The Elements of
DesignIn Fashion
The 7 Elements of Design
Shape Line Color Focal Point Proportion Balance Texture
Shape refers to the 4 Clothing
Silhouettes
Hourglass Fitted bust &
waist give a contour look
Favored by women with hourglass figures.
Rectangle The shape isn’t
form-fitting through the waist and bust.
It hides rather than reveals body shape
Triangle The dress
creates a triangle shape
A high fashion look
Inverted Triangle
The broad shoulders widen the top
The tight skirt narrows the bottom
LineHorizontal Draws the eye
across the width of the figure
Makes the body look wider and shorter
Vertical Line Leads the eye
up and down Makes a person
look taller and thinner
Diagonal Line Diagonal lines
are dynamic They lengthen or
shorten, depending on their direction
Curved Line Adds fullness to
the figure because it emphasizes roundness
The curved collar widens the shoulder
ColorColor has the power to change your shape.
You can use color to your advantage in your clothing.
If you are tall
and want to minimize your height, wear a two color outfit.
Contrasting colors call attention to an area.
The mono-chromatic look avoids color lines and contrasting color. The effect is to emphasize height.
Focal Point
A focal point is a place to which the eye is drawn first; it is a point of emphasis.
Proportion Deals with how
the parts of your outfit relate to each other.
Avoid outfits that cut you in half.
Balance Formal or
Symmetrical Balance – both sides are the same
Informal or Asymmetrical balance – both sides are different, yet balanced
Texture Heavily textured
fabrics enlarge the figure.
Smooth, lightweight fabrics will minimize your weight.
When you understand the basics of design, you can emphasize your best features and even have fun building a wardrobe that is best for your shape.
