The Fashion Designer's Directory of Shape and Style: Over 500 Mix-and-Match Elements for Creative Clothing Design [Paperback]

Simon Travers-Spencer (Author), Zarida Zaman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2008

Both students of fashion design and professionals in the field will find valuable inspiration in this profusely illustrated idea book. More than 1,200 detailed illustrations provide the building blocks for designing imaginative and original clothing. The opening section serves as a photo-illustrated catalog of basic shapes for:

*Sleeves * Necklines * Hems * Pockets * Ties and Fastenings * Collars * Cuffs *Waistbands *Embellishments (lace, appliquque, etc.)

The book's second and main section combines photos and fashion illustrations to present unique and original design ideas for all of the above-noted clothing parts. Sixteen original designs per page are sketched in a grid format, according to intended use: casual, formal, special occasion, and essential. The drawings are cross-referenced according to suggested fabrics for construction. A gatefold flap inside the book presents an outline human figure to guide designers in mixing and matching garment parts. The book's final section, titled "Taking It Further," shows how to find additional inspiration from outside sources, for instance from architectural details, or the graphic designs of the 1960s Op Art movement, or the dress designs of the 1930s. Readers will also find inventive ideas for using specialty fabrics, including silk, organza, and suede. Color photos and illustrations on every page.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

(back cover)
Over 500 mix-and-match elements for creative clothing design

An invaluable resource for dressmakers and students of women’s fashion design, this book presents more than 500 detailed illustrations that give you the building blocks for creating imaginative and original garments. The authors tell you how to research ideas, master construction methods, and choose suitable fabrics. They also offer inspired suggestions for embellishing your creations.

Instructive illustrations provide an at-a-glance visual guide to scores of options for sleeves, necklines and collars, waistbands, pockets, cuffs, closures, and hems. Also shown are hundreds of shapes and styles for shirts, tops, skirts, pants, jackets, and dresses.

All garment illustrations are designed to fit the outlined human figure on the fold-out flap. Using it as your guide, you can mix and match shapes from the directory to create original garments and prototype collections.

Special feature: A comprehensive textile directory advises on using specialty fabrics such as silk, cashmere, and velvet. These fabrics’ characteristics determine a garment’s final shape and fit.

Simon Travers-Spencer teaches fashion design at London’s prestigious Central St. Martin’s College of Art and Design. He is currently developing his own label collection and acting as a trend researcher for a U.S.-based fashion forecasting agency.
Zarida Zaman teaches at both Central St. Martin’s and London College of Fashion, specializing in teaching women’swear fashion design. She has designed garments for a wide range of markets, including work for fashion houses of Fabio Prias, Joe Casely Hayford, Florence-based Enrico Coveri, and French Connection.

About the Author

Simon Travers-Spencer is a menswear graduate of the prestigious Central St. Martin's College of Art and Design in London. He has illustrated for Dunhill, worked as a tailor's assistant at Watts & Co., and as a production assistant at the design studio Tristan Webber. He is currently developing his own label collection.

Zarida Zaman is a Central St. Martin's women's wear graduate. She currently teaches there, and at London College of Fashion. As a practicing designer she is working with a London-based fitness company, producing sportswear designs for men and women.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764138669
• ISBN-13: 978-0764138669
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,986 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for brainstorming!, October 3, 2009

By 

N Bowers "Xenophile" (Florida, for now...) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fashion Designer's Directory of Shape and Style: Over 500 Mix-and-Match Elements for Creative Clothing Design (Paperback)

I bought this book about a year ago and refer to it often when I'm trying to come up with a new design or if I feel like altering something I already have. The book is split up into sections (collars, sleeves, closures, etc) and shows both color photos and drawings of each clothing component.

This book will not teach you how to construct or alter patterns for the pieces you see! It is merely a reference book of many shapes and styles for the clothes we wear everyday. This book would've been top notch if it included menswear shapes, but alas, it's only for the ladies.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for entry-level Fashion Designer, December 14, 2008

By 

CSL "CSL" (Cincinnati, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Fashion Designer's Directory of Shape and Style: Over 500 Mix-and-Match Elements for Creative Clothing Design (Paperback)

While Project Runway has been an inspiration to many, the world of fashion design does require talent. The Fashion Designer's Directory of Shape and Style is a great book for a person seeking to really begin to understand design and fashion.

If you're a person who loves to experiment with changing clothing patterns or making your own, this book will get you thinking and playing with fabric and new designs. You could design a whole new look for yourself!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fashion Designer's Directory of Shape and Style, June 29, 2009

By 

D. Jean How (W. Bloomfiield, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fashion Designer's Directory of Shape and Style: Over 500 Mix-and-Match Elements for Creative Clothing Design (Paperback)

If you want to be a designer, work in the field of retail, understand your consumer's wide range style views. This is a great book to have for research and resources at your finger tips.