In fashion, a silhouette refers to the shape or outline created by the structure of a garment as worn on the body.
The silhouette emerges with the designer’s initial sketch and comprises the garment’s essential lines, style, functionality, and visual impact.
By depicting the garment’s layout, shape, and potential look on the customer’s body, the silhouette concept is critical to fashion designers and stylists alike.
Equally, a garment’s silhouette is principal to how the wearer is perceived.
“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman” – Coco Chanel, Harper’s Bazaar, 1964. [1]
Silhouettes constantly evolve and adapt to reflect changing societal norms, new stylistic attitudes, and current fashion trends.
From the structured suits of the Victorian era to today’s boxy overcoats, each epoch has had its defining silhouettes.
For example, Christian Dior’s 1947 “New Look” with a cinched waist contrasted the utilitarian attire of wartime, marking a shift in post-war fashion. [2]
In the 1960s, the mod silhouette exemplified youth culture and its break from tradition.
The era saw a significant deviation toward slim, angular lines, representing an aesthetic shift toward freedom and individuality. [3]
Silhouette’s Role in Fashion Design
Any fashion designer initiates the creative process of fashion design by conceptualizing the garment’s silhouette.
Once sketched, the silhouette is materialized and cut to form the garment’s core structure.
“I want to be the purveyor of a certain silhouette or a way of cutting so that when I am dead and gone, people will know that the twenty-first century was started by Alexander McQueen,” says Alexander McQueen on the importance of fashion silhouette in the design process. [4]
Main Silhouette Types
Of the several types of fashion silhouettes, the following ten are the most popular ones.
Catering to different body types and occasions, each of these ten silhouettes has unique attributes, advantages, and visual values.
A-Line Silhouette – Named for its “A” shape, narrow at the top and wider at the bottom, it is a trendy trench coat cut.
Empire Silhouette – A high waistline that sits just below the bust with emphasis on the smallest portion of the torso.
Sheath Silhouette – A close-fitting form that follows the body’s natural shape and falls around the knees or lower thighs.
Shift Silhouette – Similar to the sheath, but less fitted. It falls straight down from the shoulders but ends at or above the knee.
Column or Rectangle Silhouette – Straight up and down with little to no waist, this silhouette can be either loose or fitted.
Trapeze Silhouette – Widest at the hem, providing a swinging shape that doesn’t hug any part of the body. It’s similar to the A-line but a bit exaggerated.
Peplum Silhouette – A short flared or gathered strip of fabric is attached at the waist of jackets, shirts, or tops to create shape and definition.
High Fashion vs Ready-to-Wear Silhouette Differences
High-fashion silhouettes are avant-garde, experimental, and lean towards the artistic.
Designers like Comme des Garçons have deconstructed the traditional silhouette, creating sculptural forms that challenge conventional ideas of beauty.
Ready-to-wear silhouettes have traditional cuts and generic forms to suit a broader demographic.
Brands like Zara and H&M are perfect examples of clothing companies using pre-defined silhouettes.
Bibliography
[1] Samaha, B., and Hyde, S., Y., (2021). Best Coco Chanel Quotes. Harper’s Bazaar.
[2] Lazaro, D., E., (2015). Dior’s New (England) look. Dress. 41(2), pp. 95–106.
[3] Khojiakhmadova, D., U., Q., (2023). Fashion of the 1950s and 1960s: a Timeless Era of Elegance and Revolution. International Journal of Advance Scientific Research, 3(08), 55-58.
[4] Bolton, A., and McQueen, A., (2011). Alexander McQueen: savage beauty. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
After years of managing hundreds of fashion brands from London's office of a global retailer, Mandy has ventured into freelancing. Connected with several fashion retailers and media platforms in the US, Australia, and the UK, Mandy uses her expertise to consult for emerging fashion brands create top-notch content as an editorial strategist for several online publications.