Drawn to Glamour

Drawn to Glamour: Fashion Illustrations by Jim Howard presents the award-winning editorial work by artist Jim Howard, a well-respected member of Denver’s fashion community. More than 100 works on paper showcase Howard’s four-decade fashion illustration career, starting with his early advertising campaigns for Neiman Marcus in the late 1950s, and through the ‘70s and ‘80s when the fashion illustration industry was at its height. The exhibition offers a nostalgic look at fashion trends set by top ready-to-wear designers, high-end fashion retailers, and cosmetic companies.

Neiman Marcus immediately recognized Howard’s talent when he worked as an in-house fashion illustrator and assistant artistic director at its headquarters in Texas. He later moved to New York City to become the artistic director of Franklin Simon and eventually became a freelance artist, remaining in high demand by major department stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bonwit Teller, B. Altman and Company, and the LA-based retailer Bullocks. These department stores employed Howard to create illustrations for fashion houses, such as Dior, Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, and Yves Saint Laurent, which were most often published in The New York Times.

In addition, Drawn to Glamour features eight looks from the Denver Art Museum’s fashion collection and four men’s silhouettes on loan from private lenders that capture the essence of some of the most iconic trends of the late '50s to the early '80s.