Ask Fashion Girl

Dear Raegan:

A portfolio, in case anyone's confused here, is a large, flat folder that contains examples of a designer or artist's work. A portfolio for Fashion Design should include two types of technical fashion drawings. One type is called a"flat sketch,"which is a detailed depiction in black pen of each garment as if it were laid out flat. The other is a color illustration of the garment on a"croqui"(pronounced"crow-kee"), which is a special, very elongated fashion figure that is nine head-lengths tall. (The normal person is seven heads tall.) Color illustrations in a Fashion Design portfolio are generally done with felt-tip pens.

You can find an example of a croqui on the FIDM website at www.fidm.edu. Look in the Admissions section for the Step-by-Step Application Procedure. In the Application Procedure, under Entrance Requirement Project, choose Fashion Design, and you will be able to click on the croqui and print it out.

A portfolio for Fashion Design should not include actual garments or photos of garments.

A reminder, though: having a portfolio is not necessary when applying to FIDM. FIDM only requires that you complete the Entrance Project. The Admissions Board doesn't expect that high school students, who make up the bulk of our applicants, have the experience to assemble a portfolio. In fact, FIDM teaches you the technical sketching skills you'll need to put a professional portfolio together, so that you'll have one when you graduate.

If you do put a portfolio together, include only your very best work, and limit it to 10 to 15 pieces. This is the best way to call the viewer's attention to your strengths.

Sincerely, Fashion Girl