Design Elements, Principles Color

1.
1 INTRODUCTION
Fashion in the narrow sense of the world means the changing form of clothing. These
originate from peoples need to be adorned and admired nut also allow the opportunity to enhance
personal style or indicate a position in society. Fashion is not the only consideration in
developing a garment for a market. The overall appearance (style) as well as the utility value
(fitness for purpose, aftercare) also have.
Here we studied about introductory concept of fashion, fashion terms and fashion
forecasting. In this lesion we will go through another important function of fashion cycle,
classification of fashion and fashion shows.
1.2 FASHION
Fashion is a term that usually applies to a prevailing mode of expression, but quite often
applies to a personal mode of expression that may or may not apply to all. Inherent in the term is
the idea that the mode will change more quickly than the culture as a whole. The terms
"fashionable" and "unfashionable" are employed to describe whether someone or something fits
in with the current popular mode of expression. The term "fashion" is frequently used in a
positive sense, as a synonym for glamour and style. In this sense, fashions are a sort of
communal art, through which a culture examines its notions of beauty and goodness.
1.2.1 FASHION DESIGN TERMS
· A fashion designer conceives garment combinations of line, proportion, color, and
texture. He or she may or may not know how to sew or make patterns. Formal training is
always essential, yet most fashion designers are formally trained (apprenticed) and
schooled.
· A pattern maker drafts the shapes and sizes of a garment's pieces with paper and
measuring tools, and, some times, an AutoCAD computer software program, or by
draping muslin on a dress form, the original way. The resulting pattern pieces must
compose the intended design of the garment and they must fit the intended wearer.
Formal training is essential for working as a pattern marker.
· A tailor makes custom designed garments made to the client's measure; suits (coat and
trousers, jacket and skirt, et cetera).
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· A textile designer designs fabric weaves and prints for clothes and furnishings. Most
textile designers are formally trained as apprentices and in school.
· A stylist is the person who co-ordinates the clothes, jewelry, and accessories used in
fashion photography and catwalk presentations of clothes collections. A stylist also is a
designer whose designs are based upon extant things, trends, and the collections of other
designers.
· A buyer orders stocks of clothes for shops, chain stores, and other types of stores. Most
fashion buyers are trained in business studies.
· A seamstress sews seams wither manually or with a sewing machine, either in a garment
shop or as a sewing machine operator in a factory. She (or he) may not have the skills to
make (design and cut) the garments, or to fit them on a model. A seamstress is not
synonymous with dressmaker.
· A teacher of fashion design teaches the art and craft of fashion in art schools and in
fashion design school.
· A custom clothier makes custom-made garments to order, for a given customer.
· A dressmaker specializes in custom-made women's clothes: day, cocktail, and evening
dresses, business clothes and suits, trousseaus, sports clothes, and lingerie.
· An illustrator draws and paints clothes for commercial use.
· A model wears and displays clothes at fashion shows and in photographs.
· A fashion journalist writes fashion articles describing the garments presented, for
magazines or newspapers.
· An alterations specialist (alterationist) adjusts the fit of completed garments, usually
ready-to-wear, and sometimes re-styles them. NOTE: despite tailors altering garments to
fit the client, not all alterationists are tailors.
· A wardrobe consultant or fashion advisor recommends styles and colors that are flattering
to the client.
· A photographer photographs the clothes on fashion models for use in magazines,
newspapers, or adverts.
1.2.2 AREAS OF FASHION
Fashions are social phenomena common to many fields of human activity and thinking.
The rises and falls of fashions have been especially documented and examined in the following
fields:
· Architecture, interior design, and landscape design
· Arts and crafts
· Body type, clothing or costume, cosmetics, grooming, hair style, and personal
adornment
· Dance and music
· Forms of address, slang, and other forms of speech
· Economics and spending choices, as studied in behavioral finance
· Entertainment, games, hobbies, sports, and other pastimes
· Etiquette
· Management, management styles and ways of organizing
· Politics and media, especially the topics of conversation encouraged by the media
· Philosophy and spirituality (One might argue that religion is prone to fashions, although
official religions tend to change so slowly that the term cultural shift is perhaps more
appropriate than "fashion")
· Social networks and the diffusion of representations and practices
· Sociology and the meaning of clothing for identity-building
· Technology, such as the choice of programming techniques
Of these fields, costume especially has become so linked in the public eye with the term
"fashion". The more general term "costume" has been relegated by many to only mean fancy
dress or masquerade wear, while the term "fashion" means clothing generally, and the study of
it. This linguistic switch is due to the so-called fashion plates which were produced during the
Industrial Revolution, showing novel ways to use new textiles. For a broad cross-cultural look at
clothing and its place in society, refer to the entries for clothing and costume.
1.2.3 FASHION FLOW CHART
1.2.4 FASHION IN CLOTHS
Fashion in clothes has allowed wearers to express emotion or solidarity with other people
for millennia. Modern Westerners have a wide choice available in the selection of their clothes.
What a person chooses to wear can reflect that person's personality or likes. When people who
have cultural status start to wear new or different clothes a fashion trend may start. People who
like or respect them may start to wear clothes of a similar style.
Fashions may vary significantly within a society according to age, social class,
generation, occupation and geography as well as over time. If, for example, an older person
dresses according to the fashion of young people, he or she may look ridiculous in the eyes of
both young and older people. The terms " fashionista" or "fashion victim" refer to someone who
slavishly follows the current fashions (implementations of fashion).
1.3. CLASSIFICATION OF FASHION
The duration of fashion’s importance is a critical fashion designers or manufactures
concern. A fashion can be brief or of long duration. Once having identified this characteristic, a
designer is in a position to assess a fashions importance to the retail inventory.
Fashion is classified into many types, such as:
Ø Style
Ø Basic or classic
Ø Fad
Ø Fashion Forecasting
Ø Trends
1.3.1 STYLE
Style is always constant. It does not change whereas fashion changes. It is not constant. It is
the modification of fashion. Style is the basic outline of any garment. When we ass a different
neckline and different sleeves with some trimming here and there over a basic garment then the
basic garment is modified into a different look or a different outfit, this modification ferment will
become fashion, when it is accepted by people.
The term style is a popular word in fashion and refers to a sub-division within fashion. By
definition, it is that which has certain characteristics that distinguish it from other designs. For
example, the fashion could be pleated skirt, yet the style is box pleat. It is a common fallacy to
believe that the famous designers create fashions. They create styles which they hope will be
accepted. When and if there is consumer support the style then becomes fashion. It is repetitious
but important to stress that fashion is synonymous with acceptance.

1.3.2 BASIC OR CLASSICS
When a fashion is constant or long lasting, such as, salwar kameez and saree, it is called
Basic or Classic. It is similar to a standard music. The salwar kameez and saree are part of
fashion scene. A customer has one or more in her wardrobe, to be worn to suit different
occasions. In certain times, the basic becomes the most important promotable fashion, but, in or
out, they remain as a part of the fashion secne. Threre are many outfits that fall into this
classification, such as, chudidhar, kurta, dupattas, shirt and trousers, plain or pleated skirts and
denims, etc. there are general fashions that lasts for years, such as, the saree, the single breasted
men’s suit
Basics or Classics are the outfits which stays in the fashion scene for a long period of time
that is from past to present and even in future it stands
When we watch old movies as well as the new movies which are released just, we can see
the saris and salwar kameez worn in it may be with a slight change or modification accordingly.
1.3.3 FAD
A Fad is something which can either make a designer’s life more interesting or tenser. Very
often something appears on the fashion scene tat captures the imagination, only to fizzle out in
short duration.
Overall, Fad can be defined as short lived fashion, lasting for a very little time or period,
acceptable by only a certain group of people. For example, hippies – their clothing, accessories,
hairstyles, etc.
As Fad is short lived fashion, it stays for a very short period, because they are very costly
and every one cannot afford to buy it. For example, dhoti salwar, tube shirts and so on.
A fashion expert is a selection for consumers – selecting what is more likely to be accepted
going overboard for short lived fashion – Fad can be costly
1.3.4 FASHION FORECASTING
This is the important part of fashion scenario because when any new garment is designed by
the designer and worn, it will not create fashion by itself. It needs the media to spread fashion
and this media which spread fashion and gets the fame and name to the designers is Fashion
Forecasting.
Fashion Forecasting is done through many communicating media, such as, cinema, fashion
shows, press, magazines, newspapers and window display.
It includes
· Market research
· Consumer research
o Surveys
o Consumer focus groups
o In-store informal interviews
· Shopping
· Sales Records
· Evaluating the collections
· Fashion Trends
· Trend for Target Markets
Fashion Forecasting is done where crowd is formed in such occasion, so that it can create
fashion.
1.3.5 TRENDS
Fashion trends are the styling ideas that major collections have in common. They indicate
the direction in which fashion is moving. Fashion forecasters look for the styles they think are
prophetic, ideas that capture the mood of the times and signal a new fashion trend.
Several designers may use a similar fashion idea because they have been inspired by
common sources. The trend may appear in a fabrication, a silhouette, or another design element
that appears in several collections. Very often, a new trend appears in small doses until it spreads
to other collections. As the press notices similarities between collections and highlights them, the
media exposure also helps establish the trends.
Evaluating the collections becomes one way a designer, working for a mainstream
manufacturer, can research fashion direction. As designers are not invited to the shows, they
must evaluate by shopping in major fashion capitals or using design services, magazines, and
newspapers.
For retail buyers, it is becoming a huge challenge to figure out which trends will become
fashion basics, like capris, and which are only fads, such as pony prints. Buyers have to become
very flexible in their buying patterns and cautious about inventory management. If the market
becomes flooded with a new trend, consumers may react negatively to the overexposure.
Empowered by the Internet and television, global trends are moving at an accelerating pace.
The life-span of a trend is now about five months instead of a year. For the junior market, the
span is only three months.
1.4 CHIC
Chic is a French word, established in English since at least the 1870s, that has come to
mean smart or stylish. Over the years "chic" has been applied to, among other things, social
events, situations, individuals, and modes or styles of dress. Recurring generic terms included
designer chic (associated with the styles of particular coutouriers - the 1980s became known as
the "designer decade") and retro-chic (adopting elements of fashion from the past: e.g. "Victorian
chic", "sixties chic", "Georgian chic", "1920s Riviera chic"
1.5 COSTUME MADE:
The elaborate detail and intricate and dressmaking at that time required an enormous
amount of painstaking hand labor. All clothes were not only hand make but also custom-made.
Each garment was made to fit the customer’s exact measurements. Dresses and suits were
individually sewn by dressmakers or tailors to their employers specifications. The identities of
personal dressmakers were secrets guarded by the wealthy. No one wanted to share the talents of
clever dressmakers for fear of losing them.
1.6 COLLECTION
Each season, the design and merchandising departments of each division are responsible for
creating a new line, the seasonal collection that the manufacturer will sell to retail store buyers.
The terms are synonymous: Collection is used primarily in Europe and for high-period apparel in
the United States. Line is used more often in the United States for moderately and popularly
priced fashion.
1.7 MANNEQUINS
Mannequins change with fashion trends and are made in the image of the current ideal of
beauty. For elegant fashion, perfectly coiffed, traditional life-like Mannequins are preferred.
However, they are very expensive to buy and to maintain. To save money, many stores have
replaced them with less expensive papier-mâché torsos or unpainted “Mannequins alternatives.”
1.8 FASHION SHOWS:
Fashion shows are special events that communicate a fashion story. The selection and
organization of the fashions and model bookings may be done by the fashion office, whereas
invitations and other arrangements may be handled by the special events department. There are
four possible ways to organize these presentations: formal shows, department shows, designer
trunk shows, or informal modeling.
1.8.1 FORMAL FASHION SHOWS
Formal fashion shows take a great deal of advance planning involving booking models and
fittings and arranging for a runway, scenery, lighting, microphones, music, seating, and
assistants. Clothes are generally grouped according to styling, color, or other visual criteria.
Models and music are selected to complement the clothes and set a mood.
1.8.2 DESIGNER TRUNK SHOWS
Designer trunk shows are done in cooperation with a single vendor and are a popular way to
sell expensive collections. Invitations are sent to the best customers according to records kept by
sales associates. The designer or a representative travels from store to store with the collection,
which is usually shown on models in the designer collections department. Customers get to see
the entire collection unedited by a buyer and may order from the samples in their size. Although
some designers and retailers do 50 percent of their total business through trunk shows, others
find them time-consuming, exhausting work, and have given them up.
1.8.3 DEPARTMENT FASHION SHOWS
Department fashion shows, on a much smaller scale, are produced in store to generate
immediate sales. Usually, a platform is set up directly in the department that carries the clothes.
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1.8.4 INFORMAL FASHION SHOWS
Informal fashion shows are the easiest to produce. A few models walk through the store
showing the fashions that they are wearing to customers who are shopping or having lunch in the
store’s restaurant. The models can take their time, and customers enjoy asking them questions.
This is often done in conjunction with a trunk show or special promotion.

1.9 FASHION CYCLES
Consumers are exposed each season to a multitude of new styles created by designers.
Some are rejected immediately by the press or by the buyer on the retail level, but others are
accepted for a time, as demonstrated by consumers purchasing and wearing them.
The way in which fashion changes is usually described as a fashion cycle. It is difficult to
categorize or theorize about fashion without oversimplifying. Even so, the fashion cycle is
usually depicted as a bell shaped curve encompassing five stages: introduction, rise in popularity,
peak of popularity, decline in popularity, and rejection. The cycle can reflect the acceptance of a
single style from one designer or a general style such as the miniskirt.
1. Introduction of a style:
Designers interpret their research and creative ideas into appeal or accessories and then
offer the new styles to the public. Designers create new designs by changing elements such as
line, shape, color , fabric, and details and their relationship to one another. New creations
referred to as the “latest fashions” may not yet be accepted by anyone. At this first stage of the
cycle, fashion implies only style and newness.
Most new styles are introduced at a high price level. Designers who are globally respected
for their talent may be given financial backing and be allowed to design with very few
limitations on creativity, quality of raw materials, or amount of fine workmanship. Naturally,
production costs are high, and only a few people can afford the resulting garments. Production
in small quantities gives a designer more freedom, flexibility, and room for creativity.
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2. Increase in popularity:
If a new style is purchased, worn, and seen by many people, it may attract the attention of
buyers, the press, and the public. In self-defense, most couture and high – priced designers now
have secondary bridge and or diffusion lines that sell at lower prices, so that they can sell their
designs in greater quantities.
The popularity of a style may further increase through copying and adaptation. Some
designers or stylists may modify a popular style to suit the needs and price range of their own
customers. Some manufacturers may copy it with less expensive fabric and less detail it order to
all the style at lower prices.

