Draping: Laurence King Publishing

Karolyn Kiisel is a professor in the Fashion Design department at Woodbury University in Burbank, California, and taught at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles for twenty years. Her fashion designs have been sold internationally, and her costume work has appeared widely on screen and stage.

Introduction Tools and Preparation Terminology Part 1: Beginning Draping Chapter 1.1 Draping the Woven Panel Draping Project - Diana of Versailles's garment Chapter 1.2 Dresses Draping Project - Audrey Hepburn's dress in Breakfast at Tiffany's Chapter 1.3 Bustiers Draping Project - Christian Lacroix bustier Part 2: Intermediate Draping Chapter 2.1 Skirts Draping Project - Bill Blass pegged skirt Chapter 2.2 Blouses Draping Project - Bill Blass organza ribbon blouse Chapter 2.3 Pants Draping Project - Nanette Lepore resort pant Chapter 2.4 Draping with Knits Draping Project - Nanette Lepore jersey top Part 3: Advanced Draping Chapter 3.1 Jackets and Coats Draping Project - Rihanna's Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo Chapter 3.2 The Grand Gown Draping Project - Gwyneth Paltrow's Oscars gown Chapter 3.3 Draping on the Bias Draping Project - Jean Harlow's dress in Dinner at Eight Chapter 3.4 Improvisational Draping Draping Project - Vivienne Westwood dress

Draping is the art of using cotton muslin to create a fashion design directly on a mannequin. It is an essential skill for fashion designers. In this book, Karolyn Kiisel presents a series of step-by-step projects, creating real garments in classic styles, that are designed to develop skills from the most basic to more advanced techniques.

Starting with the basics of choosing and preparing the dress form for draping, the book advances through pinning, trimming and clipping, and creating shape using darts and tucks, to adding volume using pleats and gathers, and handling complex curves. Advanced skills include how to use support elements such as shoulder pads, under layers and petticoats and how to handle bias draping. The book culminates with a chapter on improvisational skills.

Each skill and technique throughout the book is explained through specially commissioned step-by-step photographs and line drawings that bring the art of creating womens wear in three dimensions to life.