Fashion Sketchbook [Hardcover]

Bina Abling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1995 | ISBN-10: 156367016X | ISBN-13: 978-1563670169 | Edition: 2nd

Fashion Sketchbook, now in a new edition, is the leading authority on sketching the fashion figure, fabric shapes and garment details. Ablings directions are easy to follow and detailed, using minimum narrative and numerous diagrams. Fashion Sketchbook explains step-by-step how to draw women, men, and children; pose the figure; develop the fashion head and face; sketch accessories; include garment details; and prepare flats and specs.

--This text refers to the Spiral-bound edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bina Abling teaches in the Fashion Design departments of FIT and Parsons School of Design in New York City. She is the author of Fashion Sketchbook,4th Edition, Advanced Fashion Sketchbook, Model Drawing, and Marker Rendering for Fashion, Accessories and Interior Design. Bina's knowledge and experience comes from 10 years in the fashion industry and 15 years of teaching. --This text refers to the Spiral-bound edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 205 pages
• Publisher: Fairchild Books; 2nd edition (January 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156367016X
• ISBN-13: 978-1563670169
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,606,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

115 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the ONLY book you will ever need as a designer, this is the Bible of fashion illustration, May 20, 2007

By 

Hedera Femme (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Fashion Sketchbook (Spiral-bound)

This is The authority on illustrating for fashion. Abling's attention to detail and artistic ability make her a perfect tutor on the topic, and every explanation is clear--it's the sort of thing where you look at the example, and it clicks in your head, "Oh, Now I see!".

The book goes over Everything you need, but in case you want to know exactly what is inside, here is a quick summary:

Ch 1: Fashion Figure Proportions

Figures on grids broken down in several ways, extensive work on proportion. Abling divides figures into geometric shapes: foot, head, hips, chest, upper arm, thigh; she then puts them together, showing how they fit and relate to one anther. It then goes further and shows how different poses and types of movement affect the torso (upper and lower), as well as different types/shapes of figures, from the elongated fashion figure to petite and full. The chapter also features a figure map, interpretations of anatomy, different poses and artistic approaches, balance, and movement.

Ch 2: Basic Figure Forms

Drawing legs, arms, feet, shoes, hands, fingers, and foreshortening. There are so many helpful diagrams from multiple perspectives, numerous poses.

Ch 3: Model Drawing

Gesture drawing, exercises on isolated sections of the body, angles, and more; balance line, supporting leg (where the weight is distributed so the figure looks planted to the ground, not floating around or unevenly/awkwardly perched), arms.

Ch 4: Fashion Heads

Faces, different ethnicities, facial features, dissection of the head with a map on the placement of eyes, nose, lips, etc. The head in different positions, from different angles; techniques to maintain proportion and balance: diamond technique, working with angles and planes of the face, shading/highlights/shadows. Hair: styles, hairlines, period styles.

Ch 5: Drawing Men

Comparison to female figure, legs, arms, hands, hair, gesture, dressing the figure, suits, and details on how the fabric falls, where to put certain features like the cuff, armhole, etc. Proportions, classic menswear techniques, fashion croquis technique, vintage styles.

Ch 6: Drawing Children

Proportions by age, with many dissections and comparisons, tons of helpful illustrations and examples. Infants, toddlers, children, tweens; heads, facial expressions, hairstyles, arms, hands, legs, feet, vintage styles.

Ch 7: Garment and Garment Details

Necklines, collars, sleeves (different types, lengths, etc), skirts (folds, fall of fabric, gathering, flaring, volume, pleats), pants (folds, gathering, lengths, fit), blouses, blazers, jackets, coats, ruffles, smocking, shirring, cowls, fur, quilting, formal gowns, applying the concepts to garments.

Ch 8: Accessories

Jewelry and how they sit on the body, eyewear, hats (male, female), belts (types, fit), trims, notions, closures, handbags, shoes (different angles, heel heights, types).

Ch 9: Basic Rendering Techniques

Working with stripes and other fabric types/prints. Shading, highlighting, rendering with marker, fall fabrics, more fabric types: shiny fabrics, flat/matte, sheers, layers, velvet, satins, chiffon, etc. Working with all black fabrics.

Ch 10: Color Rendering

Chapter features color renderings to show skin tones, menswear with marker, children; using gouache, using watercolors, rendering hair in color.

Ch 11: Drawing Knits

Necklines, knit patterns, treatments/embellishments.

Ch 12: Designer Sketching and Fashion Illustration

Poses: I-pose, S-pose, X-pose, T-pose. Attitude, "look" and feel, style, emphasis.

Ch 13: Drawing Flats and Specs

Layout styles, freehand sketching, proportion, chart on measurements by size: Women, Men, Unisex, Belts, Hats, Socks. Gathering, buttons, closures, top stitching. Mixing croquis and flat drawings.

Ch 14: Layout

Combining multiple drawings, elements, or figures; groupings,

Appendix

More necklines, collars, sleeves, armholes, tops, dresses, skirts, pants, jackets, coats, sleepwear, underwear, design details, ties, hats, waistlines, pockets, handbags, shoes, collars, cuffs.

One of the neatest sections in the book is titled "problem spots" and features examples of the right and wrong way to do various details. Showing examples of how amateurs or beginners make mistakes and then showing the correct way works So well! Better than explanation, this simple and clear approach is crucial.

This book is filled with immensely helpful diagrams, exercises, and demonstrations. Every part of it is useful to students and designers, and because it is so comprehensive, this could be the single most important book in fashion illustration. If you could only have one book on the subject, get Fashion Sketchbook by Bina Abling.

105 of 109 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fashion Sketchbook by Bina Abling, March 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Fashion Sketchbook (Spiral-bound)

This is an excellent and comprehensive book for all fashion design students who wish to learn the art of fashion illustration or for anyone who desires to perfect their skills.
As a fashion figure drawing instructor I suggest that if one's budget only allows them to purchase a single book I would highly recommend this one. In addittion to the female croquis, it touches on the male and juevenile croquis as well as illustration techiques, flats and portfolio presentation.

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book is worth the money!!!!!!, February 17, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Fashion Sketchbook (Spiral-bound)

If you can't draw but you really wanna be a fashion designer this book is for you it explains things so well and it has great drawings to help you!!!!