3. Peak of popularity:
When a fashion is at the height of its popularity, it may be in such demand that many
manufacturers copy it or produce adaptations of it at many price levels. Some designers are
flattered by copying and others are resentful. There is very fine line between adaptations and
knockoffs.
Volume production requires a likelihood of mass acceptance. Therefore, volume
manufacturers carefully study sales trends because their customers want clothes that are in the
mainstream of fashion.
4. Decline in popularity:
Eventually, so many copies are mass produced that fashion –conscious people tire of the
style and begin to look for something new. Consumers still wear garments in the style, but they
are no longer willing to buy them at regular prices. Retail stores put such declining styles on sale
racks, hoping to make room for new merchandise.
5. Rejection of a style or obsolescence:
In the last phase of the fashion cycle, some consumers have already turned to new looks,
thus beginning a new cycle. The rejection or discarding of a style just because it is out of fashion
is called consumer obsolescence. As early as 1600, Shakespeare wrote that “fashion wears out
more apparel than the man”.
1.9.1 LENGTH OF CYCLES
Although all fashions follow the same cyclical pattern, there is no measurable timetable for
a fashion cycle. Some fashions take a short time to peak in popularity, others take longer; some
decline slowly, other swiftly. Some last a single selling season, others last several seasons.
Certain fashions fade quickly; others never completely disappear.
1. Classics:
Some styles never become completely obsolete, but instead remain more or less accepted
for an extended period. A classic is characterized by simplicity of design, which keeps it from
being easily dated. An example is the Chanel suit, which peaked in fashion in the paris, as well
as other manufacturers, have produced variations of these suits for a small, dedicated clientele.
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Other examples of classics include blazer jackets, twin sets, polo shirts, jeans, ballet flats, and
loafers.
2. Fads:
Short – lived fashions, or fads, can come and go in a single season. They lack the design
strength to hold consumer attention for very long. Fads usually affect only a narrow consumer
group, begin in lower price ranges, are relatively simple and inexpensive to copy and therefore
flood the market in a very short time. Because of market saturation, the public tires of them
quickly and they die out.
3. Cycles within Cycles:
Design elements (such as color, texture, silhouette, or detail) may change even though the
style itself remains popular. Jeans became a fashion item in the late 1960s and remained
classics. Therefore, their fashion cycle was very long. However, various jean silhouettes –
including bell and baggy – came and went during that time.
4. Interrupted Cycles:
Consumer buying is often halted prematurely because manufacturers and retailers no longer
wish to risk producing or stocking merchandise that will soon decline in popularity. This is
obvious to consumers who try to buy summer clothes in August.
Sometimes the normal progress of a fashion cycle is interrupted or prolonged by social
upheaval, economic depression, or war. Consider the large shouldered, wedge shaped silhouette
in women’s fashion which began in the 1930s. Because people were concerned with things more
important than fashion during World War II, the same silhouette continued, without the normally
expected decline, for the duration of the war. The new look of 1947 with its sloping shoulders
tiny waists and longer skirts was a radical change because the old cycle had been unnaturally
prolonged.
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5. Recurring Cycles:
After a fashion dies, it may resurface. Designers often borrow ideas from the past. When
a style reappears years later, it is reinterpreted for a new time, a silhouette or proportion may
recur, but it is interpreted with a change in fabric and detail. Nothing is ever exactly the same –
yet nothing is totally new. As the century and millennium draw to a close, designers are showing
many nostalgic looks of the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and even the 1980s. However, the use
of different fabrics, colors, and details make the looks unique to the turn of the century.
1. 10 LET US SUM UP
In this lesson we have learned how fashion get importance in our field, the area of fashion
and the fashion flowchart. The classification of fashion gives the concept and idea has to be
follow for the designer. We have also seen the trends for the fashion and fashion forecasting
techniques. In this lesson the concept of fashion shows are explained with its types.
1.11 LESSON END ACTIVITIES
The students may do the following activities based on this lesson.
Ø Interact with boutique shop owners and fashion designers
Ø Analyze how to conduct the fashion shows
Ø Forecast the upcoming fashions
1.12 POINT FOR DISCUSSION
Here the students are asked to discuss about the following points
Ø Discuss the growth and importance of fashion
Ø Analyze the life time of particular fashion
1.13 REFERENCES:
Ø The art and everyday life
Ø Elements of fashion and apparel designing, by Sumathi G.J., New Age International Pvt.
L.t.d..
Ø Inside the fashion business, by Macmillan publication company
Ø Fashion from concept to consumer, by Cini stephens Frings, Low price edition
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LESSON – 2: FASHION PRODUCERS
CONTENTS
2.0 AIM AND OBJECTIVES
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.2 THE COUTURIER
2.3 HAUTE COUTURE
2.4 PRÊT-À-PORTE
2.5 FASHION DIRECTION

2.6 FASHION EDITORS
2.7 LINE
2.8 KNOCKOFFS
2.9 AVANT GRADE
2.10 BRIDGE
2.11 BUYING HOUSE
2.11.1 International Buying Houses:
2.12 MERCHANDISING
2.12.1 Scheduling
2.12.2 Seasons
2.12.3 The Merchandise Plan
2.13 LET US SUM UP
2.15 POINTS FOR DISCUSSION
2.16 REFERANCES
After going through this unit, you should be able to have a clear idea of the following
Ø What is Couture and haute couture?
Ø Fashion Direction and Fashion Editors
Ø Define the basic functions of Line & Knockoffs
Ø Concept of Buying House
Ø Different function of Merchandising
2.1 INTRODUCTION
The early lesson we have studied the fashion and its corresponding terms with necessary
types. In this lesson we will study the fashion management and merchandising.
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The fashion management gives an idea about fashion direction and fashion editors. The
term buying house is still used in the industry; its role has greatly explained to fill a wide variety
of functions. The two primary type of buying house are indicated here.
In merchandising we are going to cover the merchandising scheduling, season and the plan
to be executed.
2.2 THE COUTURIER
“Fashion is a very important economic sector for our country, and couture is the flagship of
French fashion”, explained Dominique Strauss-Khan, the former French minister of industry.
Couture is simply the French word for fine, custom dress design, made to measure for a
particular customer. A couturier is a make couture designer; a couturiere is his female
counterpart.
The couturier Charles Frederick Worth ( October 13, 1826– March 10, 1895), is widely
considered the father of haute couture as it is known today. Although born in Bourne,
Lincolnshire, England, Worth made his mark in the French fashion industry. While he created
one-of-a-kind designs to please some of his titled or wealthy customers, he is best known for
preparing a portfolio of designs that were shown on live models at the House of Worth. Clients
selected one model, specified colors and fabrics, and had a duplicate garment tailor-made in
Worth's workshop. Worth combined individual tailoring with standardization more characteristic
of the ready-to-wear clothing industry, which was also developing during this period.
2.3 HAUTE COUTURE
Haute couture the type of fashion design which predominated until the 1950s was "madeto-
measure" or haute couture, ( French for high needlework). The term made-to-measure may be
used for any garment that is created for a specific client. Haute couture, however, is a protected
term which can only be officially used by companies that meet certain well-defined standards set
by the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture. Nonetheless, many ready-to-wear, and even mass
market labels, claim to produce haute couture, when in fact, according to established standards,
they do not. A couture garment is made to order for an individual customer, and is usually made
from high-quality, expensive fabric, sewn with extreme attention to detail and finish, often using
time-consuming, hand-executed techniques. Look and fit take priority over the cost of materials
and the time it takes to make
The term can refer to:
· The fashion houses or fashion designers that create exclusive and often trend-setting
fashions
· The fashions created

Haute couture is made to order for a specific customer, and it is usually made from highquality,
expensive fabric and sewn with extreme attention to detail and finish, often using timeconsuming,
hand-executed techniques
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2.4 PRÊT-À-PORTE
However, the term haute couture has been misused by successive ready-to-wear brands and
high street labels since the late 1980s so that its true meaning has become blurred with that of
prêt-a-porter (the French term for ready-to-wear fashion) in the public perception. Every haute
couture house also markets prêt-à-porter collections, which typically deliver a higher return on
investment than their custom clothing. In fact, much of the haute couture displayed at fashion
shows today is rarely sold; it is created to enhance the prestige of the house. Falling revenues
have forced a few couture houses to abandon their less profitable couture division and
concentrate solely on the less prestigious prêt-à-porter. These houses, such as Italian designer
Antonio Capucci, all of whom have their workshops in Italy, are no longer considered haute
couture.
Many top designer fashion houses also use the word for some of their collections.
2.5 FASHION DIRECTION:
Fashion direction is established to maintain cohesive fashion merchandising in line with a
distinctive store image. In single-unit stores, the owner usually acts as fashion director and
buyer. In large stores or chains, management may employ a fashion director. The fashion
director is the bridge between corporate marketing policy and actual merchandise-buying
decisions. He or she works with merchandise managers, buyers, and promotion executives to
suggest what merchandise to choose and how to present it.
Along with management and designer collection buyers, the fashion director may attend
European and American collection openings to study fashion trends. These trends are analyzed in
relation to the store’s image, and this information is passed on to buyers as a guide to
merchandise planning and advertising. The fashion director may also work with buyers to select
appropriate merchandise, to develop the store’s private label, and to coordinate their buys with
merchandise in other departments. A fashion director also prepares seasonal fashion
presentations for sales associates so that they can understand the new fashion concepts and the
store’s merchandising approach and, therefore, better help their customers.

2.6 FASHION EDITORS:
The role of the fashion editors is to educate the public, to provide fashion information from
all phases of the industry in all parts of the world; to make the industry or the consumer aware of
all that is available; and to help the consumer make wise and suitable styling and/or buying
decisions.
Fashion editors, together with journalists, stylists, and photographers, act as the eyes and
ears of the consumer. They let the nation or the community know where to find the fashions that
are currently on the market, and they report on how new fashions should be worn and
accessorized.
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The fashion editors of prominent newspapers and fashion magazines attend the collection
openings, take notes on what they like best, and report on what directions they believe are
important they may request sketches or photographs of their favorite garments to use in their
articles.
In between openings, fashion editors write articles on topics that they think are noteworthy.
They sift through the news releases that come into their offices to help them write a story.
Editors may ask to borrow samples for simply use a photo sent to them in a publicity release.
Sometimes sketched illustrations are used, depending on the mood or effect to be achieved.
Garment and fabric descriptions may be included as well as a list of stores that carry the
merchandise described in the article.
2.7 LINE
Fig 2.1
After selecting the fabric, the designer must consider the other elements of good design. In
this section, the term line refers to the direction of visual interest in a garment created by
construction details such as seams, openings, pleats, gathers, tucks, topstitching, and trims. (It is
confusing that the apparel industry also uses the term line to refer to a collection of garments.)
Line direction (Fig 2.1) should flow from one part of the garment to another and should not be
meaninglessly cut up.
Fig 2.2
Straight lines (Fig 2.2) suggest crispness, such as that of tailored garments; curved lines
imply fluidity. However, a garment designed with only straight lines is too severe; a garment
with all curves is too unstable. For optimal beauty, the two should work together. Straight lines
are softened by the curves of the body, and full curves must be restrained to be compatible with
the human form.
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2.8 KNOCKOFFS
A knockoff is a copy of someone else’s design, usually a garment that is already a bestseller for
another manufacturer. Knockoff companies simply buy a particular garment, make a
pattern from it, order large quantities of the same or similar fabric, and have the garment
manufactured. Production and fabric costs are lower because of the huge quantities made.
The knockoff producer must have:
(1) An acute awareness of what garments are selling well at the retail level,
(2) Rapid production capabilities to capitalize on the success of the style while it lasts,
(3) Lower prices. Now, in and age of instant global communications, copies often reach
stores before the originals and at a fraction of the cost.
2.9 AVANT GRADE:
Some fashion leaders actually create fashion. They may be designers themselves or just
want to express their own individual style. These fashion leaders constantly look for interesting
new styles, colors, fabrics, and ways to accessorize their clothes. They try to find unique fashion
in small boutiques or vintage clothing stores, or they design their own clothes. They are
discerning shoppers who like to wear beautiful or unusual apparel. They may give impetus to a
certain style by discovering and wearing it. They may be referred to as avant grade.
2.10 BRIDGE:
This styling and price range was created to give consumers a less expensive alternative to
designer fashion. Bridge is simply a step down in price from designer, achieved by using less
expensive fabric or different production methods. Some designers have secondary lines such as
CK from Calvin Klein, Donna Karan’s DKNY, Versus from Versace, or Emporio from Armani.
Other collections, such as Ellen Tracy or Dana Buchman, cater specially to the bridge market.
2.11 BUYING HOUSE:
Although the term buying house is still used in the industry, its role has greatly expanded to
fill a wide variety of functions. The two primary type of buying house are independent and store
owned.
§ An associated buying house is jointly owned and operated by a group of stores. Member
stores usually have similar sales volume, store policies, and target customers but are in no
competing locations. Operating expenses are allocated to each member store on the basis
of the store’s sales volume and the amount of services rendered. Associated
Merchandising Corporation (AMC) is a well-known example.
§ A corporate buying house is owned and operated by the parent organization of a group
or chain of stores. At Federated Department Stores, 70 percent of the buying for member
stores is done centrally by the percent company, while the other 30 percent is done by
individual member stores.
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2.11.1 INTERNATIONAL BUYING HOUSES:
Many large retail stores have their own buying house abroad or use foreign
commissionaires, agents representing stores in foreign market centers. These offices are
equipped to handle import-export transactions in the language of the country, check quality
control, figure currency exchange rates, provide a consolidated center for shipping, and wade
through customs red tape.
2.12 MERCHANDISING:
Merchandising is planning to have the right merchandise at the right time in the right quality
and at the right price to meet the needs of the company’s target customers. It is also the manner
in which a group or line of garments is presented to the public; the way the line will look in the
stores.
The merchandiser or product manager is basically a process manager, developing the
blueprint of the line. Merchandising activities, which vary from company to company, usually
include setting financial goals, budgets, and price points; making the merchandising plans;
planning line size; planning fabric purchases; sourcing; scheduling production and deliveries;
controlling product flow; presenting the finished line to the sales staff; and sometimes
preplanning assortments for stores.
2.12.1 SCHEDULING:
Merchandising is responsible for integrating all the phases of product development,
including design and production. The merchandiser, or product manger, sets up a schedule of
deadlines for styling, finished samples, and production to meet the required shipping dates.
These dates are, of course, co-ordinate with the production department. Merchandisers meet
regularly with designers, the sales staff, and production managers to discuss company goals,
budget requirements, line size, delivery dates, sizes, and so on.
2.12.2 SEASONS:
Each season, the design and merchandising departments of each division are responsible for
creating a new line, the seasonal collection that the manufacturer will sell to retail store buyers.
The terms are synonymous: Collection is used primarily in Europe and for high-period apparel in
the United States. Line is used more often in the United States for moderately and popularly
priced fashion.
Work on a new line begins approximately eight months before the selling season (a velvet
dress to be worn in December must be designed in May).
Designers and merchandisers also work on two or more lines at once, designing a future
collection while checking samples from one that is about to be produced. They are finished work
on the spring line while beginning fabric research for summer. It is a continual process of
creating new merchandise, a “seamless” product development.
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2.12.3 THE MERCHANDISE PLAN:
Each season, merchandisers have to develop a merchandise plan or business plan. They
must decide how many apparel or accessory groups are needed to meet both the demands of
retailers and consumers and the financial goals of the manufacturer. The previous year’s actual
sales are used as a basis for projected sales goals for each group. Spreadsheets are created to
show what needs to be produced and sold per month to reach sales and profit goals.
The merchandiser has to determine the number of groups, fabrics, and styles required to
meet those sales goals.
2.13 LET US SUM UP
In this lesson we looked the different types of buying houses and the role of buying house in
the field of fashion. Then we studied the concept of fashion merchandising and its role in fashion
field. In connection to fashion direction and fashion editor the fashion merchandising play a vital
role.
The line gave great idea to the new designer to create their own design based fabric grain,
the way of design selection and the method of design formation.
The students may do the following activities based on this lesson
Ø Interact with the field persons like merchandisers
Ø Go through the history and developments of fashion
Ø The role of merchandisers
Ø Setting a buying house
2.16 REFERENCES:
Ø Fashion sketching book, by Bina Abling, Fai child publication.
L.t.d..
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LESSON – 3: FASHION DESIGNING & ACCESSORIES
CONTENTS
3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.2 FASHION DESIGN
3.2.1 Designing a collection
3.2.2 Designing a garment
3.2.3 Areas of work
3.2.4 Areas of fashion design
3.3 ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

3.3.1 Line
3.3.2 Shapes
3.3.3 Space
3.3.4 Colour and Texture
3.4 TYPES OF DESIGN
3.5 TRIMMINI AND DECORATION
3.6 FASHION ACCESSORIES
3.6.1 Footwear
3.6.1.1 Design and product development
3.6.2 Handbags
3.6.3 Hats
3.6.4 Ties
3.7 LET US SUM UP
3.10 REFERANCES
Ø To summaries the principles of fashion designing.
Ø Describe the various activity of fashion designing and the elements of designing.
Ø Analysis the fashion accessories like hats, bags, foot wear and ties
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3.1 INTRODUCTION
You have come across the word “Design and designers” very often. You always wanted to
know about the design professionals. Dress, therefore, is only one of the forms in which fashion
finds expression. There are countless creators of form, or design.
Design is concerned with how needs are identified, related and in some cases stimulated. It
affects the ways in which our materials, energy, skills and other resources are employed to
satisfy them fully, it calls upon enterprise and enthusiasm, inventiveness and ingenuity, scientific
discovery and technical knowledge, power of visualization together with knowledge of human
capabilities and aesthetic sensibility.
Creating or styling the appearance of a person with reference to clothing, accessories and
beauty in corresponding with the personality of any individual is fashion designing.
3.2 FASHION DESIGN
Fashion design is the applied art dedicated to the design of clothing and lifestyle
accessories created within the cultural and social influences of a specific time.
Fashion design differs from costume design due to its core product having a built in
obsolescence usually of one to two seasons. A season is defined as either autumn/ winter or
spring/ summer. Fashion design is generally considered to have started in the 19th century with
Charles Frederick Worth who was the first person to sew their label into the garments that they
created.
3.2.1 DESIGNING A COLLECTION
· Planning a collection: Every collection is very carefully researched and planned so that
all the items in it complement each other, and have the particular fashion look which the
company is known for.
· Predicting trends: One of the hardest skills a fashion designer has to master is predicting
future trends. To do this, they look at what the fashion directions have been in previous
seasons, keep an eye on what others in the fashion business are doing, and read fashion
forecasting magazines. They also rely on knowledge of their own customers to see which
styles succeeded and which were less popular in past seasons. Perhaps most importantly,
designers use their imaginations to come up with new ideas. They often choose a theme
to provide inspiration.
· Choosing a theme: The theme of a collection can be a period in history, a foreign place, a
range of colors, and a type of fabric - anything which has a strong visual impact.
3.2.2 DESIGNING A GARMENT
· The design: Different designers work in different ways. Some sketch their ideas on paper,
others drape fabric on a dress stand, pinning, folding and tucking it until the idea for a
garment emerges. A third method is to adapt their own patterns from previous seasons
(this method can give continuity to a fashion studio's output).

