The pairing of a fashion story with the irreverent comic artists Aline Kominsky-Crumb and Robert Crumb gives a surprising twist to the idea of sexy style. For this story, which presents the body-conscious new dresses of spring 2003, the New York Times Magazine asked Aline to choose, and model, several outfits that would be illustrated by her husband, Robert. Aline took the clothes back to the south of France, where the Crumbs live, and together they created a six-page story for the magazine. R. Crumb’s inimitable drawing style and Aline’s irreverent comments create a narrative that draws the reader in, and gives those who love fashion, and those who don’t, every reason to follow the story and take pleasure in the fantasy.

This year it seems as if there is a tendency to choose projects that have words in them, or thought balloons. This is true even if the words are symbols, are implied, or are conspicuously not there.

Almost full cross-hatch. You can see how Crumb views Aline from his depictions of her.