How to Draw Women in Cocktail Dresses

How to Draw Women in Cocktail Dresses thumbnail
woman in a blue cocktail dress

A cocktail dress is a close-fitting dress generally worn anywhere from the late afternoon to the evening. Cocktail dresses come in different lengths, but are usually shorter (hitting around the knee) and made of richer fabrics, such as silk, chiffon, satin and charmeuse. They are often called the "little black dress," which is considered a staple in many women's closets. Cocktail dresses can be worn to a number of occasions, from drinks to dinner, parties and other functions. Artwork and fashion designs often illustrate women wearing these elegant creations.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Pen
  • Paint
Show More

Instructions

  1. Drawing the Woman

    • 1

      Draw an egg shape for her head. Make two triangles overlapping at the narrow pointed ends underneath the head for the torso and lower body. There should be a small oval or line for the neck and an oval in the middle of the triangles for the waist.

    • 2

      Create circles for the joints (knees and tops of thighs) and ovals for the legs (the thighs and calves). Make the legs at least as long as the torso is high.

      You do not need to be terribly fussy about the legs because most of them will be covered up by the dress.

    • 3

      Do the same for the arms, making the elbow and shoulder joints out of circles and ovals for the arms. Add the ankles with two more small circles and the feet will be ovals.

    • 4

      Smooth the outlines of the body and erase the inner lines. This is now a basic female figure with her weight on one foot.

    Drawing the Dress

    • 5

      Following the outline of the chest, draw a V-neck top and a basic dress shape flaring away from the hips. The hem of the dress should hit just below the knee.

    • 6

      Once you are satisfied with the outline, erase the inner lines of the dress (the hips and thighs) and make the top a wrap top by extending one side of the V-neck to just below the bust. Add a band just below the bust to make an empire waist.

    • 7

      Add wrinkles and tucks where the fabric should normally gather (the waist, the hem and at the top and bottom of the band).

    • 8

      Draw a pair of high-heeled shoes on the woman.

    Final Additions

    • 9

      Draw the woman's hands (one is resting on her hip and the other is hanging down by her side).

    • 10

      Add hair in your style of choice.

    • 11

      Draw facial features, if desired.

    • 12

      Trace the drawing with a pen. Once the ink is completely dry, erase the pencil lines.

    • 13

      Finish by adding your desired color in whatever medium you wish.

Tips & Warnings

  • Once you have the woman drawn, you can draw any dress on her you wish. Dresses are basic shapes and there are many varieties to choose. The V-neck empire waist cocktail dress is just an example.

  • Different looks can be achieved by using different colors and drawing different shapes and types of dresses.

  • If you are using water-soluble paints make sure to use a waterproof pen that won't run when the paint is applied.

Related Searches:

References

Resources

  • Photo Credit Stefanie Landes

Comments

You May Also Like

  • How to Dress for a Cocktail Party - Women

    Cocktail parties are the perfect occasion for the famous little black dress. Whatever your attire, keep it dressy and elegant, but not...

  • How to Draw Dresses

    Drawing dresses requires first having a vision for the general shape and design, experimenting with different styles and drawing several different designs...

  • How to Dress for a Cocktail Party - Men

    Cocktail parties give you a chance to mingle among friends, acquaintances, and current and potential business associates. Look sharp and dress appropriately...

  • How to Draw Just Wedding Dresses Step-by-Step

    You can draw all types of wedding dresses by learning the basic dress shapes. Use wedding magazines and websites for inspiration. Draw...

  • How to Draw a Cocktail Glass

    The classic cocktail glass represents style, relaxation and sophistication. Its simple design makes it a simple decoration for party invitations, signs and...

  • How to Draw Vintage Lace on Wedding Dresses

    Drawing lace refers to the practice of sewing it onto garments as a decorative touch. Vintage or antique lace is lace passed...

  • How to Draw Beautiful Comic Book Women

    They may be only ink and color but comic book women have a charm and lure that's hard to explain. Even the...

  • How to Draw a Dress Form

    A fashion designer can't always count on someone being available to model their clothing whenever creativity hits. So, a dress form is...

Related Ads

Featured