Impressive Fashion Illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez in the 1930s and ’40s

René Bouët-Willaumez (1900–1979) was a French aristocrat born in Brittany, in 1900. After abandoned engineering for art, he began working for Vogue in 1929. Joining the industry in the midst of change, where photography was becoming the dominant means of reporting on fashion trends. This, however, did not hold Willaumez back. His unhesitating and incisive ink drawings illustrated the hubris and elegance of fashion in a way that had not been seen carving out a demand for himself.

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez in the 1930s and ’40s

Within just a few years, Willaumez had honed his craft and his monogram “RBW” became a familiar fixture on the pages and covers of Vogue magazine. By the mid-1930s he was heralded as top of his profession, with his only substantial equal being Carl Erickson.

Willaumez had moved around a lot from Paris to London and then New York. Throughout the 1940s, whilst in New York, the American editor of Vogue made good use of his à la mode style. Willaumez worked with Vogue up until the early 1950s, where his appearance in the magazine abruptly drop. His work last appeared in the American Vogue in 1953. He did contribute to the occasional European edition, but 1958 saw his association with the magazine end. He left New York and returned to France.

Here below is a set of beautiful photos that shows fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez in the 1930s and 1940s.

Gowns by Mainbocher, illustrated by René Bouët-Willaumez, 1934

Illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, 1934

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, September 1, 1935

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, April 1, 1937.

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, April 1, 1937

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, September 1, 1937

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, 1938

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, 1938

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, April 1, 1938

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, March 1, 1938

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, March 1, 1938

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, May 1, 1938

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, May 1, 1938

Evening gown by Jeanne Lanvin, illustration by Rene Bouet-Willaumez, Vogue, October 1, 1939

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, July 15, 1939

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, October 1, 1939

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, September 15, 1939

Hattie Carnegie evening gown illustrated by René Bouët-Willaumez, 1939

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, February 1, 1940

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, February 1, 1940

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, September 15, 1941

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, 1942

A mock-rustic basket hat by Jeanne Rousseau, Forstmann's black wool dress by Omar Kiam of Ben Reig, illustrated by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, January 15, 1945

A soft pink felt hat for a bright red Rodier wool jersey suit at Bergdorf Goodman, Koret handbag, illustrated by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, March 1, 1945

A toque of smoke-shaded tulle by Reine for a beige silk-shantung suit by Nettie Rosenstein, at Bonwit Teller, illustrated by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, March 1, 1945

City gabardine suits designed by Kraus, illustrated by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, January 1, 1945

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, October 1, 1945

Forstmann wool Norfolk suit on left by Milgrim and tunic coat from Neiman Marcus, illustrated by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, January 1, 1945

Spruce-green cardigan suit in tweed over crêpe blouse strewn with forget-me-nots by Omar Kiam for Ben Reig, pink straw hat banked with flowers, by John-Frederics, illustrated by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, March 1, 1945

Straight navy-blue skirt and jacket of gold doeskin wool by Kraus, and navy-blue wool suit with weskit blouse and petticoat of plaid rayon taffeta by Omar Kiam for Ben Reig, illustrated by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, March 1, 1945

A back-swinging greatcoat, chin-collared to button as high as your nose by Nettie Rosenstein, illustrated by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, July 15, 1947

A black wool dinner suit with cording rounding out the hem and a tulle and taffeta lampshade hat, all by Hattie Carnegie, illustrated by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, July 15, 1947

A chin-covering wrap-around cut-away jacket in coffee colored fleece lined with plaid by Ben Gershel, illustrated by René Bouët-Willaumez , Vogue, July 15, 1947

A taffeta and wool suit with a front-pleated skirt and a wind-sock neckpiece by Omar Kiam for Ben Reig, illustrated by René Bouët-Willaumez, Vogue, July 15, 1947

Fashion illustration by René Bouët-Willaumez, 1948