Amazing Fashion Illustration by Carl Erickson in the 1930s and ’40s

Carl Erickson (1891–1958) was a fashion illustrator and advertising artist who was well known for his work with Vogue magazine and Coty cosmetics. He worked for Vogue from 1916 to 1958 when he died; most likely from complications due to alcoholism.

Fashion illustration by Carl Erickson in the 1930s and ’40s

Erickson was commonly known as “Eric,” a name he used to sign his work, which was given to him by fellow students at the Academy of Fine Arts, Chicago. Along with fashion illustration, Erickson was also an accomplished portrait artist. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Queen Elizabeth II, Frank Sinatra, and Gertrude Stein are a few of the public figures who sat for him.

During his early career he lived in New York City, and later moved Senlis, France, with his wife, the fashion illustrator Lee Creelman. They had one child, a daughter named Charlotte. Here below is a set of amazing photos that show fashion illustration by Carl Erickson in the 1930s and 1940s.

Evening gown by Chanel, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, March 15, 1933

Jean Patou's bare-backed crepe dinner dress called 'Hermonione', illustrated by Carl Erickson, American Vogue, March 15, 1933

Surrealist flaming red velvet hat and blue-green caracul (lambswool) scarf by Schiaparelli, illustrated by Carl Erickson, British Vogue, September 1936

Fashion illustration by Carl Erickson for cover of Vogue, September 15, 1937

Schiaparelli's satin pajamas with peacock-trained shocking pink housecoat illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, April 1, 1937

Paquin evening gown illustrated by Carl Erickson, 1938

Pale blue wool jacket over wool dress by Balenciaga, three different hats of felt, feathers, flowers and veils all by Louise Bourbon, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, January 1939

The famous Balenciaga "Infanta" creation (evening dress of pink silk satin and black silk velvet) as illustrated by Carl Erickson for American Vogue, September 1939

Ad illustration for American Viscose Corporation by Carl Erickson, 1940

A bare-shouldered orange-peel flannel dress to wear with a leopard-print scarf and leather belt by B.H. Wragge, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, December 1, 1944

A brilliant floral beaded taffeta jacket worn with a draped décolleté dress of rayon crêpe, a Henri Bendel Original, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, March 15, 1945

Onondaga rayon-crêpe dress by Foxbrownie, pink floral hat of toyo straw by Tatiana du Plessix, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, April 1, 1945

Bare sheath, hobble-skirt, over it, a loose dolman wrap, by Christian Dior for Lucien Lelong, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, April 15, 1946

Ostrich plume evening headdress in jet black finishing in a flash of color by Caroline Reboux, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, April 15, 1946

Pink Forstmann wool dolman-sleeved bolero over ankle-length, hip-bustle, rayon-crêpe dinner dress by Omar Kiam for Ben Reig, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, February 1, 1946

Yellow wool coat with bulk and flare by Monte Sano for Bonwit Teller, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, February 1, 1946

Pretty shirtwaist in true silk shirting by Traina-Norell, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, June 1, 1947

Woman in mink stole and red hat, illustration by Carl Erickson, American Vogue, August, 1, 1947

Bas Gui hosiery advertisement, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Paris, 1948

Evening ensemble from Dior's "Zig-Zag Line", illustrated by Carl Erickson, Paris, 1948

Flared satin print bolero jacket over velvet bodice and satin skirt by Christian Dior, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, October 15, 1948

Green Basque jacket and big skirt in Forstmann wool by Monte-Sano; wool alpaca taut-to-the-hipbone jacket and large skirt by Nettie Rosenstein, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, January 1948

Sweeping cape with a petal collar, full sloping shoulders and an ankle swing of Forstmann's huntsman-pink wool over a blue souffle-de-soie dress by Traina-Norell, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, February 1948

Tartan skirt with spiral flounces wired to wing out, worn with black silk jersey turtleneck by Schiaparelli, illustrated by Carl Erickson, American Vogue, October 1, 1948

An evening gown in three parts, underskirt of white satin faille plaid, champagne taffeta overskirt and short sable cape, designed by Valentina, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, May 15, 1949

Her slacks of black silk crêpe are full and banded at the ankle, with pink jersey sweater by Clare Potter, his Scotch wool dinner jacket by Shields, illustrated by Carl Erickson, Vogue, October 1, 1949