The Skitch: Mary Katrantzou S/S 2012

These late night sketch parties I'm having with myself are really paying off (must be those nerves of mine keeping me up!) and with my lastest picks for skitches, I'm coming to a conclusion: I'm turning over to the print side little by little. Or at least I'm venturing a bit with something other than blocked colors in heavy tones. I may not be as bold as to wear something as "printastic" as Mary Katrantzou (also because it's out of my reach), but her pieces sure make a hell of a statement when it comes to fashion vis à vis art. She trumps all other print master in my book (sorry, Pucci!). Graphic synergy at its highest expression.

With this one I tried to use many different brushes so I had fun playing around. Much more expressionist than my other illustrations, but I definitely thought it was proper... at least to catch the essence of the prints. Here's my favorite outfit from her s/s 2012 runway show. The flowiness of the pleated skirt is just divine for summertime!

Would you guys be bold as to wear a Mary Katrantzou-like print? Let me know in the comments below! 

pic via style.com

reserved rights D. Velazquez 2012

The Fashion Skitch on Rock On! Anna Sui!

A few weeks back, the lovely Marie-Ève of Rock On! Anna Sui contacted me via Tumblr to ask me if my Anna Sui s/s 2012 Skitch could be featured on her Tumblr. I was completely flattered and excited as this is quite a huge deal for me! I invite you all to swing by her page and check it out. It's pretty much the most amazing Anna Sui page around so don't miss out on all the goodies she posts! Check it out here -->

http://rockonannasui.tumblr.com/post/23877847669/loving-this-illustration-of-karlie-kloss-in-the

Once again, a HUGE THANK YOU to Marie-Ève!

The Skitch: Anna Sui s/s 2012

Hey! To finish up the Anna Sui fashion skitch, here's the illustration. I went a little more, well... sketchy than I usually do with this one. I wanted to create something maybe a bit more playful so not staying within the lines and splatters of random color were in order (at least I think) to match up with the quirkiness of the cat eyeglasses, the vivid print and color and the whole vibe of the collection in general. And of course, I also wanted to focus on the turbans, being as the Skitch-I-Y for Anna were turbans. 

I was going to post this illustration yesterday, but just as I was about to save my work after two hours sketching and working on an EPK for a short film I'm collaborating on, Photoshop decided to crash on me and I still haven't upgraded to  CS5 (no auto-save backup!) so indeed my work was lost. Not a problem. Start from scratch? Well, I do have a million and one things to do but I can squeeze in another sketch! *Chuckles* No, really. I did create this blog to keep me drawing and post my illustrations so after a long hair pulling and tear jerking scene on my part, I decided that it's OK. After all, if I didn't save it every once in a while it's because I still haven't learned my lesson to back everything up after a session of work. *tsk, tsk, tsk!* Lesson learned, mental note noted!

Anyways, this look was modeled by the ever charming Karlie Kloss. It's amazing how much she's grown after all these years. And to think that amazon of a woman is only 18! Did you guys see how stunning she looked at this years MetGala in Jason Wu? GORGEOUS. 

Karlie pic via Style.com
reserved rights D. Velázquez 2012

Here's the Skitch: Anna Sui s/s 2012

For those who have known me for years, it's no surprise that every once in a while I like to toss aside my usual fashion taste for a bit and like to unlatch my belts and trade them for loose fitting pieces, dip dye my monotone wardrobe into somewhat summery prints and trade my favorite black pants for flowy skirts. It's a very rare sight, but not impossible to imagine. After all, I live in a tropical island where the temperatures get kind of ridiculous sometimes and although I am one for sticking to my personal style no matter the inclement conditions, I can't help but switch that up every once in a while. Enter one of my all time favorite boho-chic designers: Anna Sui.

