The Art

of Fashion

What are the Elements of Design?

• Elements are the building blocks of design. • Rules of art that will create appealing

designs.

Elements of Design

• Line • Shape • Texture • Color

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.

Why Lines in Fashion?

• Lines have direction, width, and length • Eyes will follow lines • Lines suggest movement, leading the eyes

up, down, side-to-side, and around • Lines can outline inner spaces of garments.

Effects of line

• Can create optical illusions.

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, grandiose, 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 grain line, 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

Shape • The form or silhouette of a garment • Shape can be seen from a distance

Shape in Fashion

• Can reveal or hide a natural body contour –  Full, wide shapes make you look bigger –  Trim, compact silhouettes make you look

smaller – Straight, tubular shapes make you look taller –  From fitting clothes reveal natural body

contours

Texture • The surface quality of a garment • How it looks, how it feels, and how it looks

like it feels.

Texture •  Bulky Fabrics:

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

•  Smooth, flat textures: –  Make you look smaller

•  Shiny Textures: –  Make you look bigger as they reflect the light

•  Dull Textures: –  Make you look smaller as they absorb the light