I had to pick between a bold print or a clean silhouette for a client's dress

My client in Austin wanted a custom dress for a gallery opening. She showed me two inspo pics: one with a loud, abstract floral print and another with a simple, sharp cut. I went with the clean silhouette, using a heavy crepe fabric to get those sharp lines. The dress turned out great, but I keep thinking the print could have been more memorable. What do you all think makes a bigger impact, a strong shape or a standout pattern?

4 comments

4 Comments

fiona_kim975d ago

Remember my friend's neon blazer? Shape won.

the_mia5d ago

Ugh YES that's the perfect example. A bad shape turns even the coolest fabric into a costume. It's like the difference between wearing the clothes and the clothes wearing you. A great cut makes you stand up straighter and own the room, which is way more memorable than any color. That's why simple black trousers with perfect tailoring will always beat a wild print that fits weird.

taylor_patel5d ago

Wait, you used a heavy crepe in Austin? That's the real shocker for me (that fabric must have been sweltering in the heat). Honestly, a sharp shape always wins because it flatters the person first. A crazy print is just fabric, but a perfect silhouette makes the woman wearing it look powerful. People remember how someone looked and felt, not just the pattern on their dress. You made the right call for a gallery opening, where looking put-together is the whole point.

emmamason5d ago

Exactly, a crazy print is just fabric. I made a dress once with this amazing bird pattern, but the cut was off (just a little bit). All anyone remembered was that it looked "funny" on me, not the cool fabric. A simple black sheath dress I have gets compliments every single time because the shape is so good. The silhouette makes the person, not the other way around.