For s/s RTW 2012, she gifted us with an inspiring flashback via Puerto Rican fashion illustrator Antonio López (proud to say he's from Utuado, Puerto Rico, same place my grandmother is from!) to the early 70's. What I adore about her designs is that no matter how much her prints and styling blast you to the past, her cutting and construction is relevant to any moment in time and any woman can wear them flatteringly. Crépe de chine and chiffon flowed freely. They're effortless pieces yet modern while maintaining a vintage quirk some designers try to achieve but fail to do so as swimmingly as Sui does. Her pieces can be easily styled and it's a look that can carry on for years and years. I mean, you can get an Anna Sui piece from five years ago ans it'll still be as relevant as the next season.

As you all may have read before on my Pucci Skitch post, I'm not huge on prints but there's something about Anna's prints that always warm my heart. Whether it be little hearts or bold paisleys, her prints are some of my few faves. Also, her accessorizing is sweet. Turbans for summer? YES! What more summery, chic and fabulous than that? Sandals with socks? Well, maybe I'll skip on that but it's definitely a style that a lot of girls can carry if done correctly. It's all brightly spirited. I know that whenever the summer bug hits me, I'll always reach out to Sui for inspiration!

Photos via

Style.com, Models.com,
http://wewastetime.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/antonio-lopez/

The Skitch: Spring Makeup Trends

Leave it to me to wear a dark palette on my wardrobe all year long. How do I occasionally experiment with color? My makeup! Here's where I go crazy literally every chance I get. If there's always something I look forward to in the morning it's deciding my look of the day. I'm quite excited about some of the makeup trends for this spring because they truly are right up my alley. It's all about playing up the eyes or lips. 

I present you all with my new face chart model. I like to call her Lila. 

Neon lights

Play up your peepers with an extra bold color for that edge your look might be missing. If you're not into sporting bright colored accessories, a touch of neon for spring on your makeup might be just what you need so try out a bold aqua or pink on your lids or lips! It might be a bugger to find neon colors in the US because the FDA doesn't approve of them (booo!), but by simply adding a white base to any bright eyeshadow, the color will instantly pop! Try out NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk or and always remember to prime your lids for extra payoff!

Bold blue

I'm really excited for this trend because it's one of the few that will actually carry on to fall. If you saw Prabal Gurung's f/w 2012 show the models sported a striking blue lid. Blue tones are also fantastic for brown colored eyes. They're complimentary colors so it's a given that your eyes will go from boring to amazing! Practice out many different looks with blue colored shadows. But take it easy, blue shadow can be messy and your look can go haywire! Just remember to play it up gradually. Maybe start out with a nice eyeliner or a navy smokey eye. You can also play with your mascara color. 

Neutral brown and a pop of poppy!

Neutrals are always in and how about taking that smokey eye and softening it up for the spring? Grab your brown colored shadows and blend all along the lids for a soft, yet sultry look. Rub on a nice, peachy color on the apples of your cheeks and play up the look with a bright coral color or a classic red lip! If you're not into a bright lip, keep your lips toned down with a nude color and maybe a swipe of gloss.

Wing it!

I believe there is one look that is absolutely fool-proof and timeless: the winged eye! Absolutely no other look is as flawless as this on is in my book. Whether you like to get your done with pencil, gel or liquid liner, it's a look that'll lift any eye. It takes a little practice mastering the wing, but I promise that once you've got it down, it's a makeup look you'll want to wear almost every day. Play it up with a bright coral, red or pink lip and you're out the door in 1, 2, 3! You can even add some false lashes for that extra va-va-voom!

I'm really excited for these makeup trends this spring and they're all looks that can be easily transformed for any outfit, occasion and season. They're playful, exciting and easy to achieve. What are your favorite spring makeup trends? 

Reserved Rights Desirée V. 2012

The Skitch: Givenchy Spring Couture 2012

If there's something I wait for all year long is couture season and Givenchy pretty much tops the couturier list for me. Of course, this season was no disappointment. Tisci woos me once again! I wanted to make emphasis on what could be the most stand out detail of the whole collection and something that's been catching on with the fashion industry for a bit now: body mods. The bull rings and exaggerated earrings on Givenchy's couture line for spring were the definitely the clincher between outfit and accessories. The earrings were so large, they had to be connected by hidden headbands on the models' heads. 

