The Art

of Fashion

What is clothing made up of?

• The principles that make up appealing art apply to good fashion design as well.

• Good fashion has a combination of the elements and principles of design.

Elements of Design

• Line

• Shape

• Color

• Texture

• Pattern

What lines appear in this

dress?

Line• Refers to an elongated mark that connects

two or more points. Line encloses and divides space, creating shapes and forms. Seam lines divide and enclose space on a garment.

Effects of line

• Can create optical illusions.

• Can Give messages

A

B

C

D

• Structural – lines required to maintain the structure of the garment; for example, seams

• Decorative – lines created by the designer purely for decoration; for example, a printed-on design

Structural

Decorative

Vs.

Straight Lines

• Message– Forceful, Rigid, Strong, Hard, Formal, Masculine, Crisp,

Stiff, Severe

• Illusion– Increases, emphasizes, reinforces body lines and angles,

counters curved lines and rounded body areas

• Placements– Closures, Necklines, Collars, Lapels, Seamlines, Darts,

Tucks, Pleats, Folds, Stripes, Shapes, Silhouettes

Curved Lines

• Message– Gentle, Romantic, Fragile, Soft, Casual, Feminine, Graceful,

Sensual

• Illusion– Holds attention longer, increases, emphasizes, reinforces

rounded soft-body curves, counter straight lines and angular body areas

• Placements– Fabric pattern, necklines, collars, yokelines, seamlines, bows,

lapels, sleeves, ruffles, skirts, gathers, trims, buttons

Line Direction

• The direction that the line falls affects the design, message and illusion drastically.

Vertical

• Message– Formal, strong, dignified, stiff, business-like, stately,

conservative, grandious, majestic, efficient

• Illusion– Increases, emphasizes, reinforces length, height, narrowness,

thinness– slimming, counters horizontal lines

• Placement– Deep v-necklines, pointed collars, narrow lapels, narrow

panels or gores, fabric insets, lengthwise grainline, vertical stripes, darts, tucks, pleats, folds, crease, zippers, row of buttons, pockets, ties, neckties, long sleeves, high heels

Horizontal

• Message– Restful, stable, calm, relaxed, casual, quiet, serene, in repose,

lethargic

• Illusion– Increases, emphasizes, reinforces width, bulk, shortness, counters

vertical lines, when placed high appears taller, when placed low appears shorter

• Placement– Necklines, flat collars, bow ties, yoke lines, horizontal stripes,

belts, cuffs, waistline, sashes, patch/flap pockets, wide-set double-breasted closure, strap shoes, platform shoes, wide-brimmed hat

Diagonal

• Message– Active, movement, instability, excitement, interesting, dramatic,

restless, sophisticated, in motion, vitality

• Illusion– Increases, emphasizes, reinforces the direction of the dominant angle,

counters vertical and horizontal lines

• Placement– V-shaped neckline, open collar, lapels, raglan sleeve seamlines, French

darts, closures, surplice closure, row of buttons, fabric inset, diagonal stripes, gores, herringbone pattern, zigzag pattern, A-line skirt, flared skirt or pants, shoe laces crisscross straps

Portfolio Assignment

• Create 3 portfolio pages– Straight Line, Curved Line, Diagonal Line

• Address the following in the paragraph:– What lines are found in the picture?– Where are the lines found?– Are the lines structural or decorative?– What is the illusion and message associated with

the described lines.

Curved line sample

portfolio page

What is good and bad about the following portfolio pages?

Diagonal Line sample

portfolio page

Straight line portfolio

sample page

• Construct a paragraph using this picture as an example of line.– Step 1… Find the criteria in the

photo and take notes about YOUR photo NOT the notes from the PowerPoint presentation

• Placement…

• Illusion…

• Message…

– Step 2• Combine notes to create the

paragraph.

• Use a thesaurus if needed.

Name _________________________________

An EXCELLENT Fashion Portfolio Page Step 1: Choose your pictures or create your own sketches. Step 2. Write a paragraph using correct grammar and artful words!

Look at your picture/sketch and take notes on what is most important according to the new principle you have been taught in class. Here are two different examples of notes that can be taken and paragraphs that can be written on the same sample picture.

Notes:

1. placement vertical line – jacket – front opening, split skirt, tights, texture of fabric, collar, circles on shirt

2. message casual – should be formal, but fabric, tights, open jacket, make it informal

3. illusion tall – long vertical line in jacket

Paragraph from notes: Vertical lines are found in the jacket opening, split skirt, tights and texture of fabric. Horizontal lines are also visible in the fabric and bottom of the skirt but less noticeable.

Normally vertical lines would make the design formal, however the fabric, tights and open jacket make it look casual. Overall the model appears tall and thin due to the long vertical line in the jacket.

Notes:

1. placement vertical line (most dominant because of underlined items) – skirt – pleats and slits, jacket opening, tights, fabric horizontal – waist, sleeve, collar, fabric, tights, hem of skirt

2. message semi professional due to straight line, casual from straight line, sophisticated because it is a suit

3. illusion jacket opening creates tall thin look

Paragraph from notes:

Vertical lines are dominant in the skirt pleats and slits, jacket opening and the fabric texture. Horizontal lines are noticeable also in the waistline, cuff, collar, fabric, hem of the skirt and tights. Circles on the design draw attention to the areas they are placed on. The design appears to be semi-professional due to the straight lines and somewhat casual because of horizontal lines. The strong vertical line on the jacket opening makes the model appear tall and thin.

Do’s and Don’ts:

Don’t use “I”, “You”, “She,” or “I think” in your portfolio statements. IT WEAKENS YOUR STATEMENTS. When referring to the person in the picture, say, “the model.”

When talking about the clothing BE SPECIFIC. The viewer doesn’t know what you’re talking about unless you directly tell them.

Paragraphs need to be written in present tense.