Finding Inspiration for your Clothing Design

Finding inspiration for your designs isn't hard - it's all around you! Every movie or TV show you watch has styles - or, more importantly, details - that are worth noting. And, of course, fashion is all about the details.  Change a collar, cuff, or skirt silhouette, and you have a new style.  So, just pay attention!

Where to Look and What to Look For

To find inspiration for your designs, look to the past, to other cultures, or just to the latest fashion magazines.

Don't copy directly from another designer, especially if you plan on selling your creations.  But focus on a detail that you love, and incorporate that into your design.  It can be something as simple as the shape of a neckline, the drape of the bodice, the flare of the skirt - anything that catches your eye (it's bound to catch everyone else's eye in your garment, too!).

I love historic costume, but following a garment from the past feels too "costume-y" to me.  I'll use the sleeve and neckline, or shape of the skirt, as inspiration for my own design.

I also love ethnic clothing, but again, want to avoid looking like I'm wearing a costume.  Stitching or other decorative details can easily be incorporated into a simple top or dress.

For example, this is a 1920's 2-piece dress that inspires me.  I like the wide neck and tapered sleeves, but I especially like the pleats at the left     side and the low-slung belt.

1920-s side-pleated dress for inspiration

This is a kurta, which is a traditional men's tunic from India. It has a stand collar and regular shirt sleeves, but it also has the side pleats I like - and the asymmetrical hem is very modern.

men's side pleated kurta for inspiration

Using the two styles above, I created 2 different tunics utilizing elements from BOTH styles.

The one on the left refers mostly to the men's kurta, but has the more feminine neckline and tapered sleeves taken from the 1920's dress.

The one on the right references the dress, it's been shortened to tunic length with the asymmetrical hem of the kurta.  This necessitates raising the belt to the high hip, too. 

2 versions of side-pleated tunic inspired by vintage and ethnic clothing

Neither of the tunics I designed are copies, but both retain elements from the historic and ethnic originals. 

For more inspiration from historic fashion, take a look at It's Sew Easy: Inspiration From the Decades.

This Craftsy courses explores fashion throughout the 20th century, and the cultural changes that influenced fashion. There's a lot of emphasis on details, and that's exactly what you need to focus on for your own design inspiration!

How to Get Started

So, how to you start designing your own clothes? 

Just start sketching!  Browse through magazines and mark pages with details you like, make a quick sketch when you see a celebrity wearing something you love, or make a note of a detail as you're watching a TV show or movie.

Then start putting those details together into a garment! 

There will be a lot of trial and error - some design elements work well together, some don't - and don't try to put ALL your favorite details into one garment.  It's overwhelming and you'll lose focus.

But all you have to do is sketch, sketch, sketch - keep trying different combinations until you find what you really like.

To help with your sketches, I have developed a sketch book, with figure templates (called "croquis") that will make it much easier to draw your styles with proper proportion, and depict movement. Creating a realistic sketch of your idea will help you visualize the style more fully.

The sketch book is available with misses or plus size croquis, and in a full-sheet size (8 1/2" x 11") or a smaller, purse size book

.

Click on the links below to go to the item in Amazon.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This helps to keep this site free for your use. You are free to search Amazon for these or other similar items without using the affiliate links on this page. 

full size sketchbook misses

Misses Size Templates



plus size full size sketchbook cover

Plus Size Templates



misses small size sketchbook

Misses Size Templates,

Small Book



plus size small sketchbook

Plus Size Templates,

Small Book



And add color!!  Color can make or break a design.  And a change of color - or color combinations - can create a whole new look for the same silhouette!

How can you get a grip on color?  With coloring books!  (yes, REALLY!!). 





dress design coloring book
This fashion-inspired book, the one I used in the video, is a great start. Just grab some color pencils and go! It's only paper. You can't make a mistake! Try combinations that you think you'd never really wear. You'll be surprised at what works and what doesn't - and how much difference a change of color can make to any garment.

What's the Next Step?

Before you create these dress, skirt or blouse styles, you'll need a well-fitting dress block.  You can create one from a commercial pattern, based on your own measurements and shape.

More on Design and Basic Pattern Making

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