Iconic Fashion Posters

Posters take a screenshot of art and immortalise it, preserving it so that future generations can have some idea of what life was like (and so that we can remember it).

 

 

American Psycho is a film poster rather than a fashion poster, but it is notable here because American Psycho marked the beginning of the modern Psychopath fixation – Patrick Bateman paved the way for Dexter and Hannibal Lecter to become the stars of our screens, and our fascination with those of the damaged frontal lobes has never been more intense.

 

 

 

 

 

Long legs in sexy stockings is an expression of female sexuality and sexiness – the poster is not in itself explicit, but conjures plenty of images to the imagination. In terms of fashion, it is also an ode to that which will never be unfashionable – long legs in sexy stockings will never get old, no matter how much times change. The original print is by Tom Marks, and remains one of the best-selling prints available on the internet.

 

 

 

 

 

This poster from Harper’s Bazaar shows how much fashion has and hasn’t changed. The woman in the frame is opening the doors of a world of opportunity and luxury, which is still the vision portrayed by the fashion industry , yet what she is wearing, and her dreams and aspirations, have doubtlessly changed. Harper’s Bazaar was established in America in 1867, and continues to be staple reading for fashionable women across the world.

 

 

 

The framing and costume are modern, the woman is beautiful, but the message is timeless – a good looking and mysterious woman is inviting you to venture into her private world. This picture, taken in the 1960s by John French, is an image of style and class. French is also known for shooting old fashioned style pictures of elegant women posing in large hats, which shows how this photographer understands how we are drawn to beauty, modernity or otherwise.

 

 

 

 

 

Scout, by Richard Phillips, is a digital crop, meaning that it looks like a canvas work but is actually created on a computer. The image raises a lot of questions – who is this girl? How old is she? (she could be anything from 15 to 27) Who is she fighting for? What is her name? With very little information about his reasons for creating this piece of art, we are left to wonder who Phillips’ girl is, and who she really represents.