Design Elements and Principles in Clothing

• Application of design elements and principles in clothing is important in fashion

Line

• Vertical lines give the impression of length and slimness
• People who want to look taller and more slender use vertical lines
• Horizontal lines add visual width
• Horizontal lines shorten the figure
• Horizontal lines emphasize what part of the body they are placed on
• Diagonal lines have a widening or lengthening effect, based on the slant
• Steeply slanted lines add length, while less slanted lines add width
• Curved lines emphasize body curves
• Curved lines create a sense of roundness to a thin figure

Colour

• Dark, low-to-medium colours decrease a person's size
• Bright and light colours can make a person appear heavier

Texture

• Texture defines how a surface looks and feels
• Clingy fabrics reveal body contours
• Stiff fabrics are ideal for covering figure irregularities
• Stiff fabrics can add bulk to larger people

Shapes

• Shapes improve figure proportions
• Example: narrow shoulders look wider with wide sleeves
• Broad hips will appear narrower if the hemline of the skirt flares out slightly

Figure Types

• Ideal female shape: hourglass
• Hips and bust are the same size
• Waist is well-defined
• Avoid horizontal lines, which may add too much width to the upper or lower body
• Avoid emphasizing either the top or bottom half
• One-piece outfits are recommended
• The ideal male figure has a well-proportioned body
• Ideal male body shape is a broad chest and shoulders, with a medium-to-narrow waist
• Upper torso is bigger than lower torso
• Men with ideal male body shape can wear anything, and may emphasize shoulder areas
• Inverted triangle female: A full bust with a slender waist, and narrow hips
• Wear long V-necklines, skirts and trousers in bright colours with vertical lines or pleats to draw attention away from upper body
• Minimize upper body by using cool and dull colours
• Emphasize lower body by adding detail to pants and skirts
• Inverted triangle male: broad chest and shoulders, narrow waist and hips
• Upper body heavier than lower body
• Balance lower body to upper body by wearing trousers with straight or wide legs
• Rectangle female shape: shoulders, waist, hips and thighs are the same width
• Rectangle females lack a defined waistline
• Avoid tops that cut the figure at midpoint to avoid reinforcing a square silhouette
• Emphasize a part of the body other than the waist; avoid belts
• Rectangle male shape: chest, hips and waist are about the same width
• Men should emphasize their upper bodies and choose styles to emphasize the shoulders
• Pear or triangle female shape: narrower bust line than hipline
• Small waist and full thighs
• Use horizontal lines above the waist and shoulder pads to create width
• Tops should end above the fullest part of the hips or below the crotch
• Triangle male shape: bottom-heavy, chest is narrower than hips
• Must create the appearance of broader, squarer shoulders
• Apply formal balance, for example wear long double-breasted jackets that end below the hips
• Oval or apple shape female : large bust, large tummy and wide hips
• Draw attention upwards towards the shoulders and face
• Create unbroken vertical lines
• Wear tops and bottoms in the same colour

Design principles

• Balance means two sides on either side of the centre line have the same visual weight (vertical balance)
• If the outfit is neither top-heavy or bottom-heavy, it has horizontal balance
• In formal balance the two sides on either side of the central point are identical
• Evaluate shape, width, length colour and texture of each garment for its visual effect on the body
• In informal balance the two halves on either side of the centre point are not identical but balance each other visually
• Informal balance is more interesting because it is not predictable
• Radial symmetry has a central focal point with other elements radiating from or around it
• Rhythm links the parts of a design
• Rhythm lets the eye move smoothly from one feature to the next
• Rhythm is achieved by repeating lines, colours and shapes, or a gradual change in colour, size or shape
• Proportion is the division of space in clothing
• Length of garments should form a pleasing relationship with the height of the wearer
• Unequal proportions are more pleasing to the eye than equal proportions
• Consider the relative size of belts, pockets, buttons, etc.
• Emphasis causes your eye to focus on an important part of the design
• Gain attention to your most attractive characteristic with emphasis
• A design has harmony when all the components look as if they belong together
• Each detail of the outfit, including garments, accessories, make-up and hairstyle create a feeling of unity