The Art

ofFashion

Elements of Design

• Shape• Line • Texture• Pattern• Color

Shape

• The shape of a garment is its form or silhouette.

• Can be seen from a distance, it is noticed early. Clothes can reveal or disguise the natural body contours.

Silhouettes in History

9 Basic Garment Silhouettes

The garment silhouette may be a reflection (Reinforcing) of the persons shape or used to change the natural shape (countering).• Rectangle Bell• Full Wedge• Natural Hourglass• A-line Empire• Triangle

9 Basic Silhouettes

Natural

Rectangle

Bell

Hourglass

A-line

Full

Triangle

Empire

Wedge

Shape in Clothing

• Full, wide clothing shapes make people look larger.

• Straight, tubular shapes seem to lengthen • Bell or added fullness will widen in that area• Natural fit reveals all of the body contours.

– If clothes are too tight they make it look like as though the wearer has outgrown the garment.