The Elements of Design Fashion’s Building Blocks HNC3O Chapter 10 Ms. Pannell

Objectives Determining body, shape and size Elements of design Principles of design Using design elements and principles

Shape and Size Frame: skeletal structure of the bones small, medium, large Size Ratio between upper and lower body Geometric shape Triangle (narrow shoulders, wide hips) Inverted Triangle (wide shoulders, narrow hips) Rectangle (about the same width shoulders, waist and hips) Hour-glass (same at chest and hips, narrow at waist)

Shape and Size

Whatever your body height, shape, and size may be, clothing can change your appearance with design illusions

+ = Good Design What is good design? Balance Colour Proportion Line Shape Space Texture Balance Proportion Emphasis Rhythm Harmony Good Design + =

Colour Colour complementary analogous triadic monochromatic Split-complementary Accented neutral

Line – path and length Vertical lines Horizontal lines Diagonal lines

Line Divides areas into shapes and spaces Straight lines – crisp, formal, classic, conservative Curved lines – movement, casual Zigzags – excitement or drama Emphasize or minimize portions of a person’s body

Line Horizontal diagonal curved Straight Vertical

Lines and illusion V neck Vertical lines – lead the eye up and down giving the illusion of more height and less width Long unbroken lines Give feeling of strength, dignity, formality High collar

Lines and illusion Horizontal Lines – lead eyes from side to side giving the illusion of more width and less height Includes two piece outfits and bright belts Create a feeling of stability and restfulness

Lines and illusion Thickness of line and amount of space between also creates illusion Widely spaced vertical lines = appearance of more width – eyes move across lines Widely spaced horizontal lines = appearance of less width – eyes move up and down lines

Shape Outline that forms when one or more lines come together to enclose and area Most clothes fit 4 basic shapes: Natural: follows body outline Tubular: rectangular with a vertical emphasis Bell: both diagonal and horizontal lines combine to create bell shape Full: has more horizontal and curved lines than other shapes do

Shape Natural Tubular

Shape bell Full

Shape Fashion trends influence which shapes are in style during a fashion season

Space Space is the area inside a shape What goes on inside the space contributes to the visual effect of the garment How will the space be divided? What is the relationship between the spaces? What will go in the space?

Space Space too dull Too much activity in the space Good activity/interest in the space

Texture

Texture Shiny Smooth Rough or Nubby Dull or matte