· Making a toile or muslin: After making a rough paper pattern, or life-size 2-D plan, of
the garment, a sample machinist (or skilled sewing machine operator) then makes a trial
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version of the garment from plain-colored calico. The toile (called a muslin in the U.S.)
is put on to a dress stand (or a model) to see how it fits and whether it hangs properly.
· Making a card pattern: When the designer is completely satisfied with the fit of the toile
(or muslin), they show it to a professional pattern maker who then makes the finished,
working version of the pattern out of card. The pattern maker's job is very precise and
painstaking. The fit of the finished garment depends on their accuracy.
· The finished dress: Finally, a sample garment is made up in the proper fabric.
3.2.3 AREAS OF WORK
There are three main ways in which designers can work:
· Working freelance: Freelance designers work for themselves. They sell their work to
fashion houses, direct to shops, or to clothing manufacturers. The garments bear the
buyer's label.
· Working In-house: In-house designers are employed full-time by one Fashion Company.
Their designs are the property of that company, and cannot be sold to anyone else.
· Setting up a company: Fashion designers often set up their own companies. Many
designers find this more satisfying than working for someone else, as their designs are
sold under their own label.
3.2.4 AREAS OF FASHION DESIGN
Many professional fashion designers start off by specializing in a particular area of fashion.
The smaller and the more specific the market, the more likely a company is to get the right look
and feel to their clothes. It is also easier to establish oneself in the fashion industry if a company
is known for one type of product, rather than several products. Once a fashion company becomes
established (that is, has regular buyers and is well-known by both the trade and the public), it
may decide to expand into a new area. If the firm has made a name for the clothes it already
produces, this helps to sell the new line. It is usually safest for a company to expand into an area
similar to the one it already knows. For example, a designer of women's sportswear might
expand into men's sportswear. The chart below shows the areas of many designers choose to
specialize in.
Area Brief Market
Women's Day wear Practical, comfortable, fashionable Haute couture, ready-to-wear, mass
market
Women's Evening
wear
Glamorous, sophisticated, apt for the
occasion
Haute couture, ready-to-wear, mass
market
Women's Lingerie Glamorous, comfortable, washable Haute Couture, ready-to-wear, mass
market
Men's Day wear Casual, practical, comfortable Tailoring, ready-to-wear, mass
market
Men's Evening wear Smart, elegant, formal, apt for the
occasion
Tailoring, ready-to-wear, mass
market
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Area Brief Market
Boys' Wear Practical, hard-wearing, washable,
inexpensive Ready-to-wear, mass market
Girls' Wear Pretty, colorful, practical, washable,
Teenage Wear Highly fashion-conscious, comfortable,
Sportswear Comfortable, practical, well-ventilated,
washable Ready-to-wear, mass market
Knitwear Right weight and color for the season Ready-to-wear, mass market
Outerwear Stylish, warm, right weight and color for

the season Ready-to-wear, mass market
Bridal wear Sumptuous, glamorous, classic Haute couture, ready-to-wear, mass
market
Accessories Striking, fashionable Haute couture, ready-to-wear, mass
market
3.3 ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
In creating a design one of the components which interact is the Art Elements
The elements and principles of design are flexible and should be interpreted within the
context of current fashion. A design can be defined as an arrangement of lines, shape, colours
and texture that create a visual image. The principles of design are the rates that govern how
elements are combined. The elements are therefore the raw materials that must be combined
successfully.
The following are the different elements of Design:
· Line
· Form
· Shape
· Texture and
· Colour
These elements are considered as “Plastics” in art language because they can be
manipulated or arranged by the designer to create desired illusions.
1.3.1 LINE
It provides the visual dimensions of length and width. When lines combine, space is
enclosed and forms and shapes are defined. Lines offered a path of vision for the eyes when is
wearing an object/outfit. The arrangement of lines in clothing design can cause to appear heavier
or thinner than what actually is
1. Horizontal line
2. Vertical line
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3. Oblique line
4. Diagonal line.
5. Curved line etc.
Lines within a garment are created by darts seams and decorative details. Each kind of line
produces its own special effect. Straight line’s and shapes denote force and strength and have a
masculine quality; curved lines are the lines of nature, they are gracefully and gives a feminine
effect.
Lines are the greatest devices of fashion designers. Since lines create illusion of height and
width, they can be used to one’s requirement to tone down or exaggerate a particular figure type.
1) Vertical line
In Fig 3.1 these produce an illusion of added height to the outfit design by adding and
contrasting coloured vertical bank in the centre or a centre panel added with vertical line gives an
added height to the outfit. These lines end to make a short person look tall.
Fig 3.1
These produce an illusion of added height to the outfit design by adding and contrasting
coloured vertical bank in the centre or a centre panel added with vertical line gives an added
height to the outfit. These lines end to make a short person look tall.
2) Horizontal lines
Fig 3.2
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These lines ( Fig 3.2) adds width to the garment and decrease the apparent height, for
example a wide contrasting coloured belt shortens the height of the figure by cutting the garment
into two segments, however the belt has the effect of slimming the waist line, the coloured will
not shorten the height of the outfit as well as the wearer.
3) Diagonal lines
These lines can add or decrease the height of the wearer depending on their slope. Long
uninterrupted diagonals tilting almost vertically are the most lengthening and most dramatic of
all lines.
Diagonal lines should be combined with vertical or horizontal lines. If they are used alone
for the entire dress the effect will be disturbing.
4) Curved lines
These lines are more romantic and pensive by nature. Curved lines can be a full circle or
may even appear almost straight. Curved lines are considered graceful and feminine; those in a
diagonal direction are the most graceful and can be seen in the soft folds of material in a draped
dress or a ruffled collar.
5) Line movements
The arrangement of vertical, horizontal and oblique lines produce line movements
characterized by opposition, transition or radiation.
6) Opposition
In a design where the vertical line is opposed by a horizontal line opposing oblique lines are
used.
7) Transition
When one line direction slips smoothly into another, the movement is transitional (e.g.,
curved lines). Curved lines should not be over done. They are at their best when stiffened by
some straight lines, example round yoke with vertical pin tucks within it.
8) Radiation
When a design is created with radiating lines at the neckline, it will attract attention to the
face. These radiating lines are produced by stitching decorative darts on the right side of the
garment.
9) Form
It is an object having three dimensions like length, width and depth.The human body is a
form and by viewing it analytically, its various perspectives are revealed. The human form
changes visually with clothing, especially as fashion changes.
3.3.2 Shapes
It describes the outer dimensions or contour of an object. Shape also encloses space and
imparts a certain character to the object viewed. Through clothing design, the shape of the
human body is often revealed in a natural way, but sometimes even distorted. The shape of
clothing in a human body, communicates silently, the messages about the wearer.
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Every fashion period, a shape emerges slowly or evolved suddenly, whatever it is, every
period has a specific shape of garment which once determined can be modified and re-styled fir
variation in design without changing the basic shape of the garment, it is either flare or tight,
circular or straight, a line or raglan. It has been observed that an easy fitting shape of the garment
is easily accepted and largely varies as well as has longevity of stay; where as a tight fitting
garment is generally short lived since it is suitable to only perfect figure types. It is therefore
advisable that the designer chooses an easy silhouette to keep on creating for a longer duration.
BASIC SHAPES
In dress designing there are seven basic shapes — each season adaptations of one or more
of these predominates the fashion picture. They are as follows:
Fig 3.3 Fig 3.4 Fig 3.5 Fig 3.6
Fig 3.7 Fig 3.8 Fig 3.9
1. Rectangle (Fig 3.3)
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Examples: Long, straight, hanging in loose, graceful folds, such as in Greek and Roman
styles; straight line sheaths; tailored suits. Styles with these lines are slenderizing and suitable for
the well proportioned, heavier woman.
2. Triangle (Fig 3.4)
Examples: Spanish styles. Fitted bodice, bell shaped gently widening skirt.
3. Inverted Triangle (Fig 3.5)
Examples: Wide shoulders, narrow skirt, dolman or raglan sleeves. Good fashion design
style for large bust.
4. Oval (Fig 3.6)
Examples: Draped and softly molded, very feminine and decorative. Good for well
proportioned, ideal figure. Suitable especially for afternoon and evening wear.
5. Square (Fig 3.7)
Examples: Straight or boat shaped neckline, boxy jackets, capes. Generally this style is very
good for the very thin figure, however, with proportions well planned and good design, can
camouflage various figure irregularities.
6. Round (Fig 3.8)
Examples: Wide, crinoline lined skirts, petal shapes, puffed sleeves. Suitable for formal
wear or afternoon frocks. This fashion design is the most attractive on the very young and the
very thin figure.
7. Hourglass (Fig 3.9)
Examples: Wide shoulders, leg of mutton sleeves. Natural or wasp waist.
Smooth fit over hips and full skirt at bottom. Good fashion design for the tall, thin figure.
8. Combinations
Examples: Outline of any current fashion silhouette can be altered and combined with
another, and adapted for the specific figure type. Thus irregularities or lack of ideal figure
proportions can be minimized while the general effect of current fashion design style is
preserved.
3.3.3 SPACE
It is generally considered to be the area seen between the shapes. Busy space in clothing
becomes distractive and fatiguing to view where an interesting space may go unnoticed or appear
monotonous.
Lines in a costume provide a path of vision along which the eye travels. Curving lines
relates more naturally to human bodies. Vertical lines tend to slenderize the body. Horizontal
lines suggest width.
Both repetition and extreme contrast of a line, shape, space or form produce emphasis.
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3.3.4 COLOUR AND TEXTURE
When we talk of principles of designing, or when we start off with a given design theme the
first thing to occur to our minds is the co lour and texture of the fabric. Every season or now and
then a co lour emerges in the fashion scene which is decided by the leading manufacturers,
exporters and textile experts of the fashion world. It is advisable to the amateur to work on the co
lour in vogue: and to add to its creativity, collaborate with a textile designer and develop a new
dimension to the existing patterns. To co-ordinate with an idea of creation will be infinite. Also
while choosing a co lour one must be utmost careful as co lour creates the first impression and
hence can glorify or destroy ones appearance. Even simple silhouette may be enhanced by using
effective co lour schemes. As texture is the feel, drape and degree of stiffens and softness of the
fabric, it also creates a visual effect upon the wearer, given a small swatch of fabric, the designer
can visualize the texture and the fall of fabric which helps him to design further.
3.4 TYPES OF DESIGN
There are two kinds of design.
1. Structural design
2. Decorative design
1. Structural design
When an objects structure is an integral part of the design is structural design. Structural
design is those that are made wide the size for colour, texture of an object. For eg: weaving
different kinds of weave as examples of structural design. Structural design details in a dress
include collar sleeves, yokes, pockets, skirts, position of seam lines etc.
Requirements of Good Structural Design:
Ø It should be suited to the purpose
Ø It should be simple.
Ø It should be well proportion
Ø It should be suited to the material with which it is made.
Ø It is far more importance than decorative design because it is essential to every object or
garment whereas decorative is the luxury of design.
Structural design depends on the form and fabric. It is also created by the construction
details as a design. It is inherit in all garments. Because it creates in construction details together
including seams, collars, pockets and texture of the fabric. Any detail that is an integral part of
the garment is a structural design. It may be very simple or to be very elaborate simple or to be
very elaborate.
The basic requirements of a good structural deign for clothing are as follows:
Ø Silhouette pleasingly related to the body structure and expressive of that time.
Ø Design appropriate to its use and to the needs of the wearer.
Ø Well proportion individual parts that offer unity with variation.
Ø Character and individuality in line, form or texture.
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2. Decorative Design
It is the surface enrichment of structural design any line, colour of material that has been
applied on structural design for the purpose of adding a richer quality is a decorative design.
Beauty is the structure of design. Decorative design is only the luxury. e.g.: After weaving, when
the impart design it is decorative: e.g.: Applique, embroidery, painting or any trimmings.
Requirements of Good Decorative Design:
Ø It should be used in moderation
Ø It should be placed at a structural points and should strengthen the shape of the object
Ø The decorative design should be suitable for the material and for the type of service it
must give.
Ø There should be enough background space to give an effect of simplicity and dignity to
design.
Ø Surface pattern should cover the surface quietly
Types of Decorative Design:
They are 5 types of decorative design.
a. Naturalistic
b. Conventional
c. Abstract
d. Historic
e. Geometric
a. Naturalistic Design: When objects from nature are selected and are reproduced exactly
with photographic correction it is known as naturalistic design. eg: Flowers, leaves, animals and
landscape.
b. Conventional Design: When an object from nature s adopted to suit the purpose of the
object and be decorative the motif ceases to be naturalistic.
c. Abstract Design: Motif which does not have the nature as the source but the combination
of lines producing irregular form i.e. not easily recognized. The modern art is an abstract design.
d. Historic Design: It refers to the famous monuments or building of historic importance.
eg: Temple, Taj Mahal
e. Geometric Design: It is not derived from nature. It is derived from circles, rectangle,
triangle, parallel lines and so on.
The basic requirements of a good decorative deign for clothing are as follows:
Applied and design should reinforced the basic design concept created in the construction of
the garment. This is achieved when the placement of trims is created to the structural design.
Decorative design is very attractive when it is created in size and structure to the textile of the
garment. Suitable combination of textures includes:
Ø Fine embroidery for fine fabric
Ø Ricrac for medium weight cotton
Ø Sequence for shiny fine material
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3.5 TRIMMINI AND DECORATION
Fabric trimmings are used as ornamentation and to enhance to beauty of the garment.
1. Fabric Bows
Fabric bows are trimmings that can be made from any kind of fabric. The size of the bow
must be altered to suit the weight of the fabric. Bows can be used to embellish pelmets, valances,
drapes and swags etc. Small bows can be used on tiebacks to enhance their effect. Bows can be
used to compliment or contrast the color of the central fabric and color. They can be used to
highlight a certain color in a setting that has numerous colors. The size of the bow will depend
on the effect you want the bow to have. A large bow will have a dramatic effect
Making a tied bow- if ribbon or braid is to be finished with a bow, or for a sash where the
two ends are tied, a neat bow is essential or the whole effect is spoiled. Make a single knot in the
usual way, keeping the two ends even in length. Make the first loop with the lower piece, then
bring the other end down and round the first loop, making a knot. Now hold the first loop , in
place, make a second loop and pull it through. Both loops can be pulled tight so that the bow is
even in size and the two loose ends are more or less even.
Arrange the knot so that it lies flat.
Making a tailored bow – this kind of bow is made up and sewn together, not re-tied each
time the garment is worn. Use a finely woven ribbon.
2. Tassels
They may be bought or made, and applied singly or in rows. To make tassels- cut a piece of
cardboard the required width and lay a double strand of the yarn across the top of the card, wind
yarn then tie the double strand round the yarn and remove the card. Tie another double thread
round the yarn and remove the card. Tie another double thread round the yarn about 13mm
below the top. Cut the lower loops.
3. Fringing
Bought fringing and tassels can be more economical with time and money than hand-made
ones, especially if a large quantity is needed. Most lampshade fringing is very reasonably priced
and used cleverly will not be recognized for stoles or ponchos to give them a luxury look for
evening wear. Like braid, fringing often looks best in two or more rows.
To make fringe- wind any number of yarns round a length of double folded heavy tracing
paper the depth of fringe required, inserting a piece of seam binding along one edge. When
enough yarn has been wound, sew two or three tows of machining along one edge through yarn,
tape and paper.
Self fringe- most soft, thick fabrics can have threads pulled out t make a self fringe. Try it
on a scrap of the fabric to see if the effect is attractive. Straighten the edge to be fringed by
cutting along the grain. Decide how deep the fringe needs to be then pull out a cross thread on
this line.
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Machine with a narrow zigzag stitch along this line so that the lengthwise threads are
secured in place, then pull out all the crosswise threads below the stitching.
Fringe made with sewing machine- The rug fork that is available for use with sewing
machines may also be used to make fringes. Yarn is wound around the fork and stitched using a
zipper foot directly onto seam tape on fabric as each section is wound. After one section has been
stitched the fork is slipped out carefully until it is almost out of the loops exposed part of the fork
is rewound and the loops stitched down and so on, until the required amount has been made.
Loops may be left as they are or cut.
4. Ric-rac
Available in a vast number of colours and sizes and relatively inexpensive. Many rows may
be used together or two pieces may be “wound around” one another to form one braid with an
unusual effect. It is available with a matt effect for day wear or in shining metallic form for
evening clothes.
To apply it, either stitches straight along the centre or slipstitch it into place along either
side- sometimes it may only be necessary to catch down the points. It may be inserted into seams
or used under the edges of garment sections so that only the points show. Make sure that the
thread matches exactly when only surface stitching is used.
5. Appliqués
Appliqué’s are a quick, eye-catching embellishment just right for fleece fabrics. Layer
appliqué’s for a three-dimensional effect, choosing easy shapes such as flowers, geometric
shapes, even lettering. Show off your artistic side on ponchos, jackets, hats and more. When
sewing appliqués to fleece, you can use a highly visible stitch that becomes part of the design,
such as a hand blanket or running stitch in a contrast color thread
Appliqué TipsØ For multi-layer appliqué’s, like a two-tone flower with a round center, layer the
components and appliqué the smaller on to the larger one. When the layering is complete,
treat it as a single appliqué, stitching it to the garment around the edges of the largest
layer. You can also attach multi-layer appliqué’s in the center only, leaving the edges
free, to create a 3-dimensional affect.
Ø When positioning the appliqués on the garment, be sure to clear all seam allowances,
zippers, buttonholes and other garment details.
Ø For hand stitching around the appliqués, several stitches can be used. Try several threads
together, or embroidery floss, so stitches will be visible, and use a large eyed needle.
Ø Pom-poms
Ø Make them in the same way as for tassels above, but with much more yarn. Otherwise
wind the yarn round two or three fingers, then tie yarn around the middle and cut both
ends.
3.6 FASHION ACCESSORIES
Fashion accessories and their jewelry counterpart referred to as costume jewelry are items
that used as fashion's complementary. Accessories help to bring up the spot that one wants to
33
highlight in a dress or apparel. They can also help to hide some weaknesses' part of a dress.
Trends are continuously set by adding accessories to different outfits. Take belts for example, a
few years ago girls all started wearing really thick belts that would never fit into belt loops, but
this fashion accessory made it big time. Soon everyone was seen wearing them, today big is out,
and maybe ribbon belts are in. But these things change an entire look, from handbags to shoes
to chandelier earrings and dangle earrings to 80's leg warmers.
3.6.1 FOOTWEAR:
Footwear, including shoes, sandals, and boots, is the largest category of accessories. More
than seven billion pairs of shoes are produced worldwide each year. Both functional and
fashionable, shoes come in assorted materials, including calf, kid, suede, and reptile skins;
imitation leathers; and fabrics such as canvas or nylon.
Fig 3.10
Today the shoe industry caters to both dress and casual trends. As a result of the enormous
popularity of sport shoes, comfort has become an important element of shoe design. A number of
popular shoe brands, from Florsheim to Ferragamo, have tried to combine style with the comfort
of athletic shoes.
3.6.1.1 DESIGN AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Most dress shoe (Fig 3.10) design direction comes from Europe. Creative international shoe
designers such as Manolo Blahnik and Robert Clegerie set international trends for women’s
fashion shoes. Shoe designers study fashion trends so that their shoes will coordinate with
apparel.
Many shoe company designers or line builders (product managers) attend the shoe fairs in
Dusseldorf, Germany, and Bologna and Milan, Italy, to get ideas for a new shoe collection. Like
an apparel merchandiser, the line builder begins with concepts for groups and works with
designers who develop individual shoe styles. Designers are primarily concerned with materials,
color, shape and proportion. They must consider the view of the shoe from all angles. Many shoe
companies are using computer-aided design(CAD) systems that are capable of both twodimensional
design(design of uppers and size grading) and three-dimensional design(design of
the last, a foot shaped form, and projection of the drawing on the last.
34
Sometimes the line builder will buy prototypes (sample shoes) from a modielista (model
maker) at a studio or shoe fair. Or, the line builder might forward a designer’s sketches to a
modelista, who makes the first model. If the line builder and modelista live in different countries,
ideas and samples must be sent back and forth by the Internet or via fax. The sample shoes are
edited to from a balanced collection. Duplication is then made for the sales staff, showroom, and
trade shows.
3.6.2 HANDBAGS:
Fig 3.11
Handbags must be both decorative and functional (Fig 3.11); it must hold necessities
conveniently as well as fit into the fashion picture. Large bags such as totes, satchels, portfolios,
or backpacks tend to be functional; smaller bags such as clutches or envelopes are usually
decorative. Handbag styles range from classic, constructed types to soft shapes. Leather,
including suede and reptile, still represents approximately half of handbag material; vinyl, fabric
(tapestry, rug prints, needlepoint, silk, wool, nylon, and canvas), and straw make up the other
half. Prada and Gucci are among the trendsetters in handbag design. Major trends include a wide
variety of shapes in an array of colors, some with beading or embroidery.
The elements of fabrication (leather or fabric), silhouette, and color, as well as current
trends in ready-to wear and footwear, are the most important components of handbag design.
From an initial sketch, a sample is made from muslin or limitation leather. A final sample is
made up in leather or fabric with appropriate supportive stays (made of treated paper). Felt,
foam, and fabric interlinings are layered around the stays to give the bag a nice hand and
cushion. Ornaments, closures, and/or handles must be chosen to complement the shape and
fabrication. Linings differ with each type of bag and each fabrication.
The product development team, designer, pattern-maker, sample-maker, production
manager, and sales managers, critique the samples. The most successful are chosen for the
collection. Within the collection, groups may be based on fabrications, silhouettes, or themes.
35
Usually, a variety of silhouettes are included, perhaps in various fabrications (types of
leather).Several groups create a well-rounded collection.
Fig 3.12
Handles, Zippers, Pockets, Frames and Tabs.... Select from hundreds of Pre-drawn elements
to enhance any handbag design. In Fig 3.12 One basic silhouette can take on thousands of
additional looks simply by adding fashion components.
3.6.3 HATS:
In the past, the most important accessory was a hat. A woman bought a new hat to add a
bright spot to her wardrobe; a businessman was never seen on the street without one. The trend
toward more casual life-styles changed that, and the millinery industry suffered a severe setback.
Of course, functional hats to protect against the cold weather remained a necessity.
Fig 3.13
Today, hats are enjoying somewhat of a comeback. Part of this rise in sales is caused by
fashion, and the other is because of an increased demand for sun protection.
Hat manufactures produce two seasonal collections per year. The spring collection is
centered on a wide variety of straws and fabrics, such as cotton and linen. Fall collections are
dominated by felt and fabrications of velvet, velveteen, fake fur, and corduroy.
36
Hat collections are usually divided into groups organized around fabrications, color
schemes, themes, or price ranges. Hat designers are aware of fashion trends, especially color
projections, and use many of the same design sources as apparel designers.
3.6.4 TIES
The tie is an accessory. It adds to the look A tie can be the center piece. It can be a 'piece of
color' in the center. or it can be short tie.. a piece of color around the neck i.e. a short wide piece
of color. A tie is an accessory but it can be an accessory which aims to add color
Fig 3.14
Ties are for men or for women (Fig 3.14) who want to dress like men. Women want to have
the tailored sleek look so they wear ties. But ties are also for women who want to be women.
Sleek, skinny ties look good with the secretary look. It adds to the 'separates' i.e. the shirt/skirt or
the shirt/trousers.
With the boyish chic look last year and the androgynous look previously, the tie was
certainly important. But this is the office look. What about wide ties instead of the skinny ones.
When we come to the summer season, can a tie be important for the look i.e. a wide glossy,
'glam' tie which gives the 'color' to a look. For men the tie was the 'color'; it added color. The
boyish look was important in 2006, the tie was important for this. Now as fashion moves on
from the boyish chic and the military before this, ties can still be important but maybe they will
be the great wide ties, which give color and glamour! When we think of ties, it is men's ties, the
ties that go with suits.
3.7 LET US SUM UP
Through this lesson, we have learnt how to create a design based on the different position
shapes of lines. The direction of lines gives a great idea about the size of figure. The concept of
fashion design and the area of designing explained the professional fashion designers
37
specialization i n a particular area of fashion.Also we discussed the fashion accessories and the
way to develop and design the accessories.
Ø Collect various fashion designs according to your idea and analyze it.
Ø Practice the fashion figures based on its elements.
Ø Prepare your own trimming and decoration for your garments.
Ø Interact the concepts of fashion designing with your friends.
Ø Different new methods of trimmings and decorations
3.10 REFERENCES:
L.t.d..
38
LESSON – 4: PRINCIPLES OF DESIGNING
CONTENTS
4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
4.2.1 Balance
4.2.1.1 Formal Balance
4.2.1.2 Informal Balance
4.2.1.3 Radial Balance
4.2.2 Emphasis
4.2.3 Harmony
4.2.4 Proportion or Scale
4.2.5 Rhythm
4.3 LET US SUM UP
4.6 REFERANCES
Ø Basic principles of design
Ø Balancing of the silhouettes.
Ø Selection and area of design
Ø Proportions of fashion designing
4.1 INTRODUCTION
The wish to decorate or beautify the human body has been existed from the stone age when
the early man painted his face and his body. Even though the beauty standards have changed, the
desire remains constant. The principles design creating lot of creation, expression in an artistic
manner. This unit includes all aspect of designing to develop a different form of figure,
proportion of figure, balancing of figure, harmony of figure, emphasis and rhythm of figure.
4.2 PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
The principles of design are useful in creating different forms of expression in an artistic
manner, which are pleasing and attractive to the eye. Following are the principles of designing
1. Balance
2. Emphasis
3. Harmony
39
4. Proportion
5. Rhythm
4.2.1 Balance
Fig 4.1
In clothing balance refers Fig 4.1 to a visual attribution of weight, from a central area.
Balance implies a sense of equilibrium. Pleasing balance brings about a satisfying relationship
among all design parts to produce visual harmony. In clothing designs, three kinds of balance are
observed.
4.2.1.1 FORMAL BALANCE:
Formal Balance occurs when object appears to equalize each other by repetition and
arranged at equi-distance from the centre. The upper and lower portions of the design are so
arranged, as to give an effect of balance.
Thus there should not be the effect of too much of weight at the bottom or a heavy
appearance. For Example, dark coloured skirt over lighter shade of pants make a short person
shorter.
40
Fig 4.2
Fig. 4.2 http://www.vintagesewing.info/1920s/26-fcm/fcm-illus/39-05&06.jpgis
an http://www.vintagesewing.info/1920s/26-fcm/fcm-illus/39-05&06.jpg example of good
formal balance. It notices that both sides of the dress are exactly alike. The plaiting on either side
is of the same width and amount, and is placed the same distance from the center line running
from the head to the feet, thereby creating a perfect balance. The jacket, too, has the same
ornament on either side so it does not disturb the balance. The dress is equally well balanced
about the waistline, for the jacket above balances the plaiting below.
Fig 4.3
Fig.4.3 illustrates an example of formal balance which could be improved upon by moving
the monogram to the center of the dress. Located as it is it throws the dress slightly out of
balance.
4.2.1.2 INFORMAL BALANCE:
Occurs when objects appear to equalize each other but not through repetition and the
arrangement is in a haphazard manner. Here design of different sizes and shapes and of different
attraction are arranged. The larger and more attractive designs are kept as far away from the
center. If used correctly, informal designs can be effective in being attractive.
41
Fig 4.4
A good example of informal balance may be seen in Fig 4.4. Both sides of the dress are
different. The large sash placed near the center lines is balanced by the small ornament on the
shoulder which is placed as far as possible from the center line.
on t he other hand, fig. 4.5 i http://www.vintagesewing.info/1920s/26-fcm/fcm-illus/39-
07&08.jpgs a http://www.vintagesewing.info/1920s/26-fcm/fcm-illus/39-07&08.jpgpoor
example of informal balance, because of all the weight being on one side of the dress, thereby
making the dress very one-sided.
Fig 4.5
It may be said to be fairly well balanced above and below the center line, as the small bow
far removed from the center line balances the large bow close to it, just as the small bow far out
on the teeter-totter balances the large bow close to the center. If a dress is to appear balanced it
must create in your mind the impression that the distribution of weight, both above and below
the center and on either side are equal, so that it is not top heavy or one-sided. You are less likely
to make mistakes in formal balance than in informal balance because in the former case each line
and decoration is repeated on both sides of the center line.
42
Of course, formal balance should not be used for all dresses, as it tends to be rather too
severe for some occasions. It is most fitting for street dresses and sport clothes, whereas informal
balance lends itself to the afternoon and evening gown.
4.2.1.3 RADIAL BALANCE:

