will be playing Daisy! Aside from her, Ann Dowd will be reprising her role as Aunt Lydia while Chase Infiniti will portray Agnes. It'll be interesting to see if viewers will see Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy again.

Who's the showrunner for 'The Testaments?' 

Variety confirmed Bruce Miller will bring his insightful eye from The Handmaid's Tale to The Testaments. He will also be an executive producer with Warren Littlefield (War Game) and Steve Stark (Fargo).

When will 'The Testaments' premiere? 

A premiere date is still TBD! We know you hate waiting, but we have a good feeling it'll be worth it!

Read 'The Testaments' Before You Watch The Show

Amazon

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

Reread this fantastic novel before the final season of The Handmaid's Tale premieres April 8, 2025 (via PEOPLE).

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Your "Lucky" Weekly Tarot Reading Is In!

Ready to take a peak at your weekly tarot reading? Grab your favorite cozy blanket, light that candle, and let's dive into what the universe has in store. We've pulled some cards that are bursting with energy, from celebrations and breakthroughs to a little bit of relationship real talk. This week, it's all about embracing your authentic self, listening to your intuition, and knowing that you've totally got this. So, let's break it down, card by card, and see how you can make the most of the next seven days.

Scroll to see your weekly tarot reading for March 4, 2025!

Frances Naudé

Nine of Cups: Joy Ride Incoming!

Get ready for some serious feel-good moments! The Nine of Cups is all about celebrating wins, big and small. Expect breakthroughs, belly laughs, and a general sense of yay! But, if you're feeling those heavier vibes, don't push them down. This is your week to process, heal, and move on. Think of it like finally breaking through that tough shell—so satisfying!

Frances Naudé

Nine of Pentacles & Seven of Swords: Slow Down & Shine!

Abundance is your word this week, but it’s all about playing the long game. The Nine of Pentacles encourages you to slow down, connect with your intuition, and make intentional moves. Think tortoise, not hare! And the Seven of Swords? That’s your permission slip to do things your way. Trust your gut, set those boundaries, and prioritize self-care. Remember, abundance comes in all forms, including energy and peace of mind.

Frances Naudé

The Lovers & Five of Wands: Relationship Real Talk!

Love is in the air, but so is a little bit of friction! If you're coupled up, be prepared for some honest conversations. Venus retrograde might be stirring things up, so lean into vulnerability and communicate clearly. And for everyone, watch out for that inner critic! The Five of Wands reminds us to acknowledge our anxieties and let go of what’s holding us back. It’s okay to not have it all together. Let those feelings out, and watch the stress melt away.

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Your Action Plan: Sparkle & Shine!

  • Celebrate Everything: Big wins, small wins, even just making it through Monday—celebrate it all!
  • Embrace Your Feelings: Whether you're feeling joyful or a little overwhelmed, give yourself permission to feel it all.
  • Trust Your Intuition: You know what’s best for you. Don’t be afraid to march to the beat of your own drum.
  • Prioritize Self-Care: Schedule that bubble bath, take that walk, or just curl up with a good book. You deserve it!
  • Communicate Honestly: In relationships and with yourself, honesty is key.

This week is all about breakthroughs, abundance, and embracing your authentic self. You got this, girl! ✨

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