Hand on hip
An asymmetric standing pose, one hand at the waist and the weight carried on the opposite leg.
Placing a single hand on the hip does two things at once: it lifts one elbow and creates a triangular opening between arm and waist, and it draws attention to the narrowest part of the figure. Combined with shifted weight, the result is a standing pose with a clear direction and a small amount of attitude.
The pose works well in pairs of contrasting lines. One side of the body is a long vertical from shoulder to foot; the other side is interrupted by the elbow and softened by the bend of the free knee. That juxtaposition gives the illustrator something to hang clothing on and gives a viewer a quick read.
The detail to watch is the wrist. The hand rests with fingers forward, the wrist breaks inward, and the elbow settles back behind the line of the ribs. A hand sliding up to the waist or a flat wrist instantly makes the gesture look hesitant. Also make sure the free arm responds to the weight shift instead of hanging limp and symmetric, and check that the hip the hand rests on is the higher hip, since that is what the pose is showing off.
Drawing notes
- Break the wrist inward and let the elbow sit behind the rib line.
- Rest the hand on the higher hip, the side the pose is advertising.
- Bend the free knee slightly so the lower body answers the shift.
Pose prompt
The description used to generate this study. Copy it into your own workflow, or hand it to the studio with your photo.
Adult woman standing with one hand on her hip and weight shifted, full body.
Working notes
- An asymmetric standing pose, one hand at the waist and the weight carried on the opposite leg.
- The raised elbow defines the triangle; ask for the elbow held away from the ribs.
Put this pose on your own reference
Take this study to the studio and generate a new image in the same pose, or browse the rest of the fashion studies first.
