Here are a few steps from 9 Heads: A Guide to Drawing Fashion on how to draw the full S-curve figure. A number of books by Nancy Riegelman, including 9 Heads are available in our shop here. 1.) Draw in the head, neck and upper torso, including the bust, ribcage and upper arms extending to waist level at 3. Lightly draw in the…
GORED SKIRTS/GODETS Gores are shaped sections of fabric that allow the waist of a skirt to be shaped without the use of tucks or gathers. The number of gores used to make up the skirt can range from four to over twenty. The shape of the gores at the hem can be varied to create different hemline silhouettes. Godets are…
Fur is used extensively in garments, both in the main body of the garment (coats and jackets) and in trims for collars, cuffs, and hems. It is also often used in accessories. Numerous types of animal fur are employed including fox, rabbit, mink, beaver, ermine, sable, seals, chinchilla, and others as well as some exotic animal skins (leopard, bear, for…
The croquis is the foundation for most fashion drawings and must be drawn well. Drawing it well requires practice. Try the following exercises straight from 9 Heads (4th Edition), a modern guide to fashion drawing. 9 Heads: A Guide to Drawing Fashion is available in our shop, here. These exercises will help to gain speed and to learn the croquis measurements:…
To create a finished realistic look some muscles should be added to the croquis. Muscles give the rounded, fleshed-out look to the different parts of the croquis. How large the muscles are drawn is a matter of personal preference, but normally, for the fashion croquis, minimal musculature is indicated: in fashion drawing the “look” is long and lean. (For drawings…
The best angle from which to draw a bag to show its design details to the best effect is the three-quarter view. Start with a cube or cylinder, whichever is closest in shape, then add shading and design details. EXERCISE Here is an exercise from 9 Heads (4th Edition), a modern guide to fashion drawing.…
Begin by drawing in the balance line running vertically through the top of the head. Draw the head as an oval at a slight angle to the vertical. Draw a center-back line running from the center of the top of the head along the middle of the back of the head and down the back of the neck. In the…
When drawing belts it is essential to express the way the belt bends around the figure. The darkest shades will often be at the sides of the belt. Buckles should be carefully placed on the belt. Make sure to align it with the center of the garment. Pay attention to the material of the belt and draw accordingly. If the…
Fashion can be thought of as a metaphor, a poem of what we feel. This garment is complex to draw and it all begins by building up a silhouette that reflects the shape of the garment. Remember that the treatment chosen for make-up and hair gives a drawing style and individuality: the face can be used as a canvas to…
For more information and guidance on drawing please refer to 9 Heads 4th edition and Colors For Fashion. Remember to practice, practice, practice with a 9 Heads Women Notebook. And don’t forget that you can personally ask Nancy Riegelman and her staff of fashion illustrators your questions! SHOP
A thin line will do the opposite, making the figure appear light and ethereal. A line that is important in fashion drawing is called a nuanced line. A nuance is a slight or subtle change of meaning, and a nuanced line is one that changes subtly from thick to thin or from dark to light. Nuanced lines are used to…
A toile de jouy is a type of printed calico with a characteristic floral, figure, or landscape repeated design on a light background, typically on a white or off-white color. During the mid-18th century, toiles were popular in Britain and France, but were first produced in Ireland. In the late 18th century, the term “toile de jouy” originated in France, which…