Originally from Hawaii,
this pattern features
tropical motifs such as
hibiscus flowers,
mostly depicted in a
riot of color.
The difference between shirts and blouses
Shirts are mainly for men, and fasten with the left side of the
shirt over the right, while blouses are for women and fasten
with right over left. As they were originally undergarments, it is
usual for the ends of shirt hems to be curved. In comparison,
blouses were intended as outer garments from the start and
are often made from soft, pliable fabric, with frills along the
placket and other elements creating great variety in design.
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Drawing a business shirt (front view)
Block-in the shirt and skirt
Use the blocking-in for the body to
roughly sketch the shirt
Make a neat copy to create a line drawing
Add in details
Completion
Example of a back view
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Drawing a blouse with a frill
Block-in the blouse and skirt
Follow the line of the chest to capture
the flow of the frill
Draw the creases in the frill
Add detail to the shadows in the frill,
the underarms and so on
Completion
Example of a no-frills
blouse
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Drawing a disheveled shirt (front view, rear view)
Block-in a male body and shirt
Use the blocking-in for the arms and chest
as a reference to roughly sketch in the shirt
Erase the blocking-in and make a
clean copy
Completion
Refer to the blocking-in for the shoulders
and back to draw the shirt
Add shadow to complete
Front View
Back View
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Examples of shirts
Button-down
This type of shirt has small
buttons at the tips of the
collar that keep it in place.
Many have buttons that are a
brighter tone than the shirt to
create a subtle accent. Use
straight lines to create a firm
looking fabric texture.
Polo shirt
This shirt has only two to three
buttons at the neck and is pulled
over the head to put it on. It’s
typically made of stretchy
material and many examples
have ribbed cuffs. Constrict the
sleeves slightly where they meet
the cuffs for a casual, elegant air.
Flannel shirt
Made from a fabric with a lightly
raised nap, these shirts usually
have a checked pattern that makes
it easy to express a character’s
individuality. When adding texture,
change the angle slightly for each
section (front panel, sleeves, collar)
to bring out dimension rather than
applying it all over.
See-through shirt
Made from sheer material, this
kind of shirt is typically worn
by women. Beyond the plainer
versions, many are decorated
with lace and other accents.
Create a light look by contrast-
ing the shirt with the skin or an
inner layer of clothing.
Banker’s shirt
Only the collar and cuffs are
white on this type of shirt,
with colored or patterned
fabric used for the main part
of the shirt. This type of shirt
makes for a crisp, clean,
intelligent image.
Hawaiian shirt
While tropical patterns abound, it
is said that this kind of shirt has
its roots in Japanese traditional
dress, which may explain why
there are also many dragon and
carp motifs on Hawaiian shirts.
They are loose-fitting, so draw
the outline from the torso to the
hem to be nearly a straight line.
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Hoodies
There are various styles of these sweatshirt-style outer layers, most closing with a zipper down
the front and often including pockets on the stomach area.
Structure of a hoodie
Types of hoodies
Pullover or hooded
sweatshirt
This type of hoodie is worn
by pulling it over the head.
It’s often made from soft
sweatshirt-style material. It
has a pouch on the front for
both hands.
Cowl-neck hoodie
This type has a lot of fabric around
the neckline so as to completely
conceal the neck. Some types have
buttons while others have zippers to
fasten the neck section.
Zip-up hoodie
This type has a zipper at the front
that allows it to be worn open or
fastened. The head of the zipper is
usually at around chest height.
Button-up hoodie
This type fastens with buttons
down the front. Most examples
fasten higher than the zipper type.
Thickness of the