In the ever-shifting landscape of fashion, illustration remains one of its most intimate expressions—quiet yet powerful, precise yet poetic. It captures not just the garment, but the gesture. Not merely the look, but the emotion. With this belief at its core, Palette, Pose & Inked Trends: Chronicles of Fashion Illustration was born.

The artworks you will encounter in this book have been illustrated by Sheetal Sharma—each a result of hours spent observing, imagining, layering, and refining. Rendered in traditional media including watercolour, ink, toned paper, and Staedtler Luna colour pencils, these fashion illustrations are not digital drafts, but hand-drawn testaments to a deep personal practice rooted in the tactile pleasure of drawing.

Each sketch is more than a visual—it is a story in silhouette. And the reflections accompanying them, co-authored by Sheetal Sharma and Rikhil Nagpal, aim to offer insight into the ideas, inspirations, and intricacies behind the lines and layers. From the gentle flare of a sleeve to the tension of a cinched waist, from traditional textile inspirations to contemporary style evolution—this book explores it all.

Together, we wanted to create something that could serve as both archive and aspiration. An ode to the art of fashion illustration—not just as a technical skill, but as a poetic form of design storytelling. While the sketches speak in lines and colours, the text seeks to articulate their resonance—why they feel the way they do, and how they fit within a larger cultural and creative dialogue.

This book is not a how-to guide, though learners may study it. It is not a portfolio, though it documents artistic evolution. It is a chronicle—of palettes chosen, poses captured, and trends interpreted through ink, pigment, and passion.

We offer this work to students, educators, designers, illustrators, and anyone who believes in the enduring power of drawing fashion by hand. May it inspire you to pause, to observe, and to pick up your tools—again and again.