Elements of Design

May 3, 2024

So when you go to art school they teach you about art in a very analytical way - because, well, that's about the only way to do it.  Art and the creation of art is about as abstract as you can get, so trying to put the whole concept of creating art, means you have to put something really abstract into concrete terms.  This will always be something that's half there.  

My family from the time I was born, I was told I was artistic.  I didn't know what that was and I thought everyone was born with artistic talent and that I was just like any other Jane Doe on the street and had about the same as any other guy or gal.  Now, there was a kid in school who could draw realistic portraits in elementary grade - now that guy was talented, so I figured I had a long way to go.  

When I couldn't find a sewing program in college because, by the time I went, the women's movement had told us that sewing, cooking, and housekeeping were beneath all of us women, so we needed to get other degrees.   I wanted to sew, but that wasn't meant to be - so I went to art school - which wasn't so bad in the end, but at the time, I was in school on automatic and didn't have my heart in the whole program.  So when the teachers started talking about Elements and Principles of Design, I thought they were using made-up words that meant something to them, but I had no idea what they meant and wasn't interested in finding out.    You know that age that knows everything?  Been there and done that!  

Along comes a teacher who at least makes an effort to teach me the basics because she knows that if I understand the basics, then I can at least do something with them. It goes like this:  The Elements of Design are the parts of an artwork. The Principles of Design are how you take those parts and use them in a work of art that not only makes sense but accomplishes the task of making the artwork make sense.  

This is a pretty good illustration of the Elements of Design. This is a standard for art paintings so we sewists may have to change some of these a bit to make them work for our sewing artistic endeavors.  
 

LINE

This is using a line as a means of design.  My most favorite and most artistic probably is the Breton Shirt that has the classic lines.

But it can be worn with practically anything and almost every person of note, has worn the shirt, or been photographed in it because it so dang classic.  

This is the famous use of line, but you can do a lot of other things with line - diagonally... 

And no I don't normally show my big fat bottom, but this is an exception.  Although It may be difficult to match lines like this, they can make for some very interesting movement.  In this case, I didn't have the length to make these leggings but loved this fabric, so I put this stripe piece in to break up the length and lo and behold, I had enough for leggings.  I probably should have done these stripes in a different direction, but since this rarely shows, I don't worry so much about it.  

Lines can be used to show movement up or down, wide or thin.

Here's a perfect example, and that dress on the right would make any Rectangle or Apple figure shape look like a positive Hourglass!  Lines really can be quite illusionary.

SHAPE

This may sound a little nebulous, and like most of my distant artistic professors who wanted to get through the mundane theory of art as fast as possible, it has such an abstract meaning that it's hard to describe, but a picture... well, see for yourself...

This shape was so outrageous that it cause riots in the streets of Paris, returned the capital of couture to Paris after World War II, and started the Golden Age of Courture in all the world.  So shape can be a vital element.

FORM

So form is abstract - if Shape is 2-dimensional (which is it), then form is 3-dimensional.  Of course, our bodies are 3-dimensional.  I don't consider this one of the elements of fashion design, even though it is a legitimate element for making paintings.  For everything that an artist would use form for in creating a work of art, Shape fits that category in Fashion Design.  The 3-dimensional concept that form means works when you are working on a 2-dimensional art form or even a set for a play or opera, but in clothes, we are already 3-dimensional and working toward fitting and flattering that shape is almost more of a principle than element here.  So I don't include that in the sewists' library.  
 

COLOR

This is so important, I'm going to devote the whole next post on Color.  I touch on it here and there, but this will be more about the theory of color rather than just getting it right.  There are techniques to use to work color that are absolutely empowering for your wardrobe.  

TEXTURE

This is the classic use of this.  This is peau de soie, and it comes with a satin side and a pearlized side, which is substantially duller than the satin side.  This makes an excellent example of more interest in the garment because the fabric is turned, and a little contrast makes this a beautiful gown and something that she can wear repeatedly.  She is the epitome of stealth wealth in that she wanted something gorgeous and would stand out (that blush color against a sea of black tuxedos really does contrast her presence there.) So, using texture, dull vs shiny, even if subtle, provides enough interest to make this classic but not boring.

SPACE

Space is as much about what's there as what's not there.  The adage is that 70/30 to 60/40 is a good proportional use of space.  50/50 is boring and 100/0 is not space.  This means objects that are balanced at 60/40 to 70/30 are considered interesting and keep a garment from becoming boring.  

This illustrates perfectly what space does for a garment.  No one used this element better than Cruella de Vil.

Obviously, Cruella, the ultimate in fashion (or so she thought), knows her stuff when it comes to space—or rather, her designer does.

But really who wouldn't have fun designing this sort of thing - that neck would be a challenge for anyone, and although Cruella was supposed to be symmetrical, it's so much fun to see what the wild costume designers can do when given free reign.  

Had I not gone to art school, I'm not sure I would have learned these elements or parts of what makes up a great artwork.  They do work.  Sometimes, I look at a client's garment as it's taking shape and think something's wrong, but I can't put my hand on it.  Going back to the elements and principles has saved me so much angst and time to look up and see this from a different perspective, and pow.  There it is - too much is the same, or there is not enough negative space in relation to positive space, or color is wrong.  And that last one is a huge one—more on that coming.  But in the meantime, keep this table (at the top - click on it to save it) for reference when you're at an impasse or simply can't get a garment to sing when you know all the important parts are there.  

The SewingArtistry Resource Library is designed to contain information to not only make your sewing better, but to aid in you fitting and flattering your shape, size and style.  Check it out. 

Look for future classes coming in 2024
The Core Pattern Shirt, (one of my favorites for woven core pattern that you can make into a myriad of different garments), 
Basic Knit Top (core pattern class for knit basic tops, shells, tees, dresses, and tunics)
 

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