Occurs when major parts of the design radiate from the central part. Formal balance is the
least expensive to produce apparel in mass production. Informally balanced garment is more
difficult to produce. For each section of the garment cuts will have to be probably handled
differently.
4.2.2 EMPHASIS:
Emphasis involves the concentration of interest in the selected area of design with other
centre of interest subordinated. Emphasis as such, should not be placed at an area that one wishes
to minimize attention drawn on. Designers often create emphasis partially though the careful
arrangement of line, texture and colours.
It could also be called as focal point. Each design needs some note of interest that catches
the eye or attracts the attention on a specific area of the garment. Contrasting colour for example
could be used to emphasize an area.
A black dress with white collar and cuffs will direct the eye to the face and hands. There can
be several centers of interest although one or two will be more dominant than the others and will
arrest the attention longer and draw the eye back to it more frequently the lesser centers of
interest.
Fig.4.6 Fig.4.7
Fig. 4.6 shows a very http://www.vintagesewing.info/1920s/26-fcm/fcm-illus/39-
11&12.jpgsatisfactory http://www.vintagesewing.info/1920s/26-fcm/fcm-illus/39-
11&12.jpgexample of emphasis. The bow at the neckline emphasizes this part of the dress;
thereby the attention is attracted to the head where the center of interest should be.
By contrast, Fig. 4.7 is a very bad example of emphasis. The large, curved, meaningless
design on the dress does not go well with the V-shaped neck. It would be better to do away with
43
this design entirely or at least substitute one which would not tend to emphasize the center
portion of the dress to such an excessive extent, but instead carry a little of the interest to the
head.
Some methods of lay emphasis could be
· Grouping of design units.
· Using contrast of hues

· by leading lines
· A combination of any of the above
· Repeating details such as tucks, gathers, button etc
· Unusual shapes and textures
· Applied design on a contrast background
The placement of dart spots on a lighter co lour background (or) vice versa could emphasis
the body part they are placed over. While enhancing the design by concentrating on a focal point
the designer must bear in mind the figure and personality of the wearer.
4.2.3 HARMONY:
Harmony otherwise called unity. If the principle of proportion, balance, rhythm and
emphasis are applied creatively, the resultant design is said to have the harmony. Unity means
that all elements of the design work together to produce a successful visual effects. If anyone of
the principles is not applied the resulting design will also lack harmony which means; if the
principle of structural/decorative deign with balanced proportion and quantitative and qualitative
emphasis creating a rhythm of its own, give an outcome of harmony of unity. It is a result or an
achievement which every designer should keep in mind while designing or drawing or arranging
various elements or design for achieving/creating particular purpose of design.
Lack of application of any one principles of design, will result in a design which is not
harmonious or not in harmony.
4.2.4 PROPORTION OR SCALE:
Relationship in size between a part and the whole is defined to as proposition. For way
design, an artist or a designer should aim for a sense of order of unity or oneness among the
principles of design.
Proportion includes planning of the basic shape within a design. It may involve the scale of
the forms within the design like diversion of space to create attractive space relationship where
the variety of shapes, sizes and the general idea of unity of principles of designs are to be
expressed. Optical illusion is created by changing partial arrangements to enhance the attractive
portion that one wishes to enhance. e.g., puffed in the shoulders or increased width in sleeves
etc.,
In the principles of design that involves phasing relationships between all parts of a design
with respect to each other. This may include:

