A hot drape-forming method for shaping fibrous preforms and prepreg plies into complex geometries. For shaping fibrous preforms, the hot drape-forming method includes: a) dividing the total number of preforms into a plurality of sub-preforms (S1, S2, S3); and b) consecutively shaping each sub-preform (S1, S2, S3) by applying vacuum pressure and heat, wherein the shaping of all sub-preforms (S1, S2, S3) are carried out in the same tool housing (10) over the same molding surface. The resulting shaped preform (S1, S2, S3) is ready for resin infusion. The same method can also be used to shape resin-impregnated prepreg plies.