All designers have their preferred media, but any combination of watercolor, marker, or pencil

offers them many ways to express their ideas on paper. Watercolors and gouache are a great

choice for laying down base colors that can be built on; they also offer an infinite amount of

metallic details. Translucent metallic paints will often require mixing with a base color to give

the color depth. Gold metallic paint out of the tube can fall a little flat because it is being mut-

ed by a white background. Laying down a wash of bright yellow or mustard will each create very

distinct types of gold. Use white pencil, gel pen, chalk, and china markers to add highlighting.

Any combination of tip shapes and sizes will allow the designer to put down both big washes

of color and the  nest detail in one sketch. The amount pressure with which the drawing

in proportion. The elbow corresponds to the true waistline (at the navel), for instance, and the

wrist lines up with the hips. Of course, every designer’s preferred aesthetic has a correspond-

ing body. Some designers might lean toward a narrow boyish figure while others prefer a fuller

hourglass shape. Choosing between a higher or lower waistline and pairing it with a fuller bust

or hip will determine whether the figure has more of an apple or pear shape. Breaking this

down into a formula allows designers to make simple alterations to their croquis, customizing

it for the demands of the design. It also makes it easier for designers’ target customers to

imagine themselves in the garments. In any case, when designing a collection it is recom-

mended to commit to one body type to communicate that group of clothing as a standard so

that the relative difference between garments is clear.