- Planning of the basic shapes
44
- Division of spaces for a good relationship
Creating an optical illusion that will give an impression of proportion, when it is not
possible to change the basic design.
4.2.5 RHYTHM:
Directs the movements of the eyes as one uses the details of a design. Therefore a rhythmic
pattern needs to be established to give a costume unity.
There are no pre-requisite rules for establishing rhythm in a design. Rhythm us most
effective when it is experienced un a quiet way.
It is the repeated use of lines or shapes to create pattern. Uniform rhythm is the repetition of
the same space and is known as the order lines of rhythm. In progressive or graduated rhythm the
size of the unit increases or decreases as it is repeated. Unequal rhythm is an unequal use of
space and this rhythm is an unequal use of space and this is called as un-orderliness of rhythm. In
this type of rhythm the proportion are unbalanced; creating a larger space for enhancing the
design and this finally calls in for expertise. This type of rhythm gives though provoking designs.
The emphasis in such designs could be traced successfully by using unequal (or) un-orderliness
of rhythm. This reflects to a greater extract on the creativity of the designer and how an unequal
division of space could bring out the best impact of the design with the emphasis shown within
the design. Rhythm can be achieved through the combination of lines, shape, co lour and texture
by the following aspects in designing.
1. By regular repeats or trims,(button etc.,) texture, and fabric design and prints.
2. Progression or radiation in sizes of trims, colours textures and fabric designs.
3. Radiation or movement from the central point occurring within structural details such as
gathers, folds, tucks darts etc.
4. Continuous flowing lines such as those in bonds of colours, textures and fabric designs.
Fig. 4.8 Fig. 4.9
Fig. 4.8 shows good http://www.vintagesewing.info/1920s/26-fcm/fcm-illus/39-
09&10.jpgrhythm http://www.vintagesewing.info/1920s/26-fcm/fcm-illus/39-09&10.jpg of line,
as the eye can trace easily over the curved lines of the skirt which tends to raise the interest
45
toward the upper part of the dress. There is nothing about the lines which conflict, causing the
eye to be uncertain whether to go around the dress or up and down. This is not the case in Fig.
4.9, which shows very poor rhythm of line, for the curved lines of the upper and lower parts of
the dress cut across the lines running around the dress.
4.3 LET US SUM UP
In this unit we clearly understood about principle of design. It covers the balancing of
silhouettes. Here we saw three different types of balancing with figure for your clear understand.
Through emphasis, how the designer uses the line, texture and colour based on the season
and interest. The unity (harmony) gives the idea to use of proportion, balance, rhythm and
emphasis in creative applications. Even though we may have a good creative idea, we must know
the scale and proportion of a figure and it was explained in this lesson through the topic of scale
by planning, basic shape size and the method of division of spaces.
Ø Analyze the different forms of figure
Ø Make your own balanced fashion figure
Ø The procedure for making the figure based on the principle of designing.
4.6 REFERENCES:
Ø Wardrobe strategies for women, by Judith rasband, Delmar publication.
46
UNIT – II
LESSON – 5: COLOUR
CONTENTS
5.1 INTRODUCTION
5.2 COLOUR
5.3 PRANG COLOUR SYTEM
5.3.1 Primary colours
5.3.1.1 Subtractive colours
5.3.1.2 Additive colours
5.3.2 Secondary colours
5.3.3. Tertiary colors
5.4 MUNSEEL COLOUR SYSTEM
5.5 COLOUR WHEEL
5.5.1 Complementary colours
5.6 DIMENSIONS OF CO LOUR
5.6.1 Hue (symbol h)
5.6.1.1 Neutral colours:
5.6.1.2 Powerful colour combination:
5.6.2 Value
5.6.3 Intensity (Symbol I) Or Chroma (Symbol C)
5.7 LET US SUM UP
5.10 REFERANCES
Ø Discussed about the colour, dimension of co lour and application of colour.
Ø Different co lour systems.
Ø Colour wheel with different system.
5.1 INTRODUCTION
Now comes to the interesting subject of color. If one can combine colors well in the
selection of clothing, it will not be difficult to apply it to the redecoration of the living room,
47
selecting material for draperies, glass curtains, fancy pillows and little things that help to make a
house a real home.
The main object of color in a costume is to obtain a beautiful combination, which will grow
more so the longer one looks at it. One problem is to get good color combinations in the use of
materials, for texture is as important as color.
When you plan a dress or blouse you are building a picture in which, just as in a painted
picture, or in a large building, designed by some famous architect, the lines and color must be
well organized, rhythmically balanced, proportionate and fitting the purpose intended. It is the
proper choice in the putting together of color effects that you, as an artist in dress, will and must
reveal in order to be a real success.
5.2 COLOUR
Colour has been investigated and used for more than 2000 years. Throughout history,
different civilizations have experimented and learned more about colour. We are still learning
today about how colour affects us and its importance in our lives.
Colour is simply light of different wavelengths and frequencies and light is just one form of
energy made up from photons.
Colour is a visual language. It is personal and universal sending a message of endless
variation. It evokes our feeling and affects our life. The apparel of colour is to use it beautifully.
It is one of the basic components of fashion, the other being, texture, details and silhouettes.
They are inter-related to one other.
The study of colour may be approached from any one of the following five angles.
· Physiologist: The physiologist is concerned with the way in which the eye receives the
sensation of colour.
· Chemist: The chemist studies the chemical properties of the natural and the artificial
colouring materials used for the manufacture of dyes and prints.
· Physicist: To the physicist the significance of colour is merely its wavelength and its
intensities.
· Psychologist: the psychologist shows the effect of colours on persons and on each other.
· Artist: The artist is the persons who play with colours and are those who mix paints and
dyes.
The first two is not necessary, as they do not affect the ordinary problems in the use of
colours. Fifth and fourth is more important for use of (fashion) the many theories of colours in
pigment. Two are in common use, Prang colour system and Munsell colour system. The prang
colour theory only will be used when explaining the properties and classes of colour to avoid
confusion for beginning students.
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5.3 PRANG COLOUR SYTEM
Basically colours are divided into three groups.
1. Primary colours
2. Secondary colours
3. Tertiary Colours
5.3.1PRIMARY COLOURS
Red Yellow Blue
Fig 5.1
There are three Primary colours: RED, YELLOW and BLUE (Fig 5.1). Primary colours
cannot be created by mixing other colours.
Contrary to popular belief, there are actually two types of primary colours - Subtractive and
Additive.
Subtractive colours are colours that are used in conjunction with reflected light. In this case
the subtractive colours are blue red and yellow, (cyan, magenta and yellow where printing and
coatings are concerned). These are the colours we are probably most familiar with the as the
primary colours from school.
Additive colours are colours that are used in conjunction with emitted light. In this case the
additive primary colours are red, green and blue. These are the colours we are probably most
familiar with in association with television, and computer displays.
5.3.1.1 SUBTRACTIVE COLOURS
These are the colours that are associated with the subtraction of light and used in pigments
for making paints, inks, coloured fabrics, and general coloured coatings that we see and use
every day.
All printing processes use subtractive colours in the form of cyan (blue) magenta (red)
yellow and black. This is known as CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) the K stands for black
in the printing process. If all three of the subtractive primary colours were combined together,
they would produce black.
Some examples where subtractive primary colours are used:
· textiles
· clothes
· furnishings
· printing
· paints
· coloured coatings
49
5.3.1.2 ADDITIVE COLOURS
These are the colours that are obtained by emitted light. The additive primary colours are
red, green and blue.
If all three of the additive colours were combined together in the form of light, they would
produce white.
Some examples where subtractive primary colours are used:
· television
· theatrical lighting
· computer monitors
5.3.2 SECONDARY COLOURS
Fig 5.2
A colour created by mixing two primary colours is called a secondary colour.
For example: orange is a secondary colour which is created when the subtractive primary
colours red and yellow are mixed together (Fig5.2). Secondary colours can only be created by
mixing true primary colours.
5.3.3. TERTIARY COLORS
Tertiary colors (Fig 5.3) are combinations of primary and secondary colors. There are six
tertiary colors; red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, and red-violet.

Fig 5.3
50
An easy way to remember these names is to place the primary name before the other colour.
So, the tertiary colour produced when mixing the primary colour blue with the secondary colour
green, is called 'blue-green"
5.4 MUNSELL COLOUR SYSTEM
In colorimetry, the Munsell color system is a color space that specifies colors based on
three color dimensions, hue, value ( lightness), and chroma (color purity or colorfulness). It was
created by Professor Albert H. Munsell in the first decade of the 20th century.
Several earlier color order systems had placed colors into a three dimensional color solid of
one form or another, but Munsell was the first to separate hue, value, and chroma into
perceptually uniform and independent dimensions, and was the first to systematically illustrate
the colors in three dimensional space. [1] Munsell’s system, and particularly the later renotations,
is based on rigorous measurements of human subjects’ visual responses to color, putting it on a
firm experimental scientific basis. Because of this basis in human visual perception, Munsell’s
system has outlasted its contemporary color models, and though it has been superseded for some
uses by models such as CIELAB (L*a*b*) and CIECAM02, it is still in wide use today.
Fig 5.4
The system consists of three independent dimensions which can be represented
cylindrically in three dimensions as an irregular color solid: hue, measured by degrees around
horizontal circles; chroma, measured radially outward from the neutral (gray) vertical axis; and
value, measured vertically from 0 (black) to 10 (white). Munsell determined the spacing of
colors along these dimensions by taking measurements of human visual responses. In each
dimension, Munsell colors are as close to perceptually uniform as he could make them, which
makes the resulting shape quite irregular.
51
As Munsell explains:
Desire to fit a chosen contour, such as the pyramid, cone, cylinder or cube, coupled with a
lack of proper tests, has led to many distorted statements of color relations, and it becomes
evident, when physical measurement of pigment values and chromas is studied, that no regular
contour will serve.
A color is fully specified by listing the three numbers for hue, value, and chroma.
1. Hue:
Each horizontal circle Munsell divided into five principal hues: Red, Yellow, Green, Blue,
and Purple, along with 5 intermediate hues halfway between adjacent principal hues. Each of
these 10 steps is then broken into 10 sub-steps, so that 100 hues are given integer values. Two
colors of equal value and chroma, on opposite sides of a hue circle, are complementary colors,
and mix additively to the neutral gray of the same value. The diagram below shows 40 evenlyspaced
Munsell hues, with complements vertically aligned.
2. Value:
Value, or lightness, varies vertically along the color solid, from black (value 0) at the
bottom, to white (value 10) at the top.Neutral grays lie along the vertical axis between black and
white.
Several color solids before Munsell’s plotted luminosity from black on the bottom to white
on the top, with a gray gradient between them, but these systems neglected to keep perceptual
lightness constant across horizontal slices. Instead, they plotted fully-saturated yellow (light),
and fully saturated blue and purple (dark) along the equator.
3. Chroma:
Chroma, measured radially from the center of each slice, represents the “purity” of a color,
with lower chroma being less pure (more washed out, as in pastels). Note that there is no
intrinsic upper limit to chroma. Different areas of the color space have different maximal chroma
coordinates. For instance light yellow colors have considerably more potential chroma than light
purples, due to the nature of the eye and the physics of color stimuli. This led to a wide range of
possible chroma levels—up to the high 30s for some hue-value combinations (though it is
difficult or impossible to make physical objects in colors of such high chromas, and they cannot
be reproduced on current computer displays).
52
5.5 COLOUR WHEEL
Fig 5.5
The Colour wheel is a useful pictorial representation of the spectrum of colours and can be
used to simplify the understanding of the interaction of colours used in a painting. It can also
help with selection of a palette of colours, colour mixing, the natural greying of colours, and
colour perspective (also called aerial perspective).
The simplified wheel opposite consists of the primary, secondary and tertiary colours
explained in Fig 5.5. The three primary colours Red, Yellow and Blue are shown in the large
circles. Between each of the primary colours are the secondary colours, shown in the middle
sized circles, which result from mixing the two adjacent primaries. The tertiary colours obtained
from mixing the primaries with their respective secondary colours are shown in the small circles.
As the colours progress around the wheel in any direction, each one is a gradual change from its
adjacent colour.
The colours on the right of the wheel shown opposite are known as cool colours - colours
which are blue or have a leaning towards blue (yellow-green to blue-violet)
The colours on the left, are known as warm colours - colours which are red or have a
leaning towards red (yellow-orange to red-violet)
5.5.1 COMPLEMENTARY COLOURS
Fig 5.6
53
Complementary colours are those which are opposite each other on the colour wheel. For
example (Fig 5.6), red is opposite green. Green is made from the other two primary colours so it
contains no red. When these complementary colours are put together in a picture the result is
striking - think of poppies in a green field. Each colour makes the other 'sing' and have vibrancy.
Each primary has a secondary colour which is its complementary and vice versa:
· Orange is the complementary of Blue.
· Green is the complementary of Red and
· Violet is the complementary of Yellow,
5.6 DIMENSIONS OF COLOUR
There are three properties or qualities which may be called the dimensions of colour and
which are just us distinct form one another as the length, breadth and thickness of an object.
These colour dimensions are:

1. The Hue or name of the colour(their warmth or coolness)
2. The value of the colour(their tightness or darkness)
3. The intensity of the colour(their brightness or dullness)
All these three are present in every colour, just as every object has length, breadth and
thickness.
5.6.1 HUE (SYMBOL H)
Hue is the term used to indicate the name of colour, such as red, blue or green. Light travels
in waves of different lengths and at different rates of speed and these waves produce in the eye,
the sensation that we call as “colour”. Objects have a property called as “colour quality”, which
makes it possible for them to reflect some of these wavelengths and to absorb others. The object
is supposed to possess the colour that is nor absorbed by it but reflected out. When the object
reflects all the wavelengths, it is seen as white in colour. When the object absorbs all the
wavelengths, the object is seen as black in colour.
There are three fundamental hues—red, yellow and blue—which are commonly called the
primary colors and from these all the other hues may be made, if mixed in the proper amounts.
The triangle shown in Fig. 5.7 indicates the primary colors. Between the corners of the triangle,
as for example the red and yellow, additional hues may be inserted, which really are the result of
the combination of primary colors.
Fig 5.7
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By the mixing of red and yellow we produce orange; yellow and blue combined gives
green; and blue and red makes purple or violet. These colors, green, orange and violet are called
Fig 5.8
the secondary or binary colors. As you will notice we are developing a color chart and are
indicating the secondary colors by the second triangle which is placed over the first triangle as
shown in Fig. 5.8. In order to produce one of these secondary colors, it is necessary that we use
the two required primaries in equal amounts.
Fig 5.9
There http://www.vintagesewing.info/1920s/26-fcm/fcm-illus/36-03.gifare
fu http://www.vintagesewing.info/1920s/26-fcm/fcm-illus/36-02.gifrther hues known as the

intermediate colors which we obtain by mixing equal amounts of a primary and a secondary and
which will fall between the points of Fig.5.9. Thus we finally have the completed color diagram.
5.6.1.1 NEUTRAL COLOURS:
Grey is formed when black is combined with white Gray is also got when equal amounts if
complimentary colours form the colour wheel are mixed it is also formed when all the three
primary colours are mixed together. When the three pigments are concentrated, it results in
black, white and shades of grey are called natural colours, because they have no colour of hue.
Hue is the measurable properties of co lour in terms of temperature e.g. hot, warm, cold and
cool colours
1. Hot colour – refers to red hue in its full saturation. They are strong and aggressive and
seem to vibrate within their own space.
2. Warm colour – are cheerful, welcoming and stimulating. They radiate outwards ad
surround every thing in reach. They are the hues of range by the combination of red and
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yellow e.g. RO, O, YO. Warm hues, as they will make objects appear larger and nearer to
the observer (advancing colour).
3. Cold colour – refers to fully saturated blue. It is dominating and strong its brightest. The
feelings generated by cold colours are the direct opposite of those generated by hot
colours. Cold hue slows the body metabolism and increases ones sense of calm. But too
much of cold colour may be depressing.
4. Cool colour – hues such as YG, G&BG, which are obtained by mixing yellows and blues.
Cold colours have a reverse effect of warm colours. They are calm and restful. They
make an object appear in a reduced size since it is a recoding colour.
5.6.1.2 POWERFUL COLOUR COMBINATION:
Hot and cold colours when placed adjacent to each other, forms a powerful combination.
They vibrate like fire and ice. Powerful combination symbolizes the strongest emotions &
control and sends a message of vitality, awareness and attracts attention.
Thus knowledge of hue enables the colour user to accomplish the following
1. Identify the names of colours.
2. Recognize advancing and recoding colours.

