Yoga Wear in Three Styles

1

Sketch a stick figure, including circles for the joints. Use a yoga pose that will best show off the design you have planned.

2

Add volume to the figure by “connecting the dots” from joint to joint. Add a line to the face that shows eye placement. Use simplified shapes to indicate hands and feet.

3

Add loose details of your design, such as sleeve length or silhouette. Add a few sketched lines to show hairstyle and a few swipes of the pencil to mark facial features. Work quickly and confidently for the best results.

4

Clean up your illustration by erasing unneeded lines. Darken the strongest curves and details.

5

Add details to the clothing. Sketch in seams, hems, patterns, folds, and gathers. Finalize the garment’s construction and any other style points.

Creative choices in your drawing style make a big difference. Here, the figure remains drawn in pencil and only the clothing is colored and patterned, which highlights more of the fashion. This final illustration was created digitally by drawing on a tablet with a stylus, but you can choose whatever tools work best for you!

1

Draw a stick figure as a base for your model’s pose. Start with an oval for the head and simple horizontal lines for the shoulders, chest, waist, and hips.

2

Add volume to your line art. For fuller figures, add more space around each joint and more curve to each line. Pay attention to whether the width of the waist is smaller or larger than the width of the hips on your model, and use those proportions to guide you.

3

Create the clothing silhouette and basic shapes. Mark the neckline, sleeve length and any key design features, such as the split pant hems and wraparound sweater. Choose a hairstyle, and loosely sketch the shape.

4

Erase your original lines and stray sketch marks. Seeing your clean silhouette will help you to choose final details and accessories.

5

Refine the art adding the waist tie, sweater ribbing, leggings stripe, headbands, and yoga socks. Remember that style is in the details, so be thoughtful as you add both beautiful and practical touches.

This is a more tight and traditional drawing using pencil to sketch, followed by watercolor and colored pencil to finish. It is clean and clearly shows the details.

1

Sketch a basic stick figure in the desired pose.

2

Continue to fill in the form as before.

3

Add the basic garment shapes to your figure. Imagine the person wearing these clothes. What hairstyle would they have? Work out those details in this step.

4

Clean up your sketch!

5

Add details that will set your garments apart. As a designer, your job is to impart your unique point of view on each item you create. Be sure that your designs reflect who you are—that is what will make them stand out.

For this final illustration, the clean sketch was placed on a light box with watercolor paper on top. Watercolor was applied in puddles followed by colored pencil to create the pattern on the shorts. Thin outlines in black ink polish the look.

Casual Vibe

1

Start with a casual pose. Draw an oval for the head, shoulder lines, and stick limbs that show a loose posture.

2

Fill in the form with the body type to suit your design.

3

Begin the outlines of clothing. A casual T-shirt layered with a short-sleeve button-down, rolled skinny jeans, and slip-ons are on fleek. A few faint pencil strokes suggest a bit of facial hair.

4

Erase unneeded pencil lines to clean up the sketch.

5

Have some fun adding details and accessories. This hipster sports a backpack, sunglasses, a chunky watch, checkerboard sneakers, and some body art. A few corded bracelets, and this guy puts the “hip” in hipster.

The final illustration has a casual, artsy flair that mirrors the urban vibe of this particular design. Let your imagination run free and call upon your own muses to influence other ideas not reflected here.

Surf & Sand

1

This surfer begs to be in motion with hair blowing in the wind. Start with a stick figure in the desired pose.

2

Add weight to the figure. This pose has the face in profile, so suggesting the chin is helpful for establishing proportion. Sketch quick messy waves of hair and a horizontal line to indicate eye placement.

3

Continue to build out the form, indicating the fashion of your choice. Bikini bottoms and a cropped rash guard make a classic combination.

4

Erase unnecessary sketch lines and marks.

5

Now make it your own! Add a bold graphic to the front of the top and a stripe down the sleeve. A loose beachy braid, ankle bracelets, and patterned surfboard bring the look together.

Use loose watercolor washes and strokes to add color to this fun and fresh design.

After Hours

1

Model poses that fit the tone and theme of the fashion you are designing are important. This nightclub outfit is symmetrical and will look striking on a model facing forward with squared shoulders.

2

Fill out the form and add a few pencil strokes that indicate a hairstyle that matches the outfit.

Draw the structural outlines of the outfit. The top includes a sheer overlay with billowy sleeves. The skirt features a crisscross at the hemline. Add high-heeled strappy sandals for a fun, trendy look.

4

Clean up your illustration by erasing any old sketch lines. Suggest a bold lip color for this nighttime look.

5

Add a few final details. Remember that simple shapes often speak for themselves and don’t need too many fussy extras. In this case, a shirred hip on the skirt, chunky earring and bag, plus ankle straps on the shoes are all that is needed.

While this outfit could work in loads of different colors, black adds a striking, high-contrast appeal that matches the sheer style. A dramatic black outfit is also perfect for adding splashes of color elsewhere. This model shows off colorful ombré hair and matching clutch, earrings, and shoes in gold. It’s definitely an attention-grabbing look meant for a night of dancing and having fun!

