Defining ‘Croquis’

(Left to right, Fall 2010 designer sketches above from Jason Wu for TSE, Yigal Azrouel, Nicole Miller)

croquis: from the French word meaning simply “sketch” – pronounced crow-kee

A quick and sketchy drawing of a live model. Croquis drawings are usually made in a few minutes, after which the model changes pose and another croquis is drawn. Croquis drawings can be used as foundations for other works of art such as paintings or may be used as works of art themselves.

In fashion, the term refers to a quick sketch of a figure (typically 10 heads tall as this is the accepted proportions for fashion illustration) with a loose drawing of the clothes that are being designed. Often a large number of croquis drawings will be created for one finished look, which is fully drawn and finished.

Used in a sentence: While I absolutely love physical clothing, the designer's croquis always pique my interest more.

(Left to right, Fall 2010 designer sketches above from PARIS68, GStar, TIBI)

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