3. Place a colour in-group such as warm, cold etc.
5.6.2 VALUE
Value the second dimension describes the lightness or darkness of a colour, which is the
relative amount of black or white in a hue. Value can be changed by adding white or water to
lighten and by adding more pigment or black to lighten them. Every hue is capable of being
lowered to a value just above black and of being raised to a value just under white. The
incremental addition of white to hue results in lighter values of the hue called tints. The
incremental addition of black to hue results in darker values of the hue called shades.
Light colours are the palest pastels i.e. with 90-95% of white 5-10% of colour. Its degree of
lightness is determined by the absence of visible colour in their composition. Light values seem
to increase to size of an object. Small rooms may be made to appear larger if they are decorated
in light colours as light colours create the impression of distance and a person looks larger in
white or very light clothing as light colours recede.
Dark colours are the darkest shades with maximum amount of black. Dark values seem to
decrease the size of an object. Therefore dark colours would be a poor choice for the background
of small rooms and a good choice for clothing for large people as they are advancing in nature.
While white and light colours suggest foreground or nearness.
In store display dark values should be used below, rather than above the light values, for if
they are seen above the light colours the display will appear unstable. Black and very dark
colours absorb the colour of objects seen again them. Black also has a power to unify colours and
helps to bring harmony into an arrangement. When a number of bright colours are used together.
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For e.g... In a ballroom the gay colours of the women’s gowns are harmonized by the masses of
black of the men’s clothes.
Colours themselves in their original form vary in their values. Dr.Donman. W.Ross has
given the names and symbols of eight steps of value, with the lightened being white and
darkened being black
5.6.3 INTENSITY (SYMBOL I) OR CHROMA (SYMBOL C)
The degree of brightness or dullness existing in a colour is called intensity i.e. its strength or
its weakness. Intensity is the quality of colour that makes it possible for a certain hue –to
whisper, to shout, or to speak in a gentlemanly tone. In other words it is the property describing
the distance of colour from grey or neutrality.
The colours in the outer circle of the intensity chart are found to be of full intensity because
they are as bright as each colour can be. As colours go down in their brightness toward neutral
grey or no-colour, to the centre of the circle, they are found to become duller and are said to be
of low intensity, chroma or neutralized.
A colour may neutralize or destroyed or changed in its intensity, by mixing it with its
complement or grey.
A complement may be used to neutralize a colour because of the fact that a complement of a
colour has the other two primary hues, which is not present in the colour, therefore resulting in
neutralization. Example, when red is mixed with its complement green (Y+B), the presence of all
the 3 primary colours results in neutralization. Neutral grey itself has a neutralizing effect and
may be used instead of a complement to dull a colour.
When a colour in its full intensity has had enough it its complement or grey, mixed with it,
to make half as bright as it can be, it is halfway between full intensity and neutrality. This can
denoted as to be one half neutralized (1/2 N) or one half-intense (1/2 I). Like this, the steps
towards neutralization can be denoted as I (denoting hue with full intensity),1/4 Nor ¾ I, ½ N or
½ I, ¾ N or ¼ I and lastly N or C (denoting the neutralization of a hue to grey or chroma).
Texture plays so important a part in colour use that is cannot be ignored. Surfaces having
more or less roughness reflect light in tiny accents and throw little shadows that have the effect
of dulling the intensity of a colour. The texture of a smooth surface seems to blend colours used
together and give the appearance of vibrating colour on a shiny surface.
5. 7 LET US SUM UP
In order that you may always have beautiful clothes which will be the envy of everyone
who looks at them and which will increase your natural attractiveness, the choosing of colors and
the combination of them must be carefully considered. When you have learned to do this you
will have accomplished one of the most important steps in the art of beautiful clothes-making. It
is just as essential to fully understand and make use of the proper application of color in design
as is the application of any of the other elements of design.
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The proper use of color values is of the greatest importance in dress designing, for just as
the warm or cold hues add to or detract from the appearance of size, so do the color values. By
hue we mean the name of the color such as red, yellow or blue. The difference in the warmth in
the color is a variation in hue, or in other words, as red changes toward the orange it has become
red orange and has changed its hue.
Ø Prepare you own colour chart according to the colour theory
Ø Draw a fashion figure based on the colour theory
Ø Applications of Dimension of colours on fashion figure
5.10 REFERENCES:
L.t.d..
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LESSON – 6: COLOUR HORMONIES & APPLICATION
CONTENTS
6.1 INTRODUCTION
6.2 COLOR HORMONIES
6.2.1 Harmonies of related colours.
6.2.2 Harmonies of contrasting colours.
6.3 APPLICATION OF COLOUR ON FASHION FIGURE
6.4 BASIC PRINCIPLES OF COLOUR IN DESIGN
6.5 APPLICATION OF COLOUR ON DRESS DESIGNING

6.6 LET US SUM UP
6.19 REFERANCES
Ø Color harmonies and pleasing combinations of hues.
Ø The use of color on the figure and figure size.
Ø Color in a costume.
6.1 INTRODUCTION
Now that you know all about color and harmony, and you have found out just which styles
most become your type of figure. And it is just this harmony that we must strive to achieve in
dress—for without harmony there can be no beauty. A dress may look beautiful on a model but
entirely unattractive on a human figure. This is because each one of us has distinct personality,
each one of us has little peculiarities of line and coloring that require special thought and
consideration.
Colors play a large part in the creating of fashion. An otherwise charming gown may be
completely marred by the use of a wrong color. On the other hand, the simplest gown can be
enhanced by the use of the right color. If you want to be truly well-dressed, find out now from
the following chart just what colors most become you—and avoid those that do not.
Color in dress should be considered from two points of view. The first is the harmonious
combination of colors in the costume itself. Second is the becomingness of the colors of the
costume to personal coloring, hair and eyes of the wearer. One is as important as the other and
through ignorance of the first; a most unpleasant effect may be thrust upon a sensitive public;
while disregard of the latter means a loss in personal beauty.
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6.2 COLOR HORMONIES
Harmony can be defined as a pleasing arrangement of parts, whether it be music, poetry,
color, or even an ice cream sundae.
Color theory has long had the goal of predicting or specifying the color combinations that
would work well together or appear harmonious. The color wheel has been adopted as tool for
defining these basic relationships. Some theorists and artists believe juxtapositions of
complementary colors are said to produce a strong contrast or tension because they annihilate
each other when mixed; others believe the juxtapositions of complementary colors produce
harmonious color interactions Colors next to each other on the color wheel are called analogous
colors. They tend to produce a single-hued or a dominant color experience. Harmony has been
sought in combinations other than these two. A split complementary color scheme employs a
range of analogous hues, "split" from a basic key color, with the complementary color as
contrast. A triadic color scheme adopts any three colors approximately equidistant around the
hue circle. Printers or photographers sometimes employ a duotone color scheme, generated as
value gradations in black and a single colored ink or color filter; painters sometimes refer to the
same effect as a monochromatic color scheme
Fig 6.1
The color wheel (Fig.6.1) harmonies have had limited practical application simply because
the impact of the color combinations is quite different, depending on the colors involved: the
contrast between the complementary colors purple and green is much less strident than the
contrast between red and turquoise. They can suggest useful color combinations in fashion or
interior design, but much also depends on the tastes, lifestyle and cultural norms of the
consumer. When the schemes have proven effective, this is often because of fundamental
contrast is between warm and cool hues (in this instance meaning hues on the opposite sides of
the color wheel), contrast of value with darks and lights, contrast of saturated and unsaturated
colors, or contrast of extension, when one color is extended over a large area contrasting another
color extended over a very small area.
In the 20th century color theory attempted to link colors to particular emotional or
subjective associations: red is an arousing, sensual, feminine color; blue is a contemplative,
serene, masculine color, and so on. This project has failed for several reasons, the most important
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being that cultural color associations play the dominant role in abstract color associations, and
the impact of color in design is always affected by the context.
Create colour harmony with a colour wheel

The standard colour harmonies may be divided into two main groups.
Ø Harmonies of related colours.
Ø Harmonies of contrasting colours.
6.2.1 HARMONIES OF RELATED COLOURS:
Related color harmonies have one hue in common
1. Complementary Harmony:
Complementary Harmony results from using hues opposite each other in the color wheel.
Fig .6.2
Blue and orange, red and green, yellow orange and blue-violet are an example of
complementary harmony shown in Fig 6.2. Simple complementary schemes of two hues can be
extended by using tints, tones, or shades of the selected hues.
When complementary hues are used in their full strength (light chroma) and in equal
quantities, they intensify each other and produce sharp contrasts. This causes a vibration that is
often painful to the eye. Red will seem redder when placed next to its complement, green, than
when red is used with yellow. Green appears greener next to red than when used next to yellow.
This phenomenon is called simultaneous contrast. The effect of the vibrations caused by these
complements can be lessened by using a smaller amount of intense color or by substituting a tone
or shade of the desired hue.
2 Split complement harmony:
Split complement harmony occurs when a hue is used with the colors on either side of its
complement.
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Fig 6.3
An example Fig 6.3 of a split complementary color scheme would be yellow joined with
red-violet and blue –violet
3. Triad harmony:
Fig 6.4
A Triad harmony uses three hues placed equidistant on the color wheel. In Fig 6.4 sample
triad color schemes are yellow, red, and blue or orange, purple, and green.
6.2.2 CONTRASTING COLOR HARMONIES

Contrasting color Harmonies have no hue in common.
1. Analogous Harmony:
Analogous Harmony uses colors that appear next to each other on the color. wheel.
Fig 6.5
Colors such as yellow-orange, yellow, and yellow-green make up an analogous harmony.
When one of the hues is allowed to predominate and when values and chromas are varied,
striking effects can be achieved. This harmony creates sweater. The length of the sweater will
determine the line of value contrast. If the hemline of the sweater falls at the largest part of the
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hipline, this will be the point of emphasis. Value contrast at the hipline would be avoided if the
pants and sweater were of the same color or of different, yet close in value, hues. Value contrasts
that emphasize are found in many clothing designs.
White or very light-colored shoes are in direct contrast to dark, suntanned legs or dark
hosiery, this shoe is contrasted against the dark walking surfaces. Because of the advancing
quality of light values, white, light on shuny hosiery also seem to increase the size of the leg and
feet. Other contrasts that attract attention are contrasting belts, buttons, trims, or fabric colors.
2 Monochromatic Harmonies:
Monochromatic Harmony uses one hue.
Fig 6.6
Various tints, tones, and shades of one hue are used in Monochromatic Harmony (Fig 6.6)
for instance, light pink, rose, maroon, and watermelon. If value and chroma gradations are too
close together, the effect may be unpleasing because of ambiguity of colors, giving the
impression of a mismatch. These schemes require noticeable differences to achieve the various
necessary to avoid a fatiguing and monotonous effect.
3. Achromatic colour scheme:
Fig 6.7
Achromatic means absence of colour. This scheme has white and black at the two extremes
with tones of grey in between.
6.3 APPLICATION OF COLOUR ON FASHION FIGURE
Color is one of the first things people notice about clothing. The use of color can create
illusions of the figure size in the same way line does. Color should be selected on the basis of
complexion-hair, skin, and eyes-as well as on figure size.
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Colors should complement the complexion. A complexion that tends to be sallow (yellow
tones) should wear colors that bring out the pink/red tones of the skin. A complexion that is
florid (red/blue tones) should avoid colors that emphasize the redness of the skin.
Matching of color to the complexion is a very personal matter. Old adages like "redheads
should never wear pink" are not always valid. Careful selection of the value and intensity of a
color, its placement and the complements used with the color can allow its use by almost
everyone.
Colors are classified as warm-reds, yellows, and oranges-or cool-blues, and greens. Warm
colors tend to create an illusion of greater size. Cool colors tend to create an illusion of reduced
size.
The brightness or dullness and the lightness and darkness of colors also affect the illusion
created. Dull and dark colors seem to recede and make the figure appear smaller. Bright and light
colors have the opposite effect.
In addition to these general characteristics of colors, how they are used will also influence
the illusion created. Contrasting colors in tops and bottoms create a horizontal line where they
meet and tend to shorten the figure. A single color outfit gives a vertical feeling and creates an
illusion of height and slimness.
6.4 BASIC PRINCIPLES OF COLOUR IN DESIGN
1. Dominant or Controlling Color:
Decide on the dominant or controlling color, which may dominate by covering a large area
or by strength of color in a smaller area. Decide whether the foundation or background color is to
be the dominant or a secondary color. Plan to use a large amount of quiet background color, a
small amount of bold, strong color. All large foundation areas should be in light or grayed tones.
2. Graying:
Clear colors are gayer, more cheerful, but grayed tones are more restful, their harmonies
more subtle. Mixing gray with bright colors brings them into relation with other colors in the
room. As red and yellow in bright tones seem to clash. Mixed with gray, they become rose and
tan and go very well together. Use this principle also in buying materials. Avoid too much
graying. It gives muddy tones, dirty grays, flat greens. A little gray goes far.
3. Relief and Contrast Colors:
Decide on relief and contrast colors and bring them into all parts of the room composition.
Remember the order in the amount of space allowed each one, foundation, then relief, then
contrasts. All colors including background colors should be keyed to the dominant color. Soften
strong contrast colors with white. Contrast is less in lighter tints. Soften darker contrasts with
grey.
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4. Accent Colors:
Use pure bright intense colors only in accessories, etc., Distribute them so they will not be
spotty. The smaller the area the brighter the color may be. The larger the area the softer the tone
should be. Don't use large amounts of pure bright color.
5. Keying:
This is another means of creating harmony. A key color is the one about which the color
scheme is built- the dominant or controlling color. All other colors in the room must be "keyed"
with it- harmonized. Two colors in which any part of a third color is present will be linked
together. Example, to key red and yellow to each other, mix them both with a little of the third
primary hue - blue. Violet and green will result, and these are harmonious to use with our strong
tones.
6.5 APPLICATION OF COLOUR ON DRESS DESIGNING
Garments have combined design elements of texture, color and line, each must be selected
in relation to your figure and how they affect each of the other elements. The effects of texture in
fashion influence how colors appear and how design lines function.
When several colors are used in a single outfit, the amount, placement, and contrast between
the colors used will determine the effect. If the color is printed in the fabric design, the size of
the design, as well as the colors used must be considered. Generally, the size of print should be
selected in relation to the figure size. Small figures look best in fabrics with small designs. Large
figures look best in fabrics with large designs. These guidelines are especially true if the colors
used are bright and contrast strongly.

