PATTERN

Fashion Strategies

Pattern A combination of several

design elements – lines, shapes, colors arranged in or on textural material

Building a wardrobe with pattern

Rely on solid colors and classic patterns, in small to medium scale prints, stripes, and plaids

Look out for patterns you absolutely love, that feel like you could wear them forever, and seem to reflect you well.

Classic Patterns Retain their fashionability, and thus

their wearability for years. Classic patterns are always in good

taste and do not detract from you.

Recognizing classic patterns

Classic patterns look familiar Are almost always available Are in style despite trends Are small to medium in scale Are more often rendered with

wardrobe neutrals and combine with a wide range of colors

DO NOT BUY OR BUILD A WARDROBE EXCLUSIVELY FROM ONLY SOLIDS OR ONLY PATTERNS!

Trendy Patterns

Have distinctive lines and shapes Are larger in scale Are bold in color – bright or strong

contrasts Limited in the places it can be

worn comfortably or appropriately

Trendy

Benefits of pattern

Adds interest to plain surface of fabric Helps coordinate two or more solid

colored items Create a point or area of emphasis Create illusions (enhance or disguise) Become a visible expression of

personal style

Sources of inspiration Nature Man-Made

Types of motifs Realistic

Imitate or duplicate nature

Appears photographic

Types of motifs Stylized

A conventionalized impression or interpretation of natural or man-made objects

Simplified detail Objects are still

recognizable

Types of Motifs

Geometric Strict use of lines in

recognized geometric shapes

Stripes, checks, plaids,

Dots and circles Squares,

rectangles, triangles, diamonds

Types of Motifs

Abstract From artists imagination Appear as a blur or

splashes of color Unrealistic, free-form, or

flowing lines

Arrangement of motifs

All Over Appear the same

from any direction you look at them

Arrangement of motifs 4 way

arrangements Appear the same

from four directions given a 90 turn

Arrangement of Motifs

Two-way arrangements Appear the same

from only two directions

Arrangement of Motifs

One-way arrangement Appear right side

up from one direction only.

Has a recognizable top and bottom

Words & numbers, people, animals, functional objects

OOPS!

Arrangement of Motifs Border

arrangements Appear right side

up from only one selvage edge.

Dominant motif in the pattern create a specific border along that edge