These Live Fashion Illustrators Can Capture An Outfit In Mere Minutes

Fashions come and go, so why not capture each outfit forever in a keepsake that will never go out of style?

This is the idea behind live fashion illustrations, the unique art form popping up at brand activations, weddings and even New York Fashion Week, which is right around the corner.

These drawings, done in a mere number of minutes, have become a huge draw for guests, forming lines at these talented artist’s tables and boosting social media followings to track down where they will be sketching next.

“Live illustrations are a completely different ballgame,” said illustrator Deanna First, of New York City. “It looks effortless and easy from afar, but it has taken over 10 years to really master live illustrating and 15 years dedicated to drawing fashion figures, since studying fashion design. I’m still constantly learning new techniques, and will never stop evolving.”

This evolution started at age 7, said First, and then progressed from fashion doodles to fashion school, studying fashion design at Kent State University, and then fashion internships at major labels like Ralph Lauren, Purple Label and Derek Lam. Fast forward to today and First now has more than 23K followers on Instagram and illustrates at events like the Met Gala and aboard the Ritz-Carlton Yacht sailing in the Mediterranean.

“My signature style involves the use of my diamonds and pearls that I add to each one of my live illustrations. I mean, it really is all about the details,” First said of her work. “I focus on capturing guests’ energy, aura and likeliness in the matter of minutes. I love a great walking pose, cocktail in hand and movement. I hope people see my work and immediately feel uplifted.”

Since these events can vary in length and size, artists need to adapt their offerings to make sure that each attendee leaves with their personalized piece of art.

“My process usually starts with having the guest strike a quick pose so I can snap a reference photo—this way they don’t have to stand frozen while I draw,” explained artist Brooke Hagel, of New York City. “The timing then depends on the type of event. For instance, with Cartier I’ve done private, hour-long sessions for VIP clients in their hotel suites. More commonly, at events for brands like Ralph Lauren or Salvatore Ferragamo, I create detailed sketches in about 10–12 minutes. At private celebrations like weddings or birthdays, hosts often prefer quicker 5–7 minute sketches so I can capture more guests.”

Hagel has been live fashion sketching since July 2012, having started her fashion studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, and now has over 31K followers on Instagram. With this technical background, Hagel is able to see the subject and break it down quickly, a skill that she has developed over the years.

“In the past, I’d spend hours refining a figure and rendering every detail,” she said. “Now, I create quick-gesture drawings on the spot—capturing the essence of a look in minutes. It’s a completely different rhythm, but it brings an energy I love.”

She isn’t the only person that loves that energy, as the reception of the guests who receive these one-of-a-kind artworks provides enough glow to light the room.

“Guests absolutely light up when they realize they’re getting a custom fashion illustration to take home. At influencer events I’ve done for Anthropologie, Vogue, and most recently The RealReal, people often pose proudly with their sketches and post them straight to social media. The same excitement happens at more intimate celebrations—Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, milestone birthdays—where the illustration becomes both entertainment and a keepsake,” said Hagel.

“When I toured the country with Vogue, their market stylist had the perfect line to draw people in: ‘Come get the best selfie you’ll ever have.’ And it was true—guests loved walking away with a portrait that felt chic, personal, and shareable,” Hagel continued.

The idea of a “forever selfie” is one that translates perfectly to the current era, connecting the historic, time-honored skill of figure drawing with the fast-paced world of social media, changing fashion trends and the buzz of a live event.

This is one of the many things that drew Rebecca Marie Schneider, or Bex to her friends and fans, to fashion illustration when she began in 2021.

“Modern life romanticizes a bygone era, because we feel so starved of human connection in today’s age. The live aspect brings us back to a presence of soul that we so desperately crave,” explained Schneider. “The performance art aspect of live fashion illustration adds depth to an art form that could easily be seen as materialistic or shallow. But I say, fashion illustration is a uniquely transformative experience. There is a quote that defines the live aspect to me: ‘To be seen and fully known is to be loved.’ Where else do you see strangers posture themself in front of another stranger and say, ‘I trust you to see me, know me, and show me what you see?’ That’s pure and cathartic humanity.”

Like a classic portrait, these fashion illustrations are not only a fun takeaway from an event or party, but each of the artists said that the guests truly see a piece of themselves in the art, beyond just their outfit and likeness.

“One guest, who became a close friend of mine in later years, has since told me that she hung her Bex Babe portrait next to her bathroom mirror to remind herself on hard days that she’s that girl on the paper that looks like she can do anything. To me, that’s priceless,” recounts Schneider. “People will share anything with a portrait artist. I’d liken us in that way to a tattoo artist or hair stylist. The most incredible part of my process is that again and again, I see strangers’ walls come down, often to their own surprise.”

This feeling not only benefits the recipient, but the artists as well, who have each recounted the joy they feel when a client walks away smiling. What else makes the illustrators happy? A unique fashion choice or a fun and frilly accessory to sketch, of course.

“New Yorkers know how to serve sketchable style,” said Schneider. “I always find eyeglasses, metallics, full skirts, and vivid prints to be the most dynamic. I never hide my excitement when someone approaches my table looking like a character dressed by Patricia Field.”

First, while New York based, enjoys a look from across the pond and said, “I love a good Parisian vibe, but I also love any accessory that is dramatic and over the top,” to which both First and Hagel agree that ballgowns and frilly dresses are the best!

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