In this week’s session, I focused on demonstrating how simple geometric shapes like cylinders and rectangles can be transformed into sophisticated, high-end fashion pieces that we commonly see in luxury brands.
I shared examples of designs from expensive fashion houses that use these basic techniques, showing how a single rectangular shape can be manipulated into various silhouettes suitable for different body types.
Demonstration Steps:
- Showed how to create basic rectangular/cylindrical shape as the foundation
- Demonstrated different neckline placements and their effects on draping
- Explained how moving the neck opening forward or back changes the drape of the garment
- Illustrated various sleeve options, from cape-style to fitted
- Showed how changing the length and gathering points creates different silhouettes
- Explained how to adapt the basic shape for different body types (pear, hourglass, apple)
- Demonstrated how adding gussets can improve fit in certain areas
Questions & Answers:
- Q: How do you cinch the waist in the ruby dress design?
- A: The waist isn’t actually cinched – it’s tucked in and sewn to create that effect. The top portion is attached to the skirt to create the illusion of separate pieces.
- Q: Would these designs work with my sway back?
- A: Yes – you’ll make the underlying dress to fit your body shape, including any sway back adjustments, then add the draped overlay on top.
- Q: Do you recommend jersey for our first attempt?
- A: Yes, I highly recommend starting with jersey fabric to understand the concept without dealing with the complexities of woven fabrics. Once you grasp the technique, you can switch to other materials.
Despite having to end the session early due to technical difficulties, I was able to cover significant ground in explaining these fundamental draping concepts.
Next week, I’ll continue with more in-depth demonstrations of these techniques and show how to create specific designs we discussed today.