The main object of color in a costume is to obtain a beautiful combination, which will grow
more so the longer one looks at it. One problem is to get good color combinations in the use of
1. Beautiful Colors Correctly Used:
In order that always have beautiful clothes which will be the envy of everyone who looks at
them and which will increase natural attractiveness, the choosing of colors and the combination
of them must be carefully considered. It is just as essential to fully understand and make use of
the proper application of color in design as is the application of any of the other elements of
design.
2. Color Types:
It is quite difficult to lay down hard and fast rules as to the colors which different
individuals may wear. This may be readily understood, as hardly any two people are identical as
to color of hair, eyes, skin and general contour of features and body. All of these points have a
direct bearing on the colors which are suitable to be worn. For example the small, frail, flaxonhaired
blonde may be ever so attractive wearing certain colors which on the blonde of practically
the same coloring, but having a very large figure, would be most displeasing.
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It will be necessary for in applying colors in the making of clothes for yourself or for
others to study carefully the effect produced by colors of different values and intensity in the
particular case with which you are dealing.
3. The Blonde:
In choosing clothes the blonde must be especially careful about color. Some blondes work
by the rules of contrast, that dark colors make their pale coloring seem even more delicate. It is
commonly thought that this idea really works.
For blondes with gray blue or green eyes, there seems to be the opinion that grayish colors,
that is, blues, greens and violets, are far more becoming than the warm brownish tones. This isn't
true when speaking of the fair-haired, brown-eyed person, whose skin is somewhat inclined
toward the brunette type and who usually, looks well in shades of brown.
Of course, if the blonde has golden hair and the right complexion she may wear bright blue
or red, even shades of rose may be chosen and worn well. Pale blondes want to be ever so careful
to avoid colors which make them look dull or very pale.
As a rule, the blonde should not wear tailored clothes. She is not at all the masculine type,
so she will look much better in simple, soft effects. She should not wear tweeds or very heavy
materials. Her type calls for jersey, crepes, kashas, velveteens and chiffons which are much more
suitable.
Heavy jewelry should be avoided by blondes. She should select small beads, dainty chains
and stones such as jade, amethyst, turquoise and topaz.
4. Titian Haired Blonde:
The titian haired girl, that is the one whose hair may be of the so-called auburn shade or red,
should be careful not to intensify this feature to too great an extent, but on the other hand, she
must not detract from the beauty of her hair.
The complement of a color tends to emphasize it; therefore she should avoid the light
shades of green which from your color chart you will see is the complement of red. Some of the
very darkest shades of green may be very becoming. The bright blues also tend to bring out the
redness of the hair and should therefore be avoided. Navy or midnight blue and the soft, silent
tones should be very pleasing. The deep shades of brown, also black and the cream and ivory
hues, will be found to be very good.
5. The Brunette:
If the brunette has a clear skin or good color, any shade is possible. If she is pale she should
avoid colorless dull or pastel shades. The brunette having an olive complexion, especially if she
is young, should never wear dark colors as they tend to make her look older. The warmer tones
by contrast emphasize the luster of the dark hair and are therefore desirable. It is generally best
for the brunette to use the warm colors such as reds, red orange, yellow, etc.
Whenever a brunette chooses to wear very dark shades such as dark brown, black, or
midnight blue, some bright color should be added such as orange or certain shades of red.
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6. The Gray or White Haired:
Very frequently the gray-haired lady tends to wear black, which is very good, but she must
not forget that a touch of white in the form of a yoke or collar to relieve the black near the face is
most necessary. White of course, being a neutral color, is very good for this type.
Purple in certain shades is generally quite becoming, but inasmuch as the complexion of
older people frequently tends toward the yellow, bright purples should be avoided, for being the
complement of yellow it tends to emphasize that color. A person who when younger found the
warm colors the more becoming must remember that as the hair begins to turn gray and the color
of the skin is not so clear that the cooler shades should be more and more used. Some of the dull
warm shades may also be pleasing, if the color of the eyes and the features warrant their use.
7. A Sallow Complexion:
A sallow complexion great care must be taken in the choice of colors. Of course there are
certain colors that will help a great deal. In fact, it is far better to select those which will reflect
color in the cheeks, and in order to do these choose warm tints such as red, shades of rose, a gray
color having a tint of pink or colors of this particular type.
Do not do this for the purple only helps to bring out the shallowness of the skin. Likewise
black should not be worn by this particular type of persons. If the complexion is very sallow
avoid yellow, tans or browns for it only tends to make the complexion look yellow.
Shades of blue green, navy and might blue will help to bring out the color in the cheeks and
in this way make the skin look less sallow. However, be very careful in the choice of shades of
green, for bright greens are hard to wear by most types and should be carefully avoided by this
particular one.
8. Florid Complexion:
A florid complexion, do not select red or shades of red. A repetition of the same color, even
though the tones and shades are different will bring out the color. Bright colors must be omitted
if a person having a florid complexion wishes to distract the attention from that fact. It is hard to
do this for a little red or pink for trimming is ever so tempting and it really takes a great deal of
self-control to keep from choosing these colors when one loves to wear them.
However, purples may be worn, also dark blues, dark brown or black can be worn. To be
sure, light shades are attractive for some people, but for this type of person usually darker shades
should be chosen.
9. Colors for Sports Clothes:
As to colors, here again any color you like and can wear well will be appropriate for the
sports costume. While some of the darker shades are meeting with approval, there is a decided
liking for the bright hues. Royal blue, scarlet and greens are favorites, as well as beige, coral,
grays and other colors. Some of the most attractive dresses are made from striped or barred
jerseys. Occasionally there is a clever weaving of silk which gives a decided richness to the
material. Metal threads, woven to form stripe effects in jersey dresses are most pleasing.
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10. Choose Of Colors
Just as there are certain colors which are usually pleasing and becoming, there are others
which nearly all people find rather trying and hard to wear. As a general thing we must all avoid
the pure hues having the full intensity. All of the bright shades of purple are trying to most
complexions. Bright reds and blues can be worn by very few people, whereas the duller shades
of these colors are found to be quite pleasing to many types.
6.6 LET US SUM UP
With harmony, style, color and personality, clothes require only the final touch of correct
workmanship to make them perfect. Her we saw the colour harmony with respect to distance,
texture, complementary, personal reaction, colour contraction and triads’ harmony.
Beautiful combination, which gave longer one, looks at it. Color combinations in the use of
Ø Create a fashion figure for different colour harmonies
Ø Collect swatches with different colour
Ø The methods of applying colour harmonies on a dress
Ø The basic principle of dress designing with colour concept
6.19 REFERENCES:
L.t.d..
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LESSON – 7: DRESS DESIGNING
CONTENTS
7.1 INTRODUCTION
7.2 FOUR ESSENTIALS IN DRESS DESIGN
7.2.1 Choice of Material
7.2.2. Choice of Color
7.2.3. The Design or Structure
7.2.4. Decoration
7.3 THE PROPORTION OF FIGURE
7.4 UNUSUAL FIGURES
7.5 LET US SUM UP
7.8 REFERANCES
Ø Steps involve designing of a dress.
Ø Studying the proportions of the body
Ø General figure, shape of the face, coloring, etc.
Ø Type of dress and look.
7.1 INTRODUCTION
To wear beautiful, becoming clothes is not enough. To wear clothes that are an expression
of one's individuality is not enough. There is something that is more important than fashion,
attractiveness, personality—something more significant than any or all of these.
And so we find that in addition to our knowledge of fabrics, design, the creating of clothes
and the conforming to certain individual types
To the artist, the human figure is the most beautiful in the world. The designer of clothes
must take this attitude also, if she wishes her creations to be truly beautiful. There are no straight
lines in the body. All are gently curved. And all parts of the body bear certain general relations to
one another.
For the study of design, you must know the figure, its contour, its curves, its general outline.
You must know the relation of the form to the gown you are draping—the form must be your
background, your landscape, your canvas, your very foundation. An invariable rule of design is
that all lines must closely follow the lines of the body.
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7.2 FOUR ESSENTIALS IN DRESS DESIGN
Let us see exactly what the designing of a dress involves—exactly what we must take into
consideration.
Ø The study of the structural lines of the human figure.
Ø The requirements of individual types. Suitability.
Ø The selection of materials, with reference to color, texture and weave.
Ø Detail—which is ornamentation and shaping, and an analysis of the laws of design
embracing proportion, rhythm, harmony and the perfect balance of line, mass and color.
In general the designing of garment for a different person can be classified in four
categories.
1. Choice of Material
2. Choice of Color
3. The Design or Structure
4. Decoration
7.2.1 CHOICE OF MATERIAL
The first point to be considered when designing a dress is the occasion for which the dress is
planned, as this will dictate the kind of material of which the garment is to be constructed, the
appropriate color, the form or design and the type and amount of ornamentation.
In regard to the material which is to be chosen, remember that stiff hard fabrics do not drape
well and should be used where more tailored effects are desired. Also take the individual into
consideration in the selection of materials, for the large person should avoid stiff, wiry, hard
surfaced materials as they seem to make one look stouter.

Just as soft dull fabrics tend to reduce the appearance of size in a large person, so do the
materials which do not cling to the figure tend to make the small, slender person appear larger.
All of the material used in a particular dress should be of approximately the same quality;
that is, avoid using cheap cotton material on a dress largely composed of very fine voile. Some
materials which are quite different, such as certain wool fabrics, may be used with satin, or
frequently spring or summer suits of wool are ornamented with linen or pongee. Combinations of
this kind lend variety to the dress or suit so that they are not too severely plain or monotonous.
The small person may look well in a dress made of such material, but even so it is desirable
that the pattern or design of the goods is not too conspicuous. Large figured patterns in dress
material just as in rugs, wall paper, etc., grow tiresome after a short time. Plain fabrics or
materials having small figures giving a quiet effect can as a rule by safely worn by everyone.
We can create these lines by means of ruffles or tucks around the figure or by means of
panels or plaits running up and down, and likewise by the use of the design in the material of
which the dress is made, this same effect is produced. If the person had chosen stripes running
the other way she would have been made to look taller and not nearly so stout.
70
7.2.2. CHOICE OF COLOR
Color in costume attracts or repels at once. No costume, however correct in line and design,
can be beautiful when made of a color or combination of colors that are discordant. The
combination of colors in dress is as much an art as mixing pigments and applying them to the
canvas.
For a cool combination choose the gray and blue of an autumn sky. The summer sky shows
nature in one of her most beautiful moods, we have combinations of gray and lavender, pink and
blue, gray and rose. In the woods, nature chooses russet and brown and dull yellows as her
favorites, and adds a splash of green here and there to give inspiration tot he artist.
We have already gone into the subject of color, and will therefore not discuss the subject
here to any great extent.
Study the individual carefully and select a color which will bring out those desirable
features and will tend to obscure and make less noticeable those which are not so desirable. Be
careful in choosing too bright colors, for there are few people who can wear them well. What is
good for the young, highly colored brunette is not so suitable for the more mature, delicately
colored blonde. Also remember that the use to which the dress is to be put or the occasion on
which it is to be worn has a bearing on the color of the material selected.
7.2.3. THE DESIGN OR STRUCTURE
This will, of course, be influenced by the type of dress, that is, whether it is a house dress,
an afternoon frock or a formal evening gown. The silhouette or general outline should follow the
lines of the figure, but of course not too closely.
Structural lines and decorative designs should be so placed as to avoid the monotony of
space divisions. For example, the dress should not be divided into two equal parts by a sash or
belt; an uneven division is much more interesting.
The curved line is the line of force and beauty and all lines of the human figure are at least
slightly curved. So in planning the dress remember to so construct it as to show some degree of
curve.
The design or structure of a dress must be made up of parts that show a proper relationship
to the human figure, that bring out one's good features and that skillfully cover the poor ones.
7.2.4. DECORATION
Frequently you have seen an apparently well-designed and proportioned dress of beautiful
material which just seemed to lack something. Very often it is a simple decoration properly
placed which would transform the appearance of the dress. It might be only a pin, buckle or tie of
contrasting color, which in itself would seem trivial yet, is the key to the whole scheme. On the
other hand, should avoid overdoing the matter of decoration or trimming, for it is just as easy to
mar a beautiful gown through an oversupply as with a lack of it.
71
Splendid effects may be had by way of decoration with tucks, plaits, ruffles, tiers and bands
of the same material as the dress. As a rule the question of decoration is not so much a matter of
material as it is a choice of quantity and the proper application of the decoration selected.
The decoration which must be in keeping with the material of which the dress is made.
Coarse materials permit greater freedom in the matter of decoration than do fine textured fabrics.
7.3 THE PROPORTION OF THE FIGURE
Fig 7.1
Figure 7.1 illustrates the structural lines and proportions of the human figure.
Point 1 is the top of the head. Point 2 is the chin. From points 2 and is the most important
structural part of the garment. Point 3 illustrates the correct structural waistline.
Correct proportion of figure can be gained by using the head as a unit of measurement. The
body, from top of head to feet, is ordinarily 8 heads. From the chin to waist line is ordinarily
from 2 1/2 to 3 heads. Across the shoulders is 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 heads.
After studying the proportions of the body, the structural points, and experimenting with the
heads as a unit of measurement, find the structural points of your own figure and see whether or
not your height is eight times the measurement of your head. Perhaps you are only 6 heads high
instead of eight. If so, you are shorter than the average person. Perhaps you are ten heads instead
of eight.
In either case, find the best structural point to remedy the discrepancy in the body
measurements. It may require a change in line between points 2 and 3, or a change in line
72
between the points 3 and 4. For instance, a deep V line between points 2 and 3 will give the
appearance of length and add to the height of the body. On the other hand, if the figure is ten
heads high, many ruffles or circles between points 3 and 4 will detract from the height.
7.4 UNUSUAL FIGURES
Few people are as perfect as to general figure, shape of the face, coloring, etc., that they are
able to wear almost any type of dress and look well. Many of us have certain peculiarities such
as narrow shoulders, flat chest or round shoulders, a large bust, or our face may be very square,
so that we must use care in the design and selection of our dress.
Fig 7.2
The unusual figures are classified in to two groups.
1. Becoming
2. Unbecoming
These two classifications are based on the following figure types.
1 THE THIN FIGURE
Choose materials which do not cling to your figure and remember what has been said about
shiny materials increasing the appearance of size. The lines of the silhouette should not be
continuous. Create the effect of horizontal movement in the lines of the dress as has been
suggested by the use of ruffles, tucks, etc. A wide girdle will cut down our height, and clothing
which is light in color will make you look stouter.
73
If the bones of the neck are rather prominent, be careful not to wear the dress too low. A
blouse which fits too tight across the front will make look thinner, so it must be avoided.
Becoming
Ø Lustrous materials, unless the person is too angular
Ø Materials that stand out somewhat from the figure
Ø The silhouette of the dress shown broken, rather than long beginning line
Ø Horizontal movement in the line of the dress
Ø Wear loose clothing
Ø Broken lines and curved lines
Ø The soft, full line of drapery in the waist
Ø Use short collars
Ø The sleeves gathered in to tight
Ø Use patch pocket
Ø Wear cap
Ø Light furs, if becoming to the complexion
Ø Long haired furs. If the person is small, the scarf must not too large
Ø Hats wit low crowns
Ø hats with drooping brims
Ø Hats of average size
Ø Hates with regular lines
Unbecoming
Ø Severely straight lines
Ø Angle in the lines of the dress
Ø Long narrow skirt
Ø Flat tight waists
Ø Sleeves so short that the bones of the arm are conspicuous

Ø High hates
Ø Angle in the line of the hates
Ø Stiff trimmings as wings or standing out from the hat
2 The Stout Figure
It is not only the thin person who has her troubles, for her plump sister also has her dress
problems. It has been said of the use of soft materials having a dull rather than a shiny surface
and of colors which are not too bright, as being more becoming to the stout figure.
Never try to make look thin by wearing a dress which is too tight for you, because this
merely emphasizes your figure. Just as the thin person must create a horizontal movement of
line, the stout person must obtain a vertical movement by the use of devices which will cause the
eye to travel up and down rather than across the dress.
74
Fig 7.3
The stout person (fig 7.3) should avoid the extremes in dress, as, for example—very short or
very long skirts, very tight sleeves, or the flowing variety. A long V line to the neck is always
desirable. When selecting a fur coat, never take a raccoon or any long-haired fur, for it has a
bulky appearance. Mink, squirrel or seal are much better.
Becoming
Ø One material or color, used throughout the costume rather than breaking it up into
separate parts.
Ø Soft yet not clinging fabrics.
Ø Fabrics with dull surfaces.
Ø Dull colors in large areas.
Ø Black, or very dark colors if the silhouette is good. if the outline of the figure is poor, use
fairly dark colors to reduce size, but not so dark that they will call attention to the
silhouette.
Ø An unbroken silhouette, if the figure is normal.
Ø Semi fitted, rather than tight effects in the dress as a whole but molded to the hips with
some fullness below.
Ø Transitional lines in the dress rather than extreme curves or angles.

Ø Vertical movement in the lines of the dress.
Ø The emphasis on the dress up and down the center front, with the principle accent at the
throat and, if possible a subordinate one at the bottom of the skirt.
Ø A long diagonal line in the waist is excellent for a stout figure, provided the diagonal is
not directed too far out toward the hips. Carried too far it will broaden the waist and hips.
Ø Panels of moderate width, Pleats, panels, etc., that starts above or below a point where the
figure is large.
Ø Comparatively long skirts.
Ø Skirts that flare a little in center front with a straight silhouette.
Ø A normal waist line or slightly above or below it.
Ø No belt or narrow belt.
Ø Slim, long set-in sleeves.
Ø Normal armhole, or trifle higher if the shoulders are broad.
75
Ø Sleeves that are slit vertically to show the length of the arm and only a portion of the
width.
Ø Simple neck lines, preferably long lines and long collars.
Ø Short jackets the same color as the skirt.
Ø Long coats and jackets.
Ø Flat, short-haired furs.
Ø Dark furs.
Ø Hats of moderate size.
Ø Hats that suggest an upward movement.
Ø Hats with irregular lines in the brim and a rather high crown.
Ø Hats with transitional lines rather than extreme curves or angles.
Ø Hair dressed high.
Ø Hair well groomed. It may have a wave with rather large undulations.
Unbecoming
Ø Lustrous fabrics, taffetas, and other stiff fabrics.
Ø Plaids, or may large or outstanding surface pattern.

Ø Heavy, bulky fabrics.
Ø Fabrics that take round lines.
Ø Bright colors in large areas.
Ø Unnecessarily full, long garments.
Ø Foundation garments that produce bulges above and below the garment.
Ø Very full or tight garments.
Ø Ruffles.
Ø Horizontal movement in the lines of the dress.
Ø Exaggerated curves or angles, for the curves repeat the lines if the figure and the angles
contradict them, therefore both call attention to the size.
Ø Very wide or extremely narrow panels.
Ø Panels, pleats or overskirts that spread or flutter as one walks,.
Ø Pleats, panels, or any trimming ending or starting at a point where the figure is large.
Ø Very narrow lines of trimming.
Ø Thin piping.
Ø Fluffy fichus.
Ø Large circles on hats or dresses.
Ø Short skirts.
Ø Skirts which flare all around.
Ø Yokes on skirts.
Ø A high waist line, since it makes the waist appear broader.
Ø An extremely long waist line, for it makes the upper part of the figure too heavy for the
lower part.
Ø Belts or sashes which are conspicuous in width or in color.
Ø Entire sleeve tightly fitted.
Ø Flowing sleeves.
Ø Transparent sleeves.
Ø Sleeves lighter than the dress.
Ø Kimono sleeves which give an effect of breadth, owing to looseness under the arm.
Ø Ribbons or trimming extending beyond or hanging from the sleeves.

