10 important elements of Fashion Design

The leading fashion designers, manufacturers of

garments, textile experts are all concerned about a
bunch of common things year after year, fashion
season after season. These are the elements of
fashion that combine together in the fashion design
process to create spectacular garments and
accessories. These elements consume their thoughts,
discussions and design boards. What are these
important fashion elements?
 1. Color

Color is the first thing you notice about a garment.

The value ( lightness or darkness) and intensity of
color (brightness or dullness) used, the proportion of
different colors used, colors of the accessories used,
where the colors are placed all are very important in
the fashion designing process as the first impression
of anything is important.

Basically, colors are classified as warm and cool

colors and then black and white.

Effective color schemes are used to enhance the look

of the garment.
Color wheel
Monochromatic
Analogue
Triadic
Complementary
 2.Silhouettes
A Dress Silhouette is what you see in a dress at one
glance – the outline of the dress; The outside line of
the garment.
When designers get around to make beautiful
dresses, they have the silhouette in mind first and
foremost. It is the most basic thing about a design.
You design the silhouette first and then design the
rest of the style elements. 
Types of Silhouettes
1 Sheath silhouette
2 A line silhouette
3 Straight Column silhouette
4 Hour glass silhouette
5 Bell silhouette
6 Trumpet silhouette
7 Shoulder Wedge silhouette
8 Trapeze silhouette
9 Extreme volume silhouette
10 Asymmetrical silhouette
11 Empire silhouette
12 Egg shaped silhouette
1. Sheath silhouette
Sheath silhouette is a form fitting
silhouette from the top to the bottom
of the garment. The way this
silhouette hugs the body makes it an
unforgiving style for those without a
perfect figure. A defined waist is a
prerequisite for looking good in this
silhouette. This style is usually fitted
with slits in the hem for ease in
movements.

Sheath dresses are prime example of

this silhouette. Fitted jeans , pencil
skirts all belong to this silhouette 
2. A line silhouette
This silhouette is fitted in the bodice
and flares slightly in the skirt making
it look like a capital A. The A-Line
silhouette works well for most people
A garment in this silhouette is narrow
at the top and widens towards the
hem in a gradual manner smoothing
out awkward lines and curves of the
body and hence flatters most body
shapes.
 3. Straight Column silhouette 
The dress which belong to this silhouette will
have a rectangular shape as it has almost the
same measurement for the bust waist and
hem. It is also referred as Rectangular
silhouette / tubular silhouette.

A shift dress is an example of this type. A

person with a thick waist and wide hips will
love this silhouette as it hides these flaws very
comfortably.

In a gown,  this silhouette may also  show  up

fitted in the bodice and with a column style
skirt without any flare, going straight down to
the floor. This is a very often seen silhouette in
summer clothes. Clothes of this silhouette is
best made with fabric which drape very well ,
which are lightweight.
4 .Hour glass silhouette

This silhouette is characterized by a fitted waistline. This

very popular silhouette emphasizes the  curves of the
feminine figure. You can design this silhouette with the
help of waistbands, belts, darts . Corsets tops and bustiers
with a flared skirt can emphasize the waist and create this
silhouette

This is a most coveted of all silhouettes but mostly

suitable for people with a narrow waist. You need a
somewhat slim waistline to do justice to this silhouette. A
pear shaped body suits this silhouette more than an apple
bodyshape or an inverted triangle provided the wearer
doesn’t have a very thick waistline.
5. Bell silhouette
Bell or Ball gown silhouette is fitted in the
bodice till the waist and then flares
generously to the hem to make a bell
shaped skirt . This silhouette is typically
found in traditional dresses/ wedding
dresses ; a very popular choice of young
women about to be married. 

The flare of the skirt in this silhouette is

mostly achieved by layers of fine fabric . A
petticoat with many frills of
crinoline under the gown also helps to
create this silhouette.
6. Trumpet silhouette

This silhouette which is also called the

mermaid silhouette is very similar to
the sheath silhouette, the difference
being that it flares generously from
the knees like a ball gown. The tight
fitting of this silhouette till the knees
make it very difficult for movement
but it is undoubtedly a very beautiful
silhouette and hence worth the
sacrifice.
 7. Shoulder Wedge silhouette
This is a silhouette with an emphasis on the
shoulder. This silhouette is made so with the help
of design additions like shoulder pads or with
sleeve types like the butterfly sleeves or puff
sleeves, giving extra emphasis to shoulders.
This silhouette, as it comes with an almost
masculine width to the shoulder, lends a very
thin look to the hips and waist .
The silhouette can be a life saver for a person
with slouchy figure as it gives a square and
healthy look to the shoulder and make the
wearer look younger.
Most tailored coats have a shoulder wedge
silhouette. A raglan sleeve and its variations like
the batwing sleeves and dolman sleeves will also
create a wedge shape as it adds bulk under the
arm.
8. Trapeze silhouette