Givenchy picture via Style.com

Reserved rights D. Velázquez 2012

The Skitch: Prabal Gurung s/s 2012

It's been a while since I last posted and I'm deeply sorry for that. I've been busy working with a new line sheet for my internship, my job and getting my paperwork ready for Parsons. Anyways, I haven't forgotten about the Skitch-I-Y's I owe you guys. I'm thinking of finally going shopping tomorrow after wrok to get some materials for them. In the meantime, here's the new skitch. One of my favorite designers: Prabal Gurung. This skitch is inspired by one of my favorite looks from the show:

Here's the skitch:

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The Skitch: Chanel s/s 2012

So I know I owe you guys the Emilio Pucci Skitch-I-Y but I haven't gotten around to it. I haven't had time to buy the remaining materials and it's not payday until Friday so in the meantime, I'll move on with the next skitch process: Chanel s/s 2012. I'll give you guys a double whammy with Skitch-I-Ys as soon as I can, I promise. Here's the look I was inspired by for this edition's skitch. It was modeled by the lovely Melissa Tammerijn.

Here's my take on it:

Thank you all for being a part of this project. It's something I really love to do and keeps my already busy mind even busier. Hey, it's all good!

I've got your IP address, troll.
reserved rights Desiree V. 2011

The Intern pt.1

I know, I know. I owe you guys a few posts from the Emilio Pucci Skitch process, but I'll get to that soon. I've just been so busy dangling my responsibilities all week! I mean, look at the picture of me above (LOL did this in a few minutes so it's kinda sloppy-ish). It's crazy! Anyways, I thought I'd take a few words to talk about my experience as a fashion intern at Erika Peña so far. 

Well, it's been everything I imagined and more. I got into this to build great foundations for my professional career in the fashion industry. My main goal is to learn what goes on behing the scenes, and learn the ropes of hard work and dedication that are needed to maintain afloat a business that is quickly growing. A lot of sacrifices, hard decisions, professionalism and focus are prime elements to nurture this career and I think I can most definitely take that on. I only started this internship a few weeks ago so I have yet to learn so much but I've already learned tons. I can't say it's been easy. It hasn't, but I do believe the secret to sticking it long enough is to maintain your professionalism, manage your time excellently, stay focused on your goal and just do what you're asked. Most importantly, do it well. I've been really happy during this internship so far because I've been able to use my creativity so much. I've already worked on a window display (the Halloween display posted here) and I'm working on another one as we speak. I've also gotten the opportunity to work with graphic art and photography, so everything has been right up my alley. 

Now, that's just been the artistic side to everything. I haven't mentioned that since I'm the intern and the other girls have major responsibilities, it's my task to run around doing errands and searching for materials, working with a budget and using all of my resources for these things. I've had to do the crazy endless list of client phone calls, get flowers, go here, there, everywhere... WOAH! It's what I signed up for so it's my job to do it. Running around like that has reminded me of a familiar big-eyed girl taking on the industry. Yes, I've felt like Andy Sachs in a frenzy! The good thing is, I don't have a Miranda Priestly raising an eyebrow at me and "That's all"-ing me. I'm very lucky to work with Yara, Saxon, Charleen and now my good friend Ivonne who will start interning this next week and they're all just lovely and Erika is just great! I love the creativity and spirit everyone brings to the table. I LOVE the professionalism with which the girls work and I think it's fantastic that everything must be done the best way possible. My kind of work ambience! It is definitely how things should be done. Heck, I don't mind if I have to work over hours or anything there.

It's really fun when Erika brings in new designs and packages with her latest creations arrive. These past few weeks we've been preparing for the Stella Nolasco "The Great Escape" fashion show for which Erika was doing accessories for. She designed the most beautiful belts I've seen in the longest time. They're called the "Saxon belts". Also, may we just talk about the beautiful earrings she created for each look? OH MY GOODNESS! I think our excited squeals were heard all the way outside whenever she pulled out a new pair of earrings. Also, I'm incredibly grateful she named some earrings after me! I couldn't believe it! Needless to say these are show stopping earrings because everything she does is incredible, but never would I imagine I'd get something named after me! Anyways, I was so sad that I couldn't work back stage at that show. Had I'd been informed sooner that the other intern that was gonna work the show had quit and I was the runner up, I'd make changes in my F21 work schedule with time. You guys don't know how sad it made me. I did try to get out of work earlier but either way, the designer didn't want anybody else going in after six and I'd leave at 8. Hopefully there'll be another show while I'm interning. I might be leaving for NY in a few months to start my fashion career in Parsons.

