Fashion Sketchbook Reviews

• Fashion Sketchbook by Bina Abling

  
  By on 2002-03-08
  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.
  
  

• the ONLY book you will ever need as a designer, this is the Bible of fashion illustration

  
  By A35HOUWHAYZZN6 on 2007-05-20
  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.
  
  

• ONE OF THE BEST ILLUSTRATION BOOKS OUT THERE

  
  By on 2004-05-03
  being a fashion illustration student I was very apprehensive about purchasing another fashion illustration book written by someone who thinks they know how to teach illustration but instead this book is a real treat!! it couvers not only women and men but children also which is very rare. YOU SHOULD BUY THIS BOOK if you're serious about illustration!!!
  
  

• This Book is worth the money!!!!!!

  
  By on 2003-02-17
  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!!!!
  
  

• Out Dated

  
  By on 2000-05-15
  In general, the book delivers what it sets out to do...teach the beginner a "how to" in illustrating fashion. Although, the croquis (models drawn) are quite out dated. Now-a- days, designers and students use 12 to 15 head croquis, Ms. Abling although talks about the idealized long figures but fails to demonstrate the current lengths. Besides this "technical" outdate I found a few (very few) other outdated parts to this book (i.e. color marker and flats section) But for the sake of not being too critical, I think this book is still worth buying!
  
  
• Great How to Guide to Fashion Sketching
  By AOH2OMG4I2DQO on 2003-12-22
  If you are a beginner or need assistance in learning to draw croquis this book is a must have. This large, detailed,in depth book is a great resource for your fashion library.
  
  
• Perfect for fashion illustaration
  By on 1999-02-16
  The first time I saw his book, I was amazed. It is a wonderful book for fashion illustration which includes male, female and children's positions and facial features. Also, it shows seam lines in great detail. I encourage everyone interested to buy this book, it's worth it.
  
  
• buy this book!
  By A3BF4W71FMC6QT on 2006-01-28
  This book is really great if you want to learn how to draw fashion models and their clothes. It covers everything... basic shapes, poses, faces, clothes, hair, hands, feet and much more. I also loved the fact that it was spiral bound because it lays flat. I think Bina is a great artist and I would definately buy more of her books. If you can only afford to buy one book- this is it. This book has it all! Trust me...buy this book!
  
  
• This book is my favorite
  By on 2002-03-13
  I love this book. It is big, and hardcovered, and the sketches are accurate in portraying details. I have not read it yet, but my sketches already have improved.
  
  
• Excellent Book
  By AKA3LRI5SJ5Z7 on 2006-03-09
  This book is excellent for someone who struggles with drawing every aspect of a fashion illustration. This book shows you how to draw feet and hands in different positions along with different poses. This is an excellent book and great tool.
  
  

• Fashion Artist (Fashion Design Series)
• Figure Drawing for Fashion Design (Pepin Press Design Books)
• Fashion Illustration for Designers
• 9 Heads: A Guide to Drawing Fashion (3rd Edition)
• Patternmaking for Fashion Design and DVD Package