Hardcover. Leatherette.
October 25 to November 1, 1996
by Knight, Hilary
October 25 to November 1, 1996. Hardcover. Leatherette. . Very Good. 4to. 28 by 21 cm. About 80 pages with substantial illustrated content, all original sketches, of varying degrees of finish, with the media being pencil or pen-and-ink, with occasional watercolor fill-ins. While some of the drawings are very obviously dashed off to retain some visual notion for later application, there are some drawings that do read as quite finished, or fully satisfying visually, whatever Knight's state of mind about them at the time. And most of the illustrations are about fashion week, the models, the designers, the fashionistas, the Society clientele, and the other inhabitants of the fashion world. The pleasure to be derived from the sketchbook is how so magnficently Knight captures the milieu. He is less concerned with the fashions themselves than the players at the event and the theatricality of the whole thing. Here we see so many with dangling cigarettes, big sunglasses, studied nonchalant expressions while devouring everyone else in their gaze, the men -- not just the designers or industry people such as John Fairchild but the ones whose presence is more enigmatic. The paradox of the serious and frivolous that coexist in fashion Knight gets. Knight's extensive background doing theatrical illustration and design is put to very good use. And as true of his most famous children's book illustrations for the Eloise series, he creates indelible imagery with extraordinary economy -- no scribble on the page is wasted, one might say. And of course, anyone fascinated by fashion, celebrity or New York Society will feast on the recording of the rich and famous captured here. Fashion shows covered include Caroline Herrera, Ralph Lauren, Anna Sui, Todd Oldham, etc. Portrayed are Hugh Grant, Liz Hurley, Kerstie Alley, Woody Allen, Donatella Versace, Butch Mullins, Bruce Webber, Dawn Mello, John Simon, Reinaldo Herrera, Elizabeth Tilberis, Bianca Jagger, Grace Coddington, Anna Wintour, Hamish Bowles, Demi Moore, John Epperson (Lypsyinka), Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, etc. One of the most indelible images is a color sketch of Dave Navarro of the Red Hot Chili Peppers who is causing a commotion when he reveals he is wearing red lace panties under his leather pants as he thrusts out his waist on the runway at the Anna Sui show. Some of the interior sketches unrelated to the fashion shows may be sketches of the Plaza Hotel interior that Knight drew as he was working towards the fifth Eloise book, "Eloise Takes a Bawth". WIth a printed name label ("Hilary Knight") affixed to both the front and rear cover. This card has a silhouette illustration of a young Knight, Eloise and her pet cat and turtle, and inked in red is a title ("Fashion Diary for Vanity Fair" on the front, simply "Vanity Fair", on the back.) With, on FFEP blank, is a Knight bookplate, also with a silhouette illustration showing him as an artist, along with a few animals. Also some improvised tabs made by Knight. Note that the sketchbook starts from both sides, but with the vast majority of drawings beginning on one of the sides, which we regard as the front; the other side has a mix, with some drawings of decor that may not all relate to fashion week, although some of them do, if peripherally. Condition: light wear.
(Inventory #: 006219)