The male fashion figure

In the context of figurative drawing, fashion silhouettes refer to the overall outline shape of the clothed fashion figure.

As a guide, men’s proportions are less exaggerated than for women. Aside from the anatomical differences between men and women, the main approach to consider when drawing the male fashion figure is muscle tone.

Figure Caption: Male Portrait – Gouache on board, illustration artwork by Bill Rancitelli. Credit: Bill Rancitelli.

Male Heads and Faces – Male fashion heads are drawn to be more angular than for women. Contemporary hairstyles and facial hair can be added. Credit: Drawings by Hilary Kidd.

The main emphasis for a man is the chest and shoulder area. The shoulders are emphasized and drawn much wider than for a woman while the arms provide additional mass and muscle tone. The waist position is less defined than for women and is drawn in a lower position so that the upper chest and body are more prominent. Stomach muscles can be included if this is appropriate, while the hips are discreet and less curved than for a woman and drawn almost vertically to the upper thigh of the leg. Contemporary menswear drawings and illustrations continue to evolve as men’s fashion has become more diverse and expressive.

In the next step, we distinguish the characteristics that are emphasized when drawing the male figure.