ELEMENTS OF DESIGN IN DETAIL FOR FASHION DESIGN

ELEMENTS OF FASHION

1. Fashion B: Standard 10
Elements of Design
Created by: Kris Caldwell
Timpanogos High School

2. Elements of Design
Elements are the building blocks of
design.
Color: Most exciting element of design
Shape: Overall outline of a garment, it is
the form or silhouette.
Line: Distinct, elongated mark as if
drawn by a pencil or pen.
Texture: The surface quality of goods.

3. Elements of Design
SHAPE:
Form or silhouette of a garment
Shape or outline seen from a distance
Can reveal or hide a natural body contour
Try to flatter good features and hide less
attractive features
Full, wide shapes make you look bigger
Trim, compact silhouettes make you look
smaller
Straight, tubular shapes make you look
taller
Form fitting clothes reveal any unattractive
contours, should only been worn by figures
that are near-perfect

4. Elements of Design
LINE:
Have direction, width, length
Eyes follow lines
Lines suggest movement, leading eyes up,
down, side-to-side, around
Outline outer and inner spaces of garments
Categories of lines:
Type
Direction
Application

5. Elements of Design
Line Types:
Straight: bold, severe
Show dignity, power, formality,
steadiness, stability
Curved: rounded, circular
Less conservative, formal and powerful
Give soft, youthful, gentle, charming,
graceful feeling
Make things look larger than they are
Circles are closed lines and stop the
eye entirely
Flattened curves are most flattering to
the human shape
Jagged: change direction abruptly (ex:
zigzags)
Create a jumpy, confused feeling
Use sparingly, they are very noticeable
Wear them if you are self-confident

6. LINE DIRECTION: Vertical:
Goes up and down
Feeling of
dignity,
strength, poise,
sophistication
Leads eye up
and down,
makes wearer
look taller and
thinner

7. LINE DIRECTION: Diagonal: slanted
Degree of
slant
determines
the visual
effect
Draws
attention to
where they
are used

8. LINE DIRECTION: Horizontal:
side to side
Feeling of
restfulness and
gentleness
Leads eye across the
body, makes wearer
seem shorter and
wider
Use where you want
to look wider

9. Elements of Design
TEXTURE:
Surface quality of garments (how it
looks and feels)
Roughness, smoothness, dullness,
glossiness, stiffness, softness
Bulky fabrics
Add visual size (make you look
bigger)
Can disguise a flaw
Can overpower a small person
Smooth, flat textures
Make you look smaller
Shiny textures
Make you look bigger, as they
reflect light
Dull Textures
Make you look smaller, as the
absorb light