Stylization is one of the most effective concepts of fashion drawing and fashion illustration. Fashion itself is all about style. For that reason stylization is acceptable and natural in fashion illustration. Stylization is defined as generalization of a fashion drawing by omitting certain irrelevant details and amplifying relevancy of the fashion figure drawing to the fashion concept.
Fashion operates with a prototype figure, an abstract model of a body type most suitable for particular fashion project. Therefore, fashion figure is already an abstraction of a real body. Any fashion figure is stylized to a degree because it is not a depiction of an actual body of a real person.
Thus, since stylization is an inescapable feature of fashion drawing as an art form, the question about it in fashion is not if it should be done but how much of it should be done.
The degree of stylization could vary from some simplification of fashion figure while staying true to anatomy to total exaggeration and converting a human figure into a sign of a figure, an artistic (driven by creative imagination) symbol.
Stylization of female figure in fashion drawing and fashion illustration could be implemented on different levels:
(fashion proportions) high head-to-body ratio. Consider that according to classical standard of Vitruvian Man by Leonardo da Vinci the actual normal adult human figure is about 7 to 7.5 heads tall. Thus, 9 heads standard for fashion drawing (which is moderate for fashion) is already a gross exaggeration of reality. However, some fashion projects, styles and fashion concepts dictate even further exaggeration of already high head-to-body ratio with virtually limitless stylistic freedom.
from very feminine hourglass female body type to boyish (Flapper type, Twiggy) look.
Emphasis on details of the figure that amplify the drawing's relevancy to the fashion style, despite not following anatomically normal proportions of female body, is a natural approach to fashion drawing.
(fashion poses) stylistic spectrum of fashion poses could be defined in the range from natural and subdued to extremely stylized and exaggerated. More natural, realistic poses are best for fashion design projects because they allow fashion apparel to be displayed on figure more clearly. However, more dramatic poses and unusual side views of fashion figure could be an excellent way to emphasize fashion style and fashion concept.
( body movement in fashion drawing ) mild, subdued, natural movement would be the best way to draw movement for many, if not the most cases of fashion drawing. The reason why it makes sense to keep body movement under control is that fashion drawing serves the purpose of fashion industry. In case of fashion design drawing, fashion poses should be reasonable enough to depict apparel on the figure in the best possible way.
However, fashion style and fashion aesthetic sometimes dictate the manner in which the fashion drawing is created. Therefore, exaggerated or even extreme movement, if properly and tactfully implemented, could be a very effective and powerful tool of fashion drawing and fashion illustration.