12 Fierce Female Fashion Illustrators You Need to Follow

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 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!

This edible crescent-roll cornucopia is our way of making a normal cheese boardmore festive — and definitely more fun — during the holiday season. Our go-to this time of year is a massive cheese plate that can stand alone and be the main attraction, or the starter for a larger meal. Press on for the surprisingly easy steps to braid a breaded cornucopia.

Chris Andre

Materials + Tools:

  • 1 roll of tin foil
  • 2 packages of crescent rolls
  • 1 egg (for egg wash before cornucopia goes into the oven), optional

Chris Andre

Instructions:

Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.

Chris Andre

Your tin foil mold should look a little something like this.

Chris Andre

Pop open the crescent rolls and cut the triangles into strips. Pinch together the ends of strips to make strips longer.

Chris Andre

Braid crescent roll strips. You can make these as fancy as you want. Not a braiding pro? Skip this step and leave those strips alone.

Chris Andre

Wrap tin foil cornucopia with braids/strips. Make sure you cover all the tin foil. Leave a little wiggle room at the opening of the cornucopia, so that when you’re done baking you can pull some of that tin foil out.

Chris Andre

Use any extra dough to cover the bottom of your cornucopia. Pinch the sides and anchor those braids/strips in.

Chris Andre

Brush on egg wash before placing your cornucopia in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Take out of oven and cover spots of cornucopia that are already golden brown with extra tin foil. Bake for another 20 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chris Andre

Let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Remove tin foil.

Chris Andre

Place cornucopia in corner of your cheese plate. Arrange cheese on your serving tray.

Chris Andre

Add crackers — we like to have two or three options.

Chris Andre

Don’t forget to fill up your cornucopia. It's called "the horn of plenty" for a reason. Fill with fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and pears.

Chris Andre

Add nuts like walnuts and pistachios to fill in any empty spaces. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to finish it off.

Chris Andre

Voilà! Invite over your friends, open a bottle of wine, and dig in!

Chris Andre

A cornucopia cheese board will become your new favorite holiday tradition.

Show us your crescent-roll cornucopias on Instagram and check out our baking classes (and our Easy Thanksgiving Desserts piece) for more holiday food inspo!

DIY Production and Styling: Paris Fried

Paris Fried: Paris loves any excuse to celebrate and throw a themed party. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and has a terrible sweet tooth. When she's not crafting in her studio, she's at the farmers' market buying seasonal produce or at her favorite local theater watching double features.

This post has been updated.

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!

Though Black Friday is traditionally the official start of the holiday shopping season, we argue that it’s been kicking since mid-October. We know, we know: it still feels extremely early to start thinking about the holidays, but they’ll be here before you know it! Plus, many brands and retailers are already promoting their holiday goodies with plenty of sales and discounts available right now.

If you’re ready to embark on your holiday shopping journey, but still need answers to questions like ‘when’s the best time to shop?’ and ‘where should I shop for gifts?’ and even ‘how the heck do I save money this season?’, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your go-to guide for holiday shopping in 2024.

Scroll on for our best guidance on navigating this busy time of year and finding the best gifts possible!

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

Mikhail Nilov / PEXELS

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

Ron Lach / PEXELS

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Sora Shimazaki / PEXELS

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Kindel Media / PEXELS

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on our best 2024 gift guides, shopping advice, and all things holiday!

The holidays at Starbucks are creeping up on us, people! Peppermint Mocha season will return on November 7. If you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, you know Red Cup Day is a whole holiday in itself – the frenzy for a free reusable cup is truly no joke. There’s even an entire website dedicated to counting down the madness! Even though there’s no official word on when Red Cup Day 2024 will be, there are several clues that cue us into the annual event. Scroll on for details!

What is Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day is Starbucks’ highly-awaited annual event that marks the start of holiday beverage season at the coffee chain. For one day only (and while supplies last), customers who order any of Starbucks’ holiday drinks will receive a reusable red cup that features a bespoke design for the respective year.

Starbucks

Here’s a list of all the drinks rumored to be available on the Starbucks holiday menu starting November 7:

  • Peppermint Mocha
  • Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
  • Caramel Brûlée Latte
  • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
  • Chestnut Praline Latte
  • Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew
  • Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

What do the red cups look like for 2024?

Starbucks

Starbucks hasn’t officially announced when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, let alone what the famed red cups will look like this go-around. The one obvious point is that the cups will be red! They’ll also likely feature some festive motifs that echo the holiday season. Last year’s red cups boasted playful white and green stars and ornament-like shapes.

Why should I participate in Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day = freebies, which can feel really rewarding if you’re really into receiving free goodies. Plus, it’s just a fun way to lean into the holiday spirit. The red reusable cup keeps giving beyond Red Cup Day, though! Every time you use the reusable cup for future Starbucks orders, you get a 10-cent discount as well as 25 bonus stars toward your Starbucks Rewards account to save up for more discounts on drinks, food, and merchandise.

When is Starbucks' Red Cup Day 2024?

Starbucks

Again, Starbucks hasn’t alerted us on when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, but based on previous Red Cup Days, we can infer it’ll land on the third Thursday of November. In 2022, Red Cup Day happened on November 17, and for 2023, it was November 16. The third Thursday of November in 2024 hits on November 21, so mark your calendars, everyone!

Additionally, check back here for official info as Red Cup Day approaches.

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This post has been updated.