An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising a first upper element comprising: a base layer having an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface, the interior surface facing an interior of the article of footwear; and a first structural layer comprising at least one first fiber embroidered onto the exterior surface of the base layer, the at least one first fiber forming a plurality of discrete, separate first elongate structural elements extending over the exterior surface of the base layer to provide discrete localized structural support to the base layer, wherein the first elongate structural elements each comprise: a longitudinal direction (x), a transverse width (w), a stitch density, and a stitch angle with respect to the longitudinal direction (x), wherein a first elongate structural element of the plurality of first elongate structural elements is formed from a plurality of first stitches and second stitches which span across the transverse width (w) in a zig-zag pattern, with the width (w) determined in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal elongate axis of the elongate structural element at a given location, wherein at least a portion of the first elongate structural element has a longitudinal direction extending in a same direction as that of adjacent elongate structural elements for at least a portion of a length thereof; and wherein the longitudinal direction (x) and the transverse width (w) of at least a portion of a first group of the first elongate structural elements vary over a length of the first group of the first elongate structural elements. a base layer having an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface, the interior surface facing an interior of the article of footwear; and a first structural layer comprising at least one first fiber embroidered onto the exterior surface of the base layer, the at least one first fiber forming a plurality of discrete, separate first elongate structural elements extending over the exterior surface of the base layer to provide discrete localized structural support to the base layer, wherein the first elongate structural elements each comprise: a longitudinal direction (x), a transverse width (w), a stitch density, and a stitch angle with respect to the longitudinal direction (x), a longitudinal direction (x), a transverse width (w), a stitch density, and a stitch angle with respect to the longitudinal direction (x), wherein a first elongate structural element of the plurality of first elongate structural elements is formed from a plurality of first stitches and second stitches which span across the transverse width (w) in a zig-zag pattern, with the width (w) determined in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal elongate axis of the elongate structural element at a given location, wherein at least a portion of the first elongate structural element has a longitudinal direction extending in a same direction as that of adjacent elongate structural elements for at least a portion of a length thereof; and wherein the longitudinal direction (x) and the transverse width (w) of at least a portion of a first group of the first elongate structural elements vary over a length of the first group of the first elongate structural elements.