The inspiring Antonio Lopez

I miss fashion illustrations in magazines. I remember being so excited to see the new covers of Interview Magazine and the Saks Fifth Avenue sketches in the sunday paper. It's a beautiful and dying art form in the industry.

My hero in fashion illustration is Antonio Lopez. He has recently inspired me to take out my watercolors again.

Antonio Lopez in the Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, ca.1975

Genius 

    Antonio Lopez was born in Puerto Rico on February 11th 1943. He and his family migrated to New York when he was seven. At a very young age his talent emerged and was accepted in the prestigious fashion scholarship program at Traphagen School of Fashion. He then went on to study at F.I.T. While studying at F.I.T he began working with Fairchild Publications and a number of other newspaper publications like Women's Wear Daily and the New York Times. 

In the early 1960's he began working with Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and Andy Warhol's Interview Magazine. He had the very fortunate opportunity to work with my favorite couturier Charles James. That creative relationship lasted for ten years. 

Lopez had a glamourous career and a story that inspires me today. He unfortunately died of complications related to AIDS in 1987.  His illustrations are still a staple in the industry and I hope that the new generation coming keep him in the history books.