Curve a Fashion Figure's Spine with the Letter S

Fashion figures often twist and move into extreme positions. Nearly all wonderful fashion drawings start with the S curve. No, the S curve isn’t some special code that fashionistas use. It’s a drawing tool based on the letter S (or some form of it), and it’s critical when you’re drawing a model’s body. The S curve helps you achieve a graceful line of the spine in one swoop.

To master the S curve, practice drawing a capital S. Draw a large and small S several times, exaggerating or elongating the curves. Practice a backward S as well.

After you’ve mastered the capital S, use the following steps to start making your S look like a model:

1. Draw a long, stretched out S with a sharper curve in the top half. At the top of the S, draw an angled line for the shoulders. Follow the slant of the S down and draw an oppositely angled line where the S curves back in, directly under the point of the top of the S.

2. Draw a trapezoid for the upper half of the torso with the top of the trapezoid following the top angled line. For the lower half of the torso, draw a trapezoid following the bottom angled line.

3. Add a cylinder for a neck and connect it to an oval for the head. Add bent lines for arms on either side.

   The bottom half of the S gives you a general idea of the line her legs will follow to keep her balanced.

The S curve provides a great base for drawing a fashion figure. You can take your S shape — and your model — in any direction you want simply by adjusting the curvature of the S. Eventually, you’ll be able to visualize the S curve without putting it down on paper so you can create sketches more quickly.