Dresses can be short and tight or long and flowing. Some dresses are so big and full that their outer form is entirely different than the underlying body structure. Though the body structure may not be noticeable underneath the material, it is important to remember the proportions of the body for the overall structural foundation of the figure drawing.
A rough sketch of the body form underneath the dress is done to help plan the body’s proportions. With this sketch, the head was counted out to be seven-and-a-half times the height of the body. Notice that the dress goes outward around the hips, starting slightly above the waistline.
The lower portion of this period dress shows none of the contours of the body underneath, though correct proportions of the body were important to establish the correct height and placement of the waist for the figure.
This dress is short and loose from the waist down. Though hidden from view, the upper legs are roughly sketched, as well as circles for the placement of the knees to ensure correct proportions of the figure and the dress.
Proper proportions and believable folds of the dress are attained by a correct sketch of the body.