This silhouette which is similar to

an A line silhouette but with a
more pronounced flare near the
hem  is shaped like a trapezoid or
rather a tent. Basically speaking it
looks like a triangle, flaring as it
does from under the armhole. This
silhouette works as a short dress
rather than as a full length dress,
as it can overwhelm the figure.
9. Extreme volume silhouette

This is a silhouette you see on long over

sized jackets and maxi dresses , capes and
wraps . The voluminous silhouette is a
most used style in outerwear. The kaftan
with many layers of fabric is an example of
this silhouette. It is  very easy for the figure
to be overwhelmed by the volume  in this
silhouette. The figure of the person is very
important when considering  this
silhouette for a particular person
10. Asymmetrical silhouette
This silhouette has a diagonal
hemline. This effect can be
achieved by varying the
colours, fabrics etc other
than cutting the hem of the
garment in asymmetrical
lines
11 .Empire silhouette

This is a silhouette with a raised

waistline ; that is the waistline is made
above the normal waistline. This dress
silhouette  flares out from under the
chest line. This is a most suitable style for
the figure with a thick waistline.

Usually  the effect is achieved by making

the dress in two panels, the skirt panel
starting just under the chest.
12. Egg shaped silhouette

This silhouette has a shape which is

fitted in the top and bottom and loose
in the middle of the figure. The tulip
skirt is an example of a garment with
an egg shaped silhouette. Dresses in
this silhouette are not the most
flattering but the dictates of fashion
sometimes make them popular
 3. Fabric
The type of fabric you choose for a design is very
important in how it will shape up. The fabric
texture refers to the hand or feel of the fabric
including its stiffness or softness and its
appearance, drape

Other than the smooth appearance of most

fabrics there are a variety of fabrics with
different textures- some are pre pleated, some
crinkled, some crushed, some woven with raised
patterns.

A swatch of the fabric is kept in the design board

so that the texture of the fabric is at the
forefront of the design process.
4. Fabric prints and patterns

 When you are

designing you will be
taking into
consideration the
designs inherent in
the fabric – in fact
they can play a very
important role in
designing. 
 5. Body Shape
 When you wear clothes you want to look
fashionable and be presenting the best of
yourself. Every one is made different, their
body shapes different but a certain
categorization is needed to successfully
design fashion garments.

 The most important body shapes as per

these categorization are Rectangle,
triangle, inverted triangle, oval, square,
round , hourglass .

 An hourglass figure is the ideal body shape.

6. Balance & rhythm
 This refers to the symmetry ( or asymmetry) in
the shapes, colors , style lines, elements.

 The designer designs the garment so that the

two sides of it appears to be the same or
different. A proportionate and appropriate
combination of lines, shape, color and texture
can result in different rhythms. 

 Rhythm refers to the pattern created by the use

of lines or shapes; like how the synchronized
embroidery design is made around the neckline
and sleeve hem as well as the hem line to create
a rhythm for the garment.

 Another example is the repetitive use of a

special print on a fabric resulting in a formal
rhythm
7. Emphasize
 This refers to the importance given
to a design element to denote
something or bring attention to
something –  it is usually a break in
the rhythm of the garment.

 Some features of the garments are

given more emphasis because of
their positive effect on the wearer.
Like the studded collar in a denim
jacket or a color block garment with
contrast band along the waistline.

 A corset is used to give emphasis to

the thinness of the waist. 
 8. Design lines
This refers to lines in the garment that separates its shape like
waistline, neckline, hemline; then there are style lines which are
basically seams. These lines and their correct placement is very
important in the composition of the garment. Lines are combined
or arranged strategically to create different visual dimensions.

The two types of design lines are straight lines and curved lines.

Straight lines can be horizontally placed, vertically placed or

diagonally placed.

A curved line can be almost spherical or gently curved as to look

almost like a straight line. Curved lines give the appearance/effect
of roundness and straight lines that of slimness, though there are
exceptions like a horizontal line which can give the look of
broadness. Diagonal lines like that of a cross over jacket create an
asymmetrical line across the body
 
The style lines of the garment should work together ie they should all complement each other.
 9. Dress details and decorative designs
 This includes details given to enhance the
look of the garment like yokes, strategically
placed fabric patterns, cutouts, peplums,
sleeve hems,  collars, darts, lapels,
bands, frills,ruffles, panels, pleats, tucks, inse
rts, gathers.

 The Decorative designs include surface

embellishments done on fabric used for
designing like embroidery, applique, quilting,
trims like tassels, fringes etc.

 All these are added keeping in mind the

type of fabric, simplicity or complexity of the
garment, functionality of the garment etc.
 10.Unity & proportion
 Proportion refers to the relationship
of the various components of a
garment and size or scale of the
garment in relation to the size of the
wearer and to each other.

 Unity is the way in which all of the

elements of fashion design like
proportion, balance, rhythm,
emphasis all come together and
enhance each other.
 
 As important as all these things are,
there is one thing which shapes the
ultimate design – the fashion style
that is popular and in demand among
the customers you serve.