5 tips that will make your fashion sketches look professional

I struggled with this post way more than I ever have with actually drawing figures. I wasn’t sure where to begin, especially since there are so many tutorials out there explaining how to draw a basic 10-head fashion figure with a ruler (!?)—essentially guiding you to draw just one rigid style of figure. While I get that having a simple method can give beginners a quick win, I find it limiting. So if you’re looking for that “10-head template,” this post isn’t going to cover it. There are already plenty of tutorials out there. My goal here is to give you practical tips that will help you create fashion sketches that are dynamic, expressive, and distinctly yours.

1. YOU Decide How Your Figures Should Look

Fashion figures don’t have to follow any set formula. I personally prefer figures that are around 9 heads high, but you should feel free to experiment with different proportions—go for 5 heads or 16 if that’s what suits your style. Remember:
You’re not drawing a real person; you’re drawing your vision of a person. That means it is entirely up to you how you imagine it. Own it and make it unique!

2. Anatomy Still Matters—A LOT

Here’s the thing: you need a solid foundation in anatomy before you can start bending the rules. Once you understand the human figure, you’ll be free to experiment while still keeping your sketches recognizable and believable. Without that foundation, “experimenting” will likely just result in scribbles (which is fine for play, but not for polished work). You don’t need to learn every bone and muscle yet, but you should know the basic structure and how body parts connect. This grounding will elevate your work, even if you’re stylising it.

3. Develop Your Own Visual Language

Drawing and photography are two very different art forms, and a common mistake for beginners is treating their sketches like photographs, trying to capture everything with the same level of detail. Photography provides thousands of visual details, but in drawing, you need to be selective. To convey the same feeling, you’ll often need to simplify, dramatize, or stylize your subject. Many beginner sketches look flat because they lack expressive intent—they don’t accentuate enough what the artist finds most important. So be bold in how you stylize poses, and don’t be afraid to exaggerate elements to communicate the essence of your subject.

4. The Human Form Is a Balancing Act

Each part of the body is connected, so every movement affects the rest of the form. For example, lifting an arm isn’t just an isolated action; it shifts the balance of the entire body, starting with the spine. The spine is the anchor of the body’s movement—it connects to the hips and shoulders. If the shoulders tilt, the hips compensate. Keeping this in mind will add fluidity and realism to your figures, making them appear balanced and grounded in space. (I’ll share more examples and exercises to help you explore this soon!)

5. Remember: Figures Are 3D and Exist in Space

Your figures are three-dimensional forms with volume, and they exist in space. This concept will help you add depth, especially when sketching clothes or drawing different poses. I often see beginners trying to add highlights and shadows to create depth, but if the underlying sketch looks flat, no amount of shading can save it. A strong, dimensional sketch will look 3D even without shading. Practicing gesture drawing, which I’ve discussed in a previous post, is a great way to internalise this concept and bring more life to your figures.

I hope you found these tips helpful! I’m planning a follow-up post where I’ll dive deeper into some of these points and even show you my own figure-drawing process step by step. Sometimes, seeing it in action is the best way to really understand.

Happy sketching, and remember—make each figure your own!