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Elements of Fashion Design

Shape: Form or silhouette, outline
Color: A way to express yourself
Texture: Surface quality of goods, how the fabric surface feels and looks.
Line: A distinct, elongated mark as if drawn by a pencil or pen.
Details: structures and decorations
Functionality: purpose of the item

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Silhouette (Shape)

the overall form or outline of a garment
often the key design feature that occupies the mind of designers, manufacturers and retailers
3 dimensional

3 Basic Silhouettes:

straight or tubular
bell shaped or bouffant
bustle shaped or back full

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Silhouette (shape)

Form or silhouette of a garment

Shape or outline seen from a distance

Can reveal or hide a natural body contour

Try to flatter good features and hide less attractive features

Full, wide shapes make you look bigger
Trim, compact silhouettes make you look smaller
Straight, tubular shapes make you look taller
Form fitting clothes reveal any unattractive contours, should only been worn by figures that are near-perfect

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which dress marry

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Color

3 dimensions of color are:

Hue - the quality (ex. blue)

Value - the lightness or darkness

Intensity/Chroma - the brightness or dullness

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dress silhouettes

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Texture

how the surface of a material, or fabric, feels and looks
fibers, yarns, and the method of fabric construction can determine texture
descriptions of texture:

smooth, rough, dull, shiny, delicate, fine, shaggy, flat

affects the appearance of shapes, giving a bulky or slender look
affects the drape (how a garment falls), can be clingy or flowing, soft or firm

munsell color system

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What textures do:

Bulky fabrics

Add visual size (make you look bigger)
Can disguise a flaw
Can overpower a small person

Smooth, flat textures

Make you look smaller

Shiny textures

Make you look bigger, as they reflect light

Dull Textures

Make you look smaller, as the absorb light

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Line

have direction, length and width
directs the path of eye movement: lead eyes around garment
vertical, horizontal, diagonal, curved, etc.
Outline outer and inner spaces of garments

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Line Types:

Straight: bold, severe

Show dignity, power, formality, steadiness, stability

Curved: rounded, circular

Less conservative, formal and powerful
Give soft, youthful, gentle, charming, graceful feeling
Make things look larger than they are
Circles are closed lines and stop the eye entirely
Flattened curves are most flattering to the human shape

Jagged: change direction abruptly (ex: zigzags)

Create a jumpy, confused feeling
Use sparingly, they are very noticeable
Wear them if you are self-confident

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�LINE DIRECTION: Vertical: goes up and down

Feeling of dignity, strength, poise, sophistication
Leads eye up and down, makes wearer look taller and thinner

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�LINE DIRECTION: Diagonal: slanted�

Degree of slant determines the visual effect
Draws attention to where they are used

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��LINE DIRECTION: Horizontal: side to side�

Feeling of restfulness and gentleness�
Leads eye across the body, makes wearer seem shorter and wider�
Use where you want to look wider�

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Line Applications in Clothing

Structural Lines: formed when parts of the garment are constructed

Darts, pleats, tucks, etc
More noticeable with plain fabric

Decorative Lines: applied lines, created by adding details to the surface of the clothing

Lace, ruffles, trim, stitching, flaps, buttons
Should be in harmony with structural lines

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Details

can be structural details or decorative aspects

structural details:

ex. pleats, darts, tucks, gathering

decorative aspects:

ex. lace, embroidery, printing, fancy thread, beads, sequins, buttons, ribbon, etc.

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Functionality

the intended use or purpose of an object

ex. to beautify, adorn, express, identify, protect, provide comfort

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Resources

Fashion Marketing. Ekston, Gigi and Margaret Justiss. Glencoe/McGraw Hill. 2008. 7-8

Elements of Design PowerPoint. Kris Caldwell. http://my.uen.org/myuen/116/2

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