I just hope I can keep on working hard and learning as much as I can. If I plan to continue in the industry, I have to always step it up and do my best. Right now, this is the closest I can get to New York here in Puerto Rico. I just hope it all pays off in the end and I can take with me a great experience, strong foundations and great friends. 

And lastly, I finally treated myself to my first pair of Erika Peña earrings. I've been craving these ever since I first went into the store. They'd run out so they were no longer available and Erika had told me she wasn't going to make any more until probably her next visit to Bali a long time coming, but then... this past week when I was working with the office inventory, I found a pair of these Argentina earrings lying in the back corner of the product bins! THE LAST PAIR! There were supposed to go to Yara who had been wanting to buy them for a long time but she told me I could have them. So I scrunched up some money and got them for a great price! I've had countless compliments on them so far and I'm so in love with them. They're from a 2009 collection and they were actually quite different back then. They used to be gold vermeil earrings with dangling chains and feather charms but apparently they had a lot of the cow skulls lying around so they created these simpler versions which I think are timeless and quirky with edginess. You can check them out on the Classics tab in the Collections section at erikapena.com.

Here are some pictures I've taken with my own camera while interning. Marvel at these lovely baubles!

The Skitch: Emilio Pucci s/s 2012

OK, so I'm ignoring the Skitch process order a little bit and posting as I go developing. I decided to post the illustration first for this edition on Emilio Pucci s/s 2012. Here's one of my favorite looks modeled by the lovely Abbey Lee Kershaw:

The original look:

My illustration:

pictures via Style.com
reserved rights d. velázquez 2011-2012

The Skitch: Fendi s/s 2012

This edition's Skitch is based on one of my favorite looks from Fendi's s/s 2012 collection. I just love the hooded jacket!

Here's the original look:

Here's my illustration. I worked it in Photoshop this time so that I could get a cleaner result:

Double post whammy today!

Picture source: style.com

reserved rights d. velázquez 2011-2012

Coming up next on the Fashion Skitch:

Fendi s/s 2012

Skitch-I-Y Makeup

Personal Review

Illustration

Emilio Pucci s/s 2012

Skitch-I-Y Earrings

Personal Review

Illustration

Chanel s/s 2012

Skitch-I-Y Pearl Hair pins

Personal Review

Illustration

Also, I'll be continuing my series of posts on my top three fashion illustrators: Rubén Toledo, David Downton and François Berthoud. Aaaaaand, I've got some really exciting posts up ahead in which I'll be talking about my experience as an intern for the fantastic jewelry designer, Erika Peña. We've got a great collection launch next week and the event is going to be fantastic! I'll keep you guys posted with pics and more good stuff! See you soon!

photos via Style.com

Here's the Skitch: A Brief Run Though of the History of Fashion Illustration.

Oscar de la Renta's new perfume ad

Go back to my first blog post and you'll find a list on my influences and inspirations in fashion illustration. Being as I've always been quite inclined towards fashion, I've always kept track of which fashion illustrators popped up in my reading material (even when I didn't know fashion would be what I wanted to do for the rest of my life). It's always been a pleasure to open my monthly VOGUE and see the dear Rubén Toledo's watercolors splashed on every NORDSTROM add, or even the other day just as I was scrolling down my Facebook newsfeed, there was a David Downton illustration graciously depicting the kind of woman Oscar de la Renta loves to love in his new 'Live in Love' perfume advertisement. I find it quite classic, just like de la Renta's collections are, which in turn seems to be quite refreshing now a days being as an ad like this is rarely seen now. 

