A fashion figure or template is a stetch of a fashion model, which you trace over to design clothes and outfits. It’s also called a fashion ‘croquis’, (not to be confused with ‘croquet’! But if you do want to play croquet in your cool clobber, you won’t be the first …) 
Fashion sketching helps propel a designer’s ideas from their head to the catwalk. If you want to see your own sustainable designs take shape, why not give it a go?
SWISH TIP The trick to an exciting fashion sketch is to exaggerate! Make sleeves a bit longer… trousers more swishy… neck super looooong.
Think of your ‘croquis’ as a cool, cartoon figure you bring to life with your SUPER SUSTAINABLE clothes!
To get you started, CLICK HERE for 3 croquis in different poses for you to download and ‘dress’. Trace the pose you want, and then create an outfit around it using pencils, pens or paint. You can even stick on fabric swatches to create a mini-model you!
You can design every detail of an outfit – down to your model’s hair and accessories! Add notes to yourself, or arrows to the details.
Here’s a croquis sketch by a Swisher who wants to create a romantic outfit with puffed sleeves, floaty silk skirts and pearls (fake ones, obviously. She’s not a princess! Just wants to look like one... 
)
Think of your ‘croquis’ as a cool, cartoon figure you bring to life with your SUPER SUSTAINABLE clothes!
To get you started, CLICK HERE for 3 croquis in different poses for you to download and ‘dress’. Trace the pose you want, and then create an outfit around it using pencils, pens or paint. You can even stick on fabric swatches to create a mini-model you!
You can design every detail of an outfit – down to your model’s hair and accessories! Add notes to yourself, or arrows to the details.
Here’s a croquis sketch by a Swisher who wants to create a romantic outfit with puffed sleeves, floaty silk skirts and pearls (fake ones, obviously. She’s not a princess! Just wants to look like one... )
Hi, Tash here, author of The Swish. I’ve had a go at creating my own fashion model using fabric swatches (because I cannot draw! Plus I have The World’s Biggest Rag Bag, OFFICIAL).
First, I printed off Template no.2
Next, I traced over it to create my design: my dream outfit if I ever have to go up on stage to collect an award (for Best Teen Novel?! Though I’d settle for Best Fashion Upcycler in a Middle-Aged Category).
I’m thinking tight pink top, and lush, gorgeous golden skirt… to give me some Swish!
Next, I traced over it to create my design: my dream outfit if I ever have to go up on stage to collect an award (for Best Teen Novel?! Though I’d settle for Best Fashion Upcycler in a Middle-Aged Category).
I’m thinking tight pink top, and lush, gorgeous golden skirt… to give me some Swish!
Sticking my fabric cut-outs into place, I add a pair of shocking pink heels… hmm, and what else? Hair! That’s what’s missing, plus a few copies of my teen novel, The Swish (the perfect accessory for any fashionista!)
My model might not win any fashion awards, but she was fun to create! Whether your perfect outfit means skinny jeans or a sequinned mini-skirt, get fashion sketching, and show off YOUR style. 
FUN FASHION FACT:
The game of croquet was MASSIVE during the Victorian era (think FA Cup with hoops). The big reason for its popularity? Women were allowed to play this ‘sport’ against men (otherwise considered MOST unseemly). Even better, they could play it wearing their usual long skirts. Inevitably, whacking croquet balls became a SMASHING way for young people to flirt with one another (usually frowned upon by stiff, old Victorian folk).
Many women started to wear special ‘croquet dresses’ which were just a leeeeetle bit shorter than their usual skirts and allowed the odd flash of ankle. (Gasp, swoon, thud as Great Auntie Daphne hits the floor.)
"The Swish is properly interesting. A teen novel about creativity, confidence and upcycling clothes. About time!" Dawn French
" Great book – a lovely read for teens"
LORRAINE CANDY, SUNDAY TIMES bestseller and parenting expert
" Tash’s book is very timely - its upbeat, practical message will go a long way to inspiring young people"
EMMA SCOTT, ORGANISER OF RETHINK FASHION DORSET
" Such a great read! Witty and warm, with a brilliant message - my tween loved this book. I'm now hoping it will help wean her off Primark!"
" Lovely story. My daughter was so inspired to thrift and upcycle she's started sewing away, creating beautiful outfits."
"‘Geek Girl’ meets the ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’! Ideal book to get your teenagers off their phones/screens & inspired about sustainable fashion."
