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.




Can Give messages
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, 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 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

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 you pictures or create your 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.


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.
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 (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.

Dos and Donts:
Dont 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 doesnt know what youre talking about
unless you directly tell them.
Paragraphs need to be written in present tense.