It's funny how revisiting classics has become so sporadic these days. I think it's safe to say that photography took over, but just like that, people are always drawn to the classic fashion illustration. I think so because in my opinion it's honest, expressive, fun and elegant. Not that photography isn't all of the above. It is, but I don't think you get the artist's integral signature stroke as you do in illustration. Maybe I'm biased as an artist that focuses on drawing, but that's just how I feel. Being as this blog will fall back on my own illustrations of my takes on specific collections, I thought it was only fitting I do a post that generally talked about the evolution of fashion illustration and my personal preferences on its masters. I believe it’s important I maintain a didactic input to what I talk, write, draw and do on this blog. Not to say I’m a professional on the subject (fashion illustration in specific), but I have shown an interest for quite a while and I feel compelled to share this with my readers as I find it is a joyous and exciting topic. I will do a series of posts throughout the blog on my favorite illustrators and this one that will generally talk about its history and development.

Illustration from Le Mercure Galant

Dürer's depiction of a bourgeoisie and her counterpart (1496-97)

The thing I find most interesting is the diversity of styles, techniques and mediums that range in this category. Throughout fashion illustration's history, its evolution is evident in the different ways every artist expresses him or herself. For example, the illustrations that are dated back to the early 1900's are very structured. Let's say it's like the corsets they used. A simple metaphor if you must. As fashion evolved, so did the lines, colors and strokes. They got a bit more loose and much more expressive. It's as if the corset has been removed and the human figure left exposed to the shape of the garment itself. Like everything in art, it marks a specific period in time, so it clearly works as a historical record of that epoch, those places and their social references.

July 1922 VOGUE 

It's really interesting looking back at the starting points in fashion illustration. Probably the earliest records of them start off during 1520-1610 where an incredible amount of 200 collections of fashion looks made out in etchings, engravings and woodcuts were found (this makes me incredibly happy being as I actually work my art in these techniques and mediums). Many artists took a grand interest in fashion. Dürer and Ingres had many drawings and plates depicting the fashions of their time. Watteau and Holbein as well. Louis the XIV released the early magazines Le Mercure Galant and later on Le Nouveau Mercure in which tons of illustrations depicting the epoques latests trends and styles. France always maintained the top spot in the latest fashions with the help of publications like La Mode Illustrée, Le Journal des demoiselles, and Le Follet. The earliest editions of the VOGUE we know today always had the most current fashions drawn by hand by an artist on them. It's not until the 30's-40's during the Second World War period that editors used their budgets on photography and it started to dominate magazine covers, editorials and other fashion publications. Illustrators had it a bit more rough but it's not until the growth of technology and recent developments in graphic arts that illustration has taken strength anew. Sadly, fashion illustration was once perceived as some kind of lesser art because it was classified as an art that bordered between commercial and fine art. But its fundamental historical purposes can't go unseen and it has just recently been given the importance it deserves in the arts. 

Today, the evolution of this discipline is evident. We can see artists like Graham Rounthewaithe, Liselotte Watkins and Jason Brooks who rely on computer programs like Adobe Photoshop to elaborate their illustrations. Some artists like Rubén Toledo, Zoltan +, Steven Stipelman and David Downton who choose to stick to more classic mediums like ink, watercolors and pencil but with very contemporary silhouettes. Some other venture out even more to three-dimensional features like François Berthoud who uses collage, linocut, monotype and a mix of other interesting textures or Julie Verwhoeven who has drawn over sculptures. Check them out!

Rubén Toledo:

David Downton:

François Berthoud:

Steven Stipelman:

Liselotte Watkins: 

Jason Brooks:

All in all, I'm elated to see fashion illustration take a strong course in the industry. It's the base to any design and concept. As an artist, it's fantastic to see that this type of art can be both fine and commercial because it reaches a general public, thus educating a broad range of people in infinite ways. Some people might disagree on that with me, but I do believe fashion is for everyone and so it must be shared. I do hope illustration in this industry does keep growing as it is a pure and personal expression of the artist in regards to fashion's latest statement.

Other sources: Blackman, Callie. "100 Years of  Fashion Illustration". Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, University of Arts, Laurence King Publishing Ltd. 2007. London, England.