Designing and Producing Apparel

Using Design in Fashion

Objectives:

• Explain the importance of each element of design in relation to fashion

• Apply the principles of design to apparel

• Describe how harmony is achieved in garment designs

• Discuss how to use design to create illusions that enhance appearance

The Design Equation• Elements

–Color–Shape–Line–Texture

• Principles–Balance–Proportio

n–Emphasis–Rhythm

The Elements of Design COLOR

• Hue– The name given to a color

• Value– The lightness or darkness of

a hue• Tint

– Adding white to a hue (pastel)

• Shade– Adding black to a hue

• Intensity– The brightness or dullness

of a hue

COLOR Communication• Black - elegant,

sophisticated, dignified, strong, serious, sad

• Brown - earthy, casual, comfortable, natural

• Navy - dignified, cool, classic, peaceful, calm

• Green – signifies life, nature, friendly

• Red - aggressive, passionate, vibrant

• Yellow - sunny, cheerful, warm

• Orange - cheerful, youthful, lively

• Violet - royal, wise, dramatic

• Gray - modest, sad, quiet dignity, professional

• Beige - quiet, tailored

• White – innocent, youthful, pure

• Pink - soft, feminine

• Gold - wealth, power, luxury

Using the COLOR Wheel

• Primary Hues– Red, Yellow, Blue

• Secondary Hues– Orange, Green,

Violet• Intermediate or

Tertiary Hues– Yellow-green, Yellow-

orange, Red-orange, Red-violet, Blue-violet, Blue-green

COLOR Schemes• Monochromatic

– Tints and shades of one hue

• Analogous– Adjacent hues

• Complementary– Opposite hues

• Split complementary– 1 hue with hues on

each side of its complement

• Triad– 3 hues equal

distance• Accented neutral

– Neutral (white, black, gray, beige) with an accent of bright color

Illusions Through COLOR

Using Color in Fashion• Extreme contrast

makes colors look brighter

• Light colored objects appear larger

• Dark colored objects recede or appear smaller

• Fashion is more attractive without equal areas of light and dark

• Color is affected by light and texture

SHAPE and LINE• Shape or

silhouette– Outline or form – Determined by cut

and construction of the garment

• Lines in Fashion– Outline the inner

and outer spaces– Can be structural or

decorative

The shape of the pants are bell-bottoms, the lines (stripes) are decorative.

LINE Types and Directions

• Straight – Bold, severe, dignified

• Curved– Flowing, rounded, soft,

youthful• Jagged or Diagonal

– Noticeable, interesting, can create confusion

• Vertical– Height, slimming,

dignity• Horizontal

– Width, restful, calming

TEXTURE• Tactile quality of goods

or how material feels• Can be created from

fibers, yarns, and fabric construction

• Illusions– Shiny, bulky, fuzzy, or

heavy textures make figures look larger

– Dull or flat textures tend to slenderize

The Principles of DesignBalance• Formal balance

– Symmetrical– Dignified– Can look boring

• Informal balance– Creates balance

asymmetrically– Elements placed

unequally in a way that achieves balance

Equality among the parts of a design or outfit

Proportion• The spatial, or size,

relationship of the parts of design to each other and to the whole

• Most pleasing when divided unevenly

• Garments should bring out the natural proportions of the body to be pleasing

What parts of the jacket are out of proportion?

EmphAsis• A concentration of

interest in a particular part or area of a design.

• May be achieved with contrasts of colors or textures, structural lines, or unusual shapesIs your eye drawn to the tie?

Or perhaps to the “a” in emphasis?

RRRhhyyytthhhmm• Creates easy movement

of the observer’s eye by:

• Repetition– Repeats lines, shapes,

colors, or textures• Gradation

– Increase or decrease of design elements (also called progression)

• Radiation– Created by lines or colors

emerging from a center (petals on a flower)

Harmony

• Pleasing visual unity of all aspects of a design

• All parts of the design look as if they belong

• Does not have excess variation that could displease or detract

Illusions Created by Design

• When selecting garments, use the elements and principles of design to accentuate positive figure traits and de-emphasize the negative ones. Fashion professionals know how to do this.

Which one is most slimming?

Do You Know . . .• How do cool and warm

colors appear to change the size and shape of a person?

• How can you use the elements and principles of design to accomplish the following:– Look taller and thinner– Avoid attention to your

hips– Attract attention to

your face