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Women and Men – Differences in their Bodies

                                         

Men and women’s bodies are quite different, but the illustrating of the body types can sometimes be difficult. This template tutorial allows the user to distinguish the artistic differences between the body types when designing fashion items.

 

The obvious difference in the body types is that men are generally taller with broad, square shoulders, while women’s shoulders are quite narrow and slope downwards. Women have curvier, wider hips and thinner necks than men. Most fashion illustrators exaggerate the narrow waist and elongate the legs of a woman, whilst drawing overly muscular arms and broad shoulders for the man.

 

Body proportion facts for men and women fashion body templates:

  

• To avoid a wide-eyed stare, draw the eyelid half covering the pupil.
• The eyes are in the centre of the face.
• Generally, eyes are one eye-width apart.
• Ears and eyes are in line with each other.
• The ear line falls between the eyebrows and the nose.
• The upper lip always appears in shade as it curves in towards the teeth.
• The hands in both men and women fashion templates are three quarters of the head size.
• Relaxed arms reach to halfway down the thigh.
• In adult men and women, the legs form at least half of the total height.
• The sole of the foot excluding the toes is equal to the size of the head, in all cases. 
• The big toe is approximately one quarter of the whole foot.

 

Stylising your body template:

 

Although an understanding of the proportions of the human body is imperative in fashion illustration, depiction of reality is not always expected. A bit of exaggeration (stylising) in your fashion illustration can add character and originality, while giving you experience in the art of correctly drawing body templates. By performing the nine heads technique (which is a free template tutorial on this website) and elongating the legs, the figure is already exaggerated. Calculate the legs as two thirds rather than half of the total height. Although contemporary fashion has reverted to natural body shapes and proportions, as opposed to the wildly exaggerated templates of the past, proportions can never be exact as artistic licence will always play a part in fashion design.

 

Which pose should you use?

 

Different poses in your body template can depict various moods or emotions, depending on the way in which it is drawn. The type of fashion that you are designing dictates the type of pose that is required: please keep this in mind when illustrating. A stance which involves hands on the character’s hips would seem strong and bold; a woman clasping her hands behind her back with her head tilted downwards would seem demure or coy, whereas with her head tilted upwards it would seem wistful and deep in thought. Ask yourself whether you are designing your own range or if you are doing commissioned work. Having a collection of poses from which to choose ensures diversity in your work. A versatile designer always adds new fashion body templates to their work, to ensure that they can draw all fashion categories and poses.

Next: Finding Inspiration