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.
A
B
C
D
• Can Give messages
Structural
Vs.
• 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 printedon design
Decorative
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 doublebreasted 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.
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 – 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.
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.