Fashion illustration

Figure pose and space emphasize garment lines, fabric flow, and outfit combinations.

Visual traits

• garment silhouette
• fabric flow
• pose that displays an outfit

Expected changes

• Garment shapes are more likely to be legible
• Fabric flow and layering are more likely to be emphasized

Definition

Fashion illustration centers a clothed figure or an outfit and depicts silhouette, fabric movement, color, and the relationship among garments. It does not determine a real brand, specific product, body ideal, or regional or historical dress.

In more detail

Figure pose and empty space are used to show garment lines and styling. It is distinct from product photography selling clothing, portraiture centered on expression, and a production technique itself.

Includes

• Figure images centered on garment silhouette or styling
• Illustrations showing the relation of fabric form and an outfit

Excludes

• Advertising for a real brand or product
• Portraiture centered on face or personality
• Recreation of dress from a particular culture or era

What this does not imply

• A real brand
• product
• body type
• gender
• or age
• Dress from a particular era
• region
• or culture

Variability

Line weight, coloring, and full-body or partial framing can be adjusted separately.

Usage

• Keep garment form and styling as the subject
• Confirm brands and culturally specific dress separately

Distinguish similar expressions

• Use portraiture when expression of the clothed person is the subject

Typical uses

• Show an outfit through a figure's pose
• Visually organize fabric lines and silhouette

Possible failure modes

• Face or setting becomes more prominent than clothing
• Garment construction is unreadable and the outfit becomes vague