elements of design: shape usage recognition

1. Shape Usage Recognition
(Gradable 4-7)
Presented by: Rajani More
Batch Code: IM07/WKD/E/29/07/21

2. Tubular/Rectangular Shaped Garments
Rectangular garment shapes are with straight lines and tubes around the body. Longer than they are
wide, the dominant lines are vertical. In clothing, they are in opposition to the body and the waistline is
seldom defined. They accommodate width in the midriff and waist.
Tunic Tunic

3. Triangular Shaped Garments
Skater Dress Flared Skirt
Triangular garment shapes are composed of predominantly straight lines, often with soft flare. They are narrower
in the shoulders and wider at the hem. The waist may or may not be defined. Diagonal directional lines are
dominant in the lower area of the garment. They repeat and emphasizes straight edges and the angularity of the
body shape, while they counter roundness and camouflage width in hip and thighs.

4. Inverted Triangular Shaped Garments
Kaftan style Chinese collared tunic
Caped sleeves dress
Inverted Triangular Shapes (wedge shapes) feature predominantly straight lines. They are wider at the
shoulders and narrower at the hem. The waist may or may not be defined. Diagonal directional lines
are dominant in the upper area of the garment. They tend to repeat and emphasize straight edges and
the angularity of the body shape, while they counter roundness and camouflage width in upper back
and chest.

5. Hourglass Shaped Garments
Hourglass Garment Shapes are designed with a mix of straight and softly curved lines. The garment is
relatively fitted at the waist, emphasizing the smaller waist area as compared to the larger bust above
and hips below.
Flared body con dress Body con dress

6. Bell Shaped Garments
Mermaid dress
Ball gown with sweetheart neckline
Bell garment shapes are similar to some triangular garment and full-skirted hourglass shapes,
combining straight lines with softly curved to full rounded lines in the bottom half of the garment.
They feature a mix of vertical and horizontal line directions, conforming more easily to the body, yet
camouflaging the hip area.

7. Round Shaped Garments
Rounded or curved garment shapes are few and feature more curved lines than other shapes. The
shape changes depending on how full or rounded the curves are. They repeat and emphasizes
roundness and counter angularity in the figure.
Rounded Sweat Shirt Rounded Kaftan Hooded Long Shirt

8. Thank you