" A gripping, funny story about the importance of friends and family, and being resilient."
"The Swish is properly interesting. A teen novel about creativity, confidence and upcycling clothes. About time!" Dawn French
" Great book – a lovely read for teens"
LORRAINE CANDY, SUNDAY TIMES bestseller and parenting expert
" Tash’s book is very timely - its upbeat, practical message will go a long way to inspiring young people"
EMMA SCOTT, ORGANISER OF RETHINK FASHION DORSET
" Such a great read! Witty and warm, with a brilliant message - my tween loved this book. I'm now hoping it will help wean her off Primark"
" Lovely story. My daughter was so inspired to thrift and upcycle she has started sewing away, creating beautiful outfits."
" A super fun read - ‘Geek Girl’ meets the ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’! Ideal book to get your teenagers off their phones/screens & inspired about sustainable fashion."
" A gripping, funny story about the importance of friends and family, and being resilient. Great read!"
A fashion figure or template is a stetch of a fashion model, which you trace over to design clothes and outfits. It’s also called a fashion ‘croquis’, (not to be confused with ‘croquet’! But if you do want to play croquet in your cool clobber, you won’t be the first …
Fashion sketching helps propel a designer’s ideas from their head to the cat
walk. If you want to see your own sustainable designs take shape, why not give it a go?
SWISH TIP The trick to an exciting fashion sketch is to exaggerate! Make sleeves a bit longer… trousers more swishy… neck super looooong.
Think of your ‘croquis’ as a cool, cartoon figure you bring to life with your SUPER SUSTAINABLE clothes!
To get you started, CLICK HERE for 3 croquis in different poses for you to download and ‘dress’. Trace the pose you want, and then create an outfit around it using pencils, pens or paint. You can even stick on fabric swatches to create a mini-model you!
You can design every detail of an outfit – down to your model’s hair and accessories! Add notes to yourself, or arrows to the details.
Here’s a croquis sketch by a Swisher who wants to create a romantic outfit. She’s picturing puffed sleeves, floaty silk skirts and pearls - the fake kind, obvs (she’s not a princess! Just wants to look like one…)
FUN FASHION FACT:
The game of croquet was MASSIVE during the Victorian era (think FA Cup with hoops). The big reason for its popularity? Women were allowed to play this ‘sport’ against men (otherwise considered MOST unseemly). Even better, they could play it wearing their usual long skirts. Inevitably, whacking croquet balls became a SMASHING way for young people to flirt with one another (usually frowned upon by stiff, old Victorian folk). Many women started to wear special ‘croquet dresses’ which were just a leeeeetle bit shorter than their usual skirts and allowed the odd flash of ankle. Gasp, swoon, thud as Great Auntie Daphne hits the floor.
Hi, Tash here, author of The Swish. I’ve had a go at creating my own fashion model using fabric swatches (because I cannot draw! Plus I have The World’s Biggest Rag Bag, OFFICIAL).
First, I printed off Template no.2
Next, I trace my design over the croquis. Having sketched the outlines, I ‘fill them in’ using fabric swatches: I’m thinking tight pink top, and lush, gorgeous golden skirt… to give me some Swish!
Sticking my fabric cut-outs into place, I add a pair of shocking pink heels… hmm, and what else? Hair! That’s what’s missing, plus a few copies of my teen novel, The Swish (the perfect accessory for any fashionista!)
My model might not win any fashion awards, but she was fun to create! Whether your perfect outfit means skinny jeans or a sequinned mini-skirt, get fashion sketching, and show off YOUR style .
"The Swish is properly interesting. A teen novel about creativity, confidence and upcycling clothes. About time!"
Dawn French
" Great book – a lovely read for teens"
LORRAINE CANDY, SUNDAY TIMES bestseller and parenting expert
" Tash’s book is very timely - its upbeat, practical message will go a long way to inspiring young people
"
EMMA SCOTT, ORGANISER OF RETHINK FASHION DORSET
" Such a great read! Witty and warm, with a brilliant message - my tween loved this book. I'm now hoping it will help wean her off Primark!"
" Lovely story. My daughter was so inspired to thrift and upcycle she's started sewing away, creating beautiful outfits."
"‘Geek Girl’ meets the ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’! Ideal book to get your teenagers off their phones/screens & inspired about sustainable fashion."
" A gripping, funny story about the importance of friends and family, and being resilient."
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