76
Ø Sleeves ending at a place if unusual width on the figure.
Ø Wide, light cuffs on a dark dress for the eye will travel across the figure, adding width.
Ø Tight broad collars, or short collars.
Ø Short jackets that contrast with the skirt.
Ø Freakish or conspicuous shoes.
Ø Shoes with slender, high heels.
Ø Small hats.
Ø Big hats.
Ø Flat hats.
Ø Round hats.
Ø Hats with long lines or brims drooping on both sides.
Ø Contrasting colors and values in hats, hose, and shoes.
Ø A low or broad style in hair dressing.
Ø Small tight waves or “bushy” hair.
Ø Thin or very small pieces of jewelry.
Ø Tiny trimmings for hats and dresses.
Ø Very small accessories.
3 LONG WAISTS, SLENDER FIGURE
Becoming
Ø The effect of a slight blouse at the underarm seam.
Ø Long lines in the skirt.
Fig 7.4
Unbecoming
Ø A long, diagonal line in the waist.
Ø Tight bodice.
4 NARROW SHOULDERS
Becoming
Ø Padded or broadened shoulders.
Ø Broad lines in yokes, collars, and lapels.
Ø Armhole seams placed slightly out (or lower than normal)

77
Unbecoming
Ø A panel or vest effect that starts wide at the waist or hips and becomes narrower toward
the neck. This makes a triangle with the point at the neck and the base at the waist and
hips, thus narrowing the shoulders and broadening the waists and hips.
Ø Armhole seams placed higher or farther in than normal.
5 BROAD SHOULDERS
Becoming
Ø Lengthwise pleats, folds, or tucks extending from the shoulders to the waist, placed
somewhat toward the center line in order to narrow rather than broaden the figure.
Ø Hat with a relatively high crown and a fairly wide brim
Unbecoming
Ø Wide or horizontal structural lines in yokes, collars, and lapels
Ø Very small hats.
6 ROUND SHOULDERS
Becoming
Ø Set-in sleeves.
Ø The shoulder seam placed about one-half inch back of the normal shoulder line.
Ø Collars that will appear to straighten the curve of the back. Either have the collar long
enough to hang loose from the neck to below the highest point of the curve, or have it
short enough to fill in the space between the neck and the beginning of the curve. Then
build out the waist line by having the waist full and loose in order to fill in below the
prominent curve. This may be done by the use of a panel that hangs from the neck to the
waist, turning back under a loose belt, or by the use of a bolero jacket.
Unbecoming
Ø Kimono sleeves
Ø Raglan sleeves
Ø Collars that end at he curve of the back.
Ø Collarless dresses that are tight at the waist line
Ø Hat with a long dropping brim in back that forms a continuous line between the crown
and the curve of the shoulders.
7 LARGE BUSTS
Becoming
Ø Panels or vests
Ø Silhouette built out at waist and hips if not already large.
Ø A yoke line, jewelry, or some other conspicuous line that stops above or below the bust
line.
Ø Long flat collars and jabots.
Unbecoming
Ø The waist line drawn in.
Ø High fitted waist,
Ø Wide belts.
Ø Trimming at, or near, the bust line.
8 FLAT CHESTS
Becoming
Ø Full, soft collars.
Ø Jabots and fichus.
78
Ø Fullness over the chest by means of tucking or shirring the material into the shoulder
seam.
Unbecoming
Ø Tight waists
9 LARGE HIPS
Becoming
Ø Emphasis up and down the center front of the dress.
Ø Oblique lines from hem to waist that end slightly at one side of the center front.
Ø Narrow belt placed slightly below natural waist line.
Ø Average amount of fullness in the skirt.
Ø The skirt flared slightly from the hips.
Ø The skirt blouse at the waist line.

Unbecoming
Ø A one-piece, belt less dress hanging straight from the shoulders.
Ø Pockets at the hip line.
Ø Horizontal lines on the skirt placed near the hip line.
Ø short skirts
Ø tight skirts
Ø very full skirts
Ø Skirts that are narrowest at the hem
Ø Tight, closely fitted waist.
10 LARGE ABDOMENS
Becoming
Ø Waist slightly loosed
Ø Long, simple jabot of moderate fullness of reveres that end slightly below the waist line.
Ø Coats that build out the sides of the figure.
Unbecoming
Ø Waist and upper part of skirt fitted tightly.
Ø Sash or belt tied at the center front.
11 SMALL FACES
You may have a small face which is somewhat out of proportion to the rest of your body. If
this is the case the hats you wear must be rather small if they are to be becoming. Large and
rather "showy" trimming on the hat will make your face appear even smaller by contrast. The
principles you have learned in the study of proportion will come into play here to solve your
problem.
Becoming
Ø Hat that are rather small
Ø Trimmings that is rather fine in texture and in scale.
Ø A relatively small hair dress.
Unbecoming
Ø Large hats.
Ø Heavy hats.
Too large a hair dress, for, by contrast, it will make the face seem too small
79
12 LARGE FACES
Becoming
Ø Hats sufficiently large to from an adequate frame for the face.
Ø A hair dress of moderate size.
Unbecoming
Ø Hats smaller than the widest part of the face.
Ø Trimmings that is too small.
Ø Too large a hair dress, since it may make the head look too heavy for the body.
Ø Too small a hair dress, which will emphasize the size of the face.
13 SQUARES OR BROAD FACE
Becoming
Ø Hat with an irregular line.
Ø Hair dressed rather high and with a soft, irregular line.
Ø Rouge placed in toward the center of the face and blended up and down.
Unbecoming
Ø Lines in the hat or at the neck that repeat the lines of the face.
Ø Lines that oppose the lines of the face
Ø Hair dressed wide over the ears.
Ø Hair parted in the middle.
14 ROUND FACE
Becoming
Ø Collar or scarf worn close to the neck in back and with a long line in front
Ø Necklines that give an oval effect.
Ø Hats with slightly irregular effects.
Ø Hats with lines that carry the eye upward.
Ø Rouge placed rather high toward the nose and blended down.
Ø Hair worn in an irregular line.
Ø Ears covered unless neck is short.
Ø In that case leave the lower part of the ear exposed.

Ø Hair parted toward the side and arranged in an irregular line.
Unbecoming
Ø Hats with round shapes and lines that repeat the curves of the face.
Ø Hair parted in the center and drawn tightly back.
Ø Hair dressed wide over the ears.
Ø Hair dressed in rounded shapes and lines.
15 NARROW POINTER FACE
Becoming
Ø Short necklaces.
Ø Hat with medium-sized brim.
Ø Hat with slightly drooping brim.
Ø Hair worn low on the forehead and in soft irregular lines.
Ø Moderate size in hair dress.
Ø Hair worn back from the cheeks.
Ø Rough placed high out on the cheek bone and blended toward the nose and quit close to
the hair.
80
Unbecoming
Ø High hats.
Ø Tall, angular trimmings.
Ø Hair worn in a high, pointer knot at the top of the head.
Ø Hair so dressed as to cover some of the cheeks.
16 PROMINENT CHIN AND JAW
Becoming
Ø Rather large hats.
Ø Hats with soft, irregular lines.
Ø Hair worn in a large mass at the top of the head and wide at the sides, above the ears.
Ø Rough placed high on the cheeks and toward the nose.
Unbecoming
Ø Small hats.
Ø Severely tailored hats.
Ø Hair puffed out below the ears.
17 RECEDING CHIN AND SMALL JAW
Becoming
Ø Hats of average size.
Ø A hat with a brim.
Ø A very small amount of rouge on each side of the chin.
Ø Small hair dress.
Ø Hair worn low at the neck.
Unbecoming
Ø Large hats.
Ø Hats that turn sharply away from the face.
Ø Hair dressed to widen the upper part of the head and face.
18 PROMINENT FOREHEADS
Becoming
Ø Hat with a brim.
Ø Hat worn low on the head.
Ø Hair dressed low over the forehead to conceal some of it.
Ø A broken irregular line in the hair dress.
Unbecoming
Ø Hair pulled straight back from the forehead.
Ø Hair dressed wide over the ears and temples.
19 LOW FOREHEADS
Becoming
Ø Hair drawn back from the forehead.
Ø Hair dressed rather high.
Unbecoming
20 LARGE WAIST AND HIPS
If your waist and hips are large and out of proportion to the rest of your figure, then you
must dress in such a way as to attract the interest away from that defect. As has been said before,
the head should be the center of interest and this is particularly true in such a case. If you will so
construct the dress that the lines and trimmings carry the eyes toward the head, your large waist
81
and hips will not be so noticeable. Resort to the same methods as has been suggested for the
stout figure to give height to your figure.
Becoming
Ø Built-out shoulders.
Ø The center of interest kept at the face and away from the waist and hips
Ø Long skirts, in order to add height.
Ø Hats of average size or slightly larger
Unbecoming
Ø Broad panel effects.
Ø Sashes or wide girdles
Ø Small hats.
21 SHORT WAISTS
When analyzed the proportions of figure and found that measurements from the waist to the
neck were shorter than the average, if when making a dress you will lower the waistline below
the normal position, will improve the proportions of figure.
The short-waist woman, for instance, is usually of generous proportions. She has a full, high
bust and very probably a short neck. If she does not exert care in the choice of silhouette which
is, in other words, the choice of a correct style outline, she will present a clumsy, awkward,
bulky appearance.
She should avoid yoke lines or cross trimming lines that tend to cut the figure in two, and
also tight belts at the waistline. Instead, her silhouette should be based on long, slightly pointed
lines that carry the eye down rather than around the figure. It should be remembered that long,
vertical lines give the appearance of great height and slimness. The straight up-and-down
silhouette is by all means the best for this type of figure.
Becoming
Ø Waist line dropped below the normal line, especially for people whose hips are low
Unbecoming
Ø Built-up waist lines
22 LOW WAISTS
On the other hand, if your measurements from the waist to the neckline are longer than the
average, raise the waistline and you will notice a great improvement in the looks of your dress.
23 LONG NECKS
Doubtless she was wearing a very flat collar or a dress having a V neckline which so
emphasized the fact as to bring it to your attention. If this person had but known that a fluffy
collar or one having a soft roll would greatly detract from this effect it is very likely you never
would have noticed it.
Becoming
Ø Collars with high or medium roll.
Ø Round neck lines, especially those which fit closely to the base of the neck
Ø Fluffy collars or fichus or furs.
Ø High close collars.
82
Ø Scarfs.
Ø Short necklaces, especially bulky ones.
Ø Hair worn low at the neck
Ø Hair worn over the ears.
Unbecoming
Ø Collarless, without a necklace.
Ø V-necks.
Ø Hat with upturned brim
Ø Hat with high trimming
Ø Hair worn high
24 HIGH-HIPPED
The short-yoke effect dress tends to emphasize the "bad point" of the high-hip figure. The
waistline should be so located that it will impart a well-balanced appearance to the figure about
three inches below the normal waistline is usually the correct place for the belt or waistline. A
straight vertical silhouette from the shoulders to the low waistline terminating in a full-plaited or
shirred skirt is the most becoming style for this figure.
25 SWAY BACK
Becoming
Ø Blouse at back of waist.
Ø Fullness between the waist line and the hips.
Ø Belts which swing from loops at the side and which do not hug the waist line too closely.
Ø Devices which build out the waist line in the back, as bows.
Ø Thick jackets.
Ø Boleros which come down far enough to conceal part of the back.
Unbecoming
Ø Garments fitted tightly in the back, including tightly belted dresses.
26 SHORT OR THICK NECK
Becoming
Ø Flat collars.
Ø Collarless dresses.
Ø V-necks.
Ø Flat furs.
Ø Narrow-brimmed hats.
Ø Hair worn to show the ears, or at least the base of the ears.
Unbecoming
Ø Collars with high roll
Ø Broad neck lines
Ø Necklace worn close around the throat.
Ø Drooping hats.
Ø Hats with broad brims.
27 RETROUSSE NOSES
Becoming
Ø A hat with a brim.
Ø Lines of the hair that do not repeat the line of the nose.
83
Unbecoming
Ø A hat that turns away from the face.
28 PROMINENT NOSES
Becoming
Ø Hat with a brim. The brim may be somewhat wider in the front.
Ø Trimming in the front of the hat.
Ø Hair built out in a soft, rather large mass.
Ø Hair built out over the forehead, in order to balance the nose.
Ø Hair parted on the side.
Unbecoming
Ø Turbans.
Ø Severe, tailored hats.
Ø Hair drawn straight back from the forehead.
Ø Hair dressed high on the head.
Ø The large mass of the hair directly opposite the nose. So that the eye moves across that
line when the profile is seen.
29 SHARP ANGULAR FEATURES
Becoming
Ø Hats of medium size.
Ø Irregular lines in the hat.
Ø A brim that droops very slightly.
Ø Hair worn in a soft, irregular line.
Ø Soft large waves in the hair.
Unbecoming
Ø Severely tailored hats.
Ø Sharp, angular trimmings, as wings, quills, and sharp bows.
Ø Stiff fabrics.
Ø Harsh textures.
Ø Hair drawn severely back.
Ø Hair in tight waves, because it emphasizes by contrast.
30 LARGE FEATURES
Becoming
Ø Hair worn in a broken line around the face.
Ø hair worn smooth of in large, loose waves
Ø coiffure rather large
Unbecoming
Ø Hair curled in small, close waves
Ø hair drawn tightly back
Ø Coiffure extremely large
7.5 LET US SUM UP
It is really a study in itself—this consideration of correct dress. We all want to know exactly
what to wear and when it should be worn. This lends ease of manner and a sense of poise that is
never manifested by the person who is uncertain as to the right kind of costume to be worn.
84
In selection of our dress, many of us have certain peculiarities such as narrow shoulders, flat
chest or round shoulders, a large bust, or our face may be very square, so that we must use and
this lesson gone through based on this.
Ø Draw different types of unusual figure and design
Ø The principle methods of applying colour for unbecoming figures
Ø The reason for preparing different dress for unusual figures
Ø The key methods for developing a dress for unusual figures
7.8 REFERENCES:

Ø Fashion from concept to consumer, by Cini Stephens Frings, Low price edition
85
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1.

(fitness for purpose, aftercare) also have.

classification of fashion and fashion shows.

1.2.1 FASHION DESIGN TERMS

· A fashion designer conceives garment combinations of line, proportion, color, and

measuring tools, and, some times, an AutoCAD computer software program, or by

Formal training is essential for working as a pattern marker.

trousers, jacket and skirt, et cetera).

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textile designers are formally trained as apprentices and in school.

fashion photography and catwalk presentations of clothes collections. A stylist also is a

fashion buyers are trained in business studies.

synonymous with dressmaker.

fashion design school.

· A custom clothier makes custom-made garments to order, for a given customer.

· A dressmaker specializes in custom-made women's clothes: day, cocktail, and evening

· An illustrator draws and paints clothes for commercial use.

· A model wears and displays clothes at fashion shows and in photographs.

· An alterations specialist (alterationist) adjusts the fit of completed garments, usually

fit the client, not all alterationists are tailors.

· A photographer photographs the clothes on fashion models for use in magazines,

1.2.2 AREAS OF FASHION

· Architecture, interior design, and landscape design

· Arts and crafts

· Dance and music

· Forms of address, slang, and other forms of speech

· Economics and spending choices, as studied in behavioral finance

· Entertainment, games, hobbies, sports, and other pastimes

· Management, management styles and ways of organizing

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appropriate than "fashion")

· Social networks and the diffusion of representations and practices

· Sociology and the meaning of clothing for identity-building

· Technology, such as the choice of programming techniques

1.2.3 FASHION FLOW CHART

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1.2.4 FASHION IN CLOTHS

like or respect them may start to wear clothes of a similar style.

slavishly follows the current fashions (implementations of fashion).

1.3. CLASSIFICATION OF FASHION

The duration of fashion’s importance is a critical fashion designers or manufactures

designer is in a position to assess a fashions importance to the retail inventory.

Fashion is classified into many types, such as:

become fashion, when it is accepted by people.

but important to stress that fashion is synonymous with acceptance.

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that is from past to present and even in future it stands

going overboard for short lived fashion – Fad can be costly

1.3.4 FASHION FORECASTING

shows, press, magazines, newspapers and window display.

o Consumer focus groups

o In-store informal interviews

· Evaluating the collections

· Trend for Target Markets

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media exposure also helps establish the trends.

span is only three months.

chic", "sixties chic", "Georgian chic", "1920s Riviera chic"

1.5 COSTUME MADE:

individually sewn by dressmakers or tailors to their employers specifications. The identities of