After returning back to NYC in 1958, Mickool was illustrating for various department stores and boutiques, including Lord & Taylor. During this time, Mickool met his wife Valerie Hall and was married in 1960. It was not until 1965 that Mickool truly captured the essence of Hood’s technique - producing a more steady involvement in the Lord & Taylor account. Desiring the Lord & Taylor image, Filene’s of Boston approached Mickool in the mid 1970’s to be their primary artist to replicate this image. He worked successfully with Filene’s through the mid to late 1970’s until Lord & Taylor expanded into the Boston area; forcing Filene’s to abandon the style that was originally created by Lord & Taylor. During this period of change, many fashion styles began to transition from wash drawings to the more modern line fashion drawings.
Sensing this new trend in fashion illustration, Mickool quickly created a new portfolio showcasing his adaptability and the diversity of his work. After, once again, presenting his new line drawing portfolio to Lord & Taylor, he was immediately hired. Mickool worked extensively with Lord & Taylor throughout the 1980’s producing a large volume of work out of his home in Rowayton, CT. His illustrations, alongside Fred Greenhill’s, developed an iconic identity that was ubiquitous throughout the 1980’s advertising and fashion world.
The year 1991 signaled the end of an era. Following the purchase of Federated Department Stores by the May Co., the art direction shifted from artwork to photography. Needing to adapt further, Mickool pursued another passion in his life – golf. Not only did Mickool paint historical events paying homage to the legendary men of the sport, he also taught the golf swing at a professional level at one of the leading golf centers in Stamford, CT.
In 2014 Mickool began a series of paintings reconnecting himself to the ideal that had been such a focus during his career - The All American Girl. With a new approach focusing on color and texture, Mickool has modernized the classic fashion illustration and made it beautifully contemporary.
Mickool now resides in Stratford, CT with his wife Valerie. They have three children, Lauren, David & Andrew along with six wonderful grandchildren.
TM
Robert L. Mickool was born in Fall River, MA in 1934. He has spent a lifetime pursuing his love of art, however, his first passion was baseball which led to a professional AA contract with the Milwaukee Braves in 1954. Sadly, an injury curtailed his baseball career limiting his time professionally to one year. Mickool returned to Fall River to attend Bradford Durfee Technical College. He was strongly convinced by the newly appointed fashion instructor, Gerta Rello, to become a fashion illustrator. Mickool was introduced to and greatly inspired by the art of Lord & Taylor’s Dorothy Hood. His passion was fueled and it was clear that art would become a lifetime pursuit.
Soon after graduation he moved to NYC in 1956 to pursue his career. His first meeting was with then art director, Harry Rodman at Lord & Taylor. Rodman was so impressed by Mickool’s artistic ability that he offered him a full page ad to illustrate. The ad would appear in the NY Times, however, it was clearly evident that Mickool lacked the experience required to sustain the account. To gain the necessary experience, Mickool was hired by Seidenbach’s in Tulsa, OK in 1957 as their primary fashion artist. During this time he gained the experience of rendering various textures & patterns, i.e., silks, plaids, furs, etc. However, in 1958 Mickool received his army draft notice and spent six months in active duty and five and a half years in active reserve.
