Fashion

so sketchy

fashion design tutorial meets coloring book, with gorgeous results.

by faran krentcil

Watch five seconds of Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead and it's easy to imagine your life as a fashion designer. Of course, the reality is different, and sadly, spraying some waitress hats with black and pink paint doesn't quite cut it in the world of Phoebe Philo and Prabal Gurung.

Helping aspiring designers get a leg up is Fashionary. The company makes a remarkable range of sketch books - some with pattern templates for serious sewing, and others with silhouettes of fashion models, in case your figure drawing skills aren't as sharp as your imagination. The books retail for $25 each, but if you can't afford them, you can download the book's basic templates and print them yourself for free on Fashionary's website. (They also have a blog with other designer's sketches, and a Tumblr with their favorite magazine tears.)

You still need a dedication, vision, and common sense (don't underestimate it) if you want to be the next Stella McCartney. But while you're in between classes at Parsons or FIDM, this is a good way to doodle with a purpose. -

Get the books, download the templates, and cruise the blogs on Fashionary.org