Those are all great on you, Aida. I think one thing that makes each of them work is the geometric pattern, which contrasts nicely with the softness. Even on the light floaty one, that adds a touch of edge. I know the peacock feathers top isn't, strictly speaking geometric (quite the reverse!) but from a distance the spines of the feathers read as lines and also black with your hair is brilliant. I like the length of that hem a lot (both front and back) and think it works really well. And of course you know I love you in the striped dress.

Thank you, again!

Love #2 add a little confidence and you're good to go

Jen - thank you!

Krista - very interesting thoughts. It is possible that I have some underlying doubts about my stated style goals! Very Freudian....

Seriously, though - I think it is more a question of preferring FOR MYSELF more angles vs. drape and "round" loopy shapes. More structure vs. floaty stuff.

I LOVE those shapes on others (hence my attraction to them), but don't feel comfortable or flattered, somehow, myself.

Feel like I'm in a costume.

Put me in something simpler yet asymmetrical and no matter how dramatic, it still feels like "me."

I do think this blue "dress" or "tunic" or whatever it is has some possibilities, despite my dislike of the shape. I can probably make it work for me with a bit of ingenuity and YLF styling ideas. I have the tights