Joe Eula (American 1925-2004)

Joe Eula, an illustrator who caught the riotous curves of fashion from Diors New Look in the 1940s until the end of Saint Laurents reign.

Eula, whose early illustrations accompanied fashion columns in the New York Herald Tribune and the London Sunday Times in the 1950s, later worked extensively with Halston — as well as fashion houses such as Chanel, Givenchy, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent.

“I was considered the fastest pencil in the field; a mannequin need only do her turn down the catwalk at a fashion show, and voila: an illustration,” Eula once said.

He contributed numerous illustrations for American Vogue, had long associations with Italian and French Harper’s Bazaar, and created album covers and concert posters for Miles Davis, Liza Minnelli, the Supremes and other performers.

Eula also designed sets and costumes for the New York City Ballet, won a Tony award for his work on the Broadway production of “Private Lives” in 1968 and directed TV fashion specials for Lauren Bacall — as well as designing a line of china for Tiffany & Co. and the logo for Studio 54, the legendary Manhattan club.