Rock-n-Roll

1

Start with a stick figure, experimenting with poses that match this design. If you like, work from a reference photo that shows a strong pose for this look.

2

Fill in the form, and a simple eye, lip, and scribble of hair.

3

Draw the clothing using simple lines, indicating shape, volume, hemlines, and layering. A choker necklace is a huge part of this fashion statement, so include it in this step—or add any other accessories that you’d like.

4

Erase any stray lines and structural lines.

5

Now add the rocking details to show your style! Add rips to the jeans, studded straps to the shoes, fishnet socks, and a graphic tank top.

Use markers or your other favorite tools to add bold, graphic color. Purple hair, a black blazer, and plum-hued jeans hit the mark.

On the Slopes

1

Begin with a stick figure that establishes a pose with good proportion and balance.

2

Build out the form, and then add a vertical centerline and horizontal eyeline to the head.

3

Time to design the ski suit! This illustration shows the silhouette of a retro-inspired two-piece ensemble with faux fur-trimmed boots and a pom-pom knitted cap. Don’t forget the goggles or fashionable sunglasses, which are a big part of the finished look.

4

Erase any unnecessary pencil lines. Check your work and refine shapes and proportions until you have a clean drawing.

5

This ski attire includes a puffer-style cropped jacket with circa 1970s-inspired stripes and coordinating ski pants. Add matching mittens, ribbed trim at the waist, a zipper on the fleece, and some skis to make it legit.

Shading can play a big part in conveying your design on paper. Without the shading on each seamline, this puffer jacket would just look like it had stripes. Notice how the highlighted areas come forward and the dark areas recede. Instant puff! The ribbed knit cap and waistband also benefit from the use of dark shading against lighter color. Lastly, notice how the jacket is casting a shadow on the pants and fleece. Take advantage of this easy technique to make your designs appear more realistic.

Urban Eclectic

1

Sketch this pose using basic lines and circles at each joint.

2

Build out the figure. Draw the limbs according to your preference.

3

Sketch in the structure of your design. In this case, it’s a tailored jacket combined with a casual button-down shirt and ankle-length chinos.

4

Use a kneaded eraser to clean up old sketch lines. Refine the remaining lines and curves to make sure you are happy with the proportions.

5

Have fun with the details! Add stripes, polka dots, a jacket lining at the cuffs, and a trendy design on the sneakers. Don’t forget functional touches like pockets and closures.

Transforming your final sketch into a full-color design is your opportunity to inject your aesthetic and unique point of view into your art. In this example, the vibe is whimsical and eccentric. Use thin black ink lines to add character and add watercolor in bold hues to create texture and interest. This fashion is made for an individual with a big personality, so the drawing style is vibrant.

Tennis Pro

1

Begin by drawing a strong stance. Use simple horizontal lines to stack the shoulders, chest, waist, and hips. From there, add limbs with circles at each joint and simple shapes for the hands and feet.

2

Begin adding volume to the figure noting this athlete’s strong, solid limbs and broad shoulders. Add a midline and eyeline to the face.

3

Design the outfit! You can let your creativity flow even with something as simple as a tennis dress or other athletic wear. An asymmetric hem and one-shoulder design with color blocking reads as confident and capable. The pulled back hairstyle is suited to the sport, and athletic shoes are a must.

4

Erase old sketch lines and refine the drawing until it is well-balanced.

5

Add in small details, such as stripes, stitching lines, a coordinating sweatband on one arm, and socks for the win. The tennis racquet completes the look!

For this bold, strong, no-nonsense design, it makes sense to choose a clean, graphic style of illustration. In this case, the final art was rendered digitally on a tablet. Striking, flat color is added to clean black linework. The technique is compatible with the feel of the fashion.

Boho Chic

1

Draw a figure in a pose that suits your design idea. In this case, a carefree pose is perfect for a free-spirited festival goer.

2

Fill in the stick form by outlining the structure. Create curves to suit the body type, and add a midline and eyeline to the face.

3

Design the clothes! Add simple outlines to show the shape of each article in your outfit. For this festival fashionista, it’s a fanciful combo that includes a halter top, cutoff jeans, a sheer wrap skirt tied over the top, and slouchy suede-like boots.

4

Erase the structural lines to get a clean version of your design.

5

Embellish and add details! This outfit is a more-is-more situation full of fun. Add beads on the boots and a fun floral pattern on the skirt. Sketch a daisy-chain headband, aviators, and a printed scarf tied onto one arm. Long braided pigtails complete this look.

This boho beauty deserves an illustration style to match her personality. Outlining the figure in burnt sienna colored pencil adds an earthy effect. Use masking fluid to “paint” the flower pattern on the skirt. Next, add sheer watercolor washes to give the skirt a romantic, ethereal feel. Once the paint dries, gently rub off the masking fluid to reveal “flower” voids that you can then paint in vibrant shades of red and pink. Add a few pale background details to give your figure a sense of place—an art technique commonly used by designers.