Ever wondered how fashion uses visuals to convey styles and upcoming trends? Fashion mood boards are creative compilations displaying images, textures, colors, and materials to convey a particular theme, style, or concept. These boards are used by designers, stylists, and individuals in the fashion industry to capture and communicate their ideas, inspirations, and aesthetic preferences in a cohesive and visually compelling manner. Mood boards play a key role in the early design process, giving a preview of the desired look for a fashion collection, campaign, or personal style. They convey a visual story, serving as a guide for decision-making and creative exploration in the fashion industry. Creating mood boards for me has been a therapeutic and inspiring activity, allowing me immerse to myself in a world of creativity and imagination.

Supplies

If you want to make a mood board you will need the following items:

Poster board or paper
Glue or clear tape
Scissors
Printed-out or cut-out photos

The size of the paper or poster board, as well as the amount of glue and tape, is up to you. The mood board can be of any size.

Step 1: Gather the Required Materials

To create a mood board, you can make it on a piece of paper/poster board. First step, is to gather the required materials before starting.

If you want to make a mood board you will need the following items;

Poster board or paper
Glue or clear tape
Scissors
Printed-out and cut-out photos

The size of the paper or poster board, as well as the amount of glue and tape, is up to you. The mood board can be of any size.

For this project, I used a 12' x 24' foam board display, as well as Elmer's 4oz Washable School Glue in White, as well as a basic pair of scissors.

Step 2: Establish the Theme or Style

You can make a fashion mood board that includes any inspirations, goals, or just a collage of images that you may like or that represent you and your style. By carefully selecting and arranging images, you have the opportunity to capture the essence of your personality, the trends that resonate with you, and the aspirations that drive you. Your mood board becomes a canvas for exploring and defining your unique sense of style.

I will be creating a mood board filled with current fashion trends that I love and hope to see rise soon. I decided to go with a black and white theme as well.

Step 3: Finding Images

You can find images for your board from almost anywhere. You can use magazines and cut out images from them, or you can go online and compile a bunch of images and print them.

I utilized a website called 'Pinterest' to find images of styles that I liked. I decided to save them and then print them in black and white as thats the color scheme I love, but your board can be in any color or as many colors as you want!

Step 4: Cut Out the Images and Arrange Them

Cut out the pictures and arrange them carefully before gluing or taping them down to create a visually pleasing composition, forming the foundation of the mood board's visual story.

Step 5: Glue or Tape Down Images to the Board

Secure the images to the board using glue or tape. This step involves making sure that the visuals are firmly in place. Make sure it is evenly spaced and exactly where you want it before gluing/taping, for a neat and organized presentation. You can overlap the pictures or evenly space them out. In this project I evenly placed them, with a little bit of overlapping. Place some glue on the spot of the board where you are placing down the photo. Once it is glued down, you can add a tiny bit of glue on the back of the photo close to the corners of the photo to keep it glued.

Step 6: Reflection

Take a moment to reflect on the images you picked out and have pasted on your mood board. What patterns, colors, or styles stand out? This can provide insights into your personal fashion preferences.

Creating a fashion mood board was a very soothing and therapeutic experience for me. As I carefully curated images, colors, and textures that resonated with my style, the process became a delightful escape from the daily hustle. Sorting through various fashion elements allowed me to express my creativity freely, turning the activity into a fun and enjoyable pastime. Additionally, I realized the significance of mood boards in the fashion industry, serving as invaluable tools for designers and creatives to visualize ideas, refine concepts, and communicate their aesthetic visions effectively.