1. Principles of Design

2. Balance in Fashion

3. What is the definition of balance?
What does the word balance mean?
Where is balance used?
What comes to your mind when you think of balance?

4. Balance
The parts of a design are arranged so they achieve a feeling of rest and equilibrium
Refers to how lines, shapes, colors, textures, and patterns are used to break up an area or space into parts.
You can manipulate the elements of design to increase or decrease apparent visual weight.

5. Two types of balance
Within balance there are two main methods to create equilibrium
Symmetrical Balance
Asymmetrical Balance

6. Symmetrical Balance
Both sides are EXACTLY the same, a mirror image of each other.
This type of balance gives a very solid and professional look.
Symmetrical balance is referred to as formal balance.

7. Symmetrical Examples

8. Asymmetrical Balance
The design is balanced, but each side is different in some way.
This type of balance tends to draw attention to a particular area.
Asymmetrical is referred to as informal balance.

9. Asymmetrical Examples

10. The Rhythm of Fashion

11. Rhythm
Refers to how attention is led around the garment or the outfit.
Rhythm is achieved when the lines, shapes, colors, textures, or patterns in clothing and accessories are arranged to lead the viewer’s eye easily from one part of the garment to another.

12. Rhythm
Repetition
Gradation
Transition
Opposition
Radiation

13. Rhythm by Repetition
Repetition of line, shape, color, texture, or pattern within the design
Examples: row of buttons, trim on collar and cuffs, the same color used several times.

14. Examples of rhythm by repetition

15. Rhythm by gradation
Gradual change in lines, shapes, color values or textures within the design
The degree of change must be SMALL or a jumpy, choppy effect will result.

16. Examples of rhythm by gradation

17. Rhythm by radiation
Of lines, shapes, colors, or textural folds inward or outward from a central point or area.

18. Examples of rhythm by radiation

19. Rhythm by transition
Continuous line movement created by a line of shapes, colors, or textural trims.
Examples: princess seamlines, contrasting piping around the collar and down the center front to the hemline

20. Examples of rhythm by transition

21. Rhythm by opposition/ alternation
Alternation of two or more lines, shapes, colors, textures, or patterns. Causes contrast or opposing details in a design.
Examples: yellow then blue stripes in a shirt, beads used against feathers, sheer then opaque fabric used.

22. Examples of rhythm by Opposition

25. Emphasis & Harmony

26. emphasis
A dominant focal point or center of interest in a garment or an outfit created by the use of line, shape, color, texture, and/or pattern.
A point for the eye to rest on for a period of time.
An outfit without a dominant point of interest appears uninteresting, boring, and unfinished.

27. Too much emphasis
Two or more dominant areas or points of emphasis, are distracting and confusing… the eye becomes overly stimulated and the effect is spotty and displeasing.
Other points of interest may be present… but they must be less obvious in their claim for attention. The eye notices them, does not rest there, but returns to the dominant point.

28. Examples of emphasis

29. Harmony
Harmony is created by the following the principles (rules) of design when using the elements (tools).
Harmony is pleasing when it has unity and variety.

30. Unity
Repeats one or more of the elements of design to tie the outfit together.

31. Variety
Uses multiple elements of design to add interest and excitement to the outfit.

32. Examples of Harmony

33. Proportion/Scale Flattering the figure

34. Scale: Relates to the absolute size of an object or space compared to other things.
Proportion: How the lines/shapes divide the space, garment into parts. Compared to the whole.
Proportion = Ratio’s

35. Proportion= ratios
Any fashion can be divided into parts and compared, which creates a ratio.
Draw visual lines across the design to begin.
Where there is a line, color, texture or shape change begin the first part of your ratio.
The second part of the ratio is the remaining part of the outfit. 1 1 2 1 3 2 4 3
1 to 3 ratio

36. Proportion
A garment is generally more interesting and pleasing if divided into uneven or unequal parts, and if the parts are in scale with the body.
For example, uneven ratios of one part to three parts, two parts to three parts and three to five are traditionally considered to be more interesting and artistically pleasing than one to one or two to four which can appear boring or bulky.
Uneven ratios are more similar to natural body proportions and less obvious than even ratios.

37. Natural proportion
With the waist as the dividing line, the body’s ratio averages two parts above the waist and three parts below or three parts above five parts below.
Garment proportions that are harmonious with the body do not reveal nor emphasize variations in body proportions that occur due to bone structure and uneven weight distribution.
Clothing proportions can be manipulated using the elements of design to visually alter body proportions and created an illusion about the figure.

38. Mark the proportion 1 1 1 1 2 3

39. Assessment example

40. 1 2 3

41. Step 1 Find your picture Red Carpet Search Images
Pick something easy to divide into a 1:3, 2:3, 3:5 ratio.
Copy & paste into power point.
Adjust pic so it is about this size.

42. Step 2 Add a rectangle around the design.
Format shape (right click) to make the fill (no fill) and the line color something easy to see.

43. Step 3 1 2 3
Draw in straight lines that divide the design. Make sure the lines are in a color that is easy to see.
Now add the numbers. Again, adjust the color so it is visual.

44. Step 4 1 2 3
Group the picture parts together- select all, right click, group.
Now print. This does NOT need to be in color if the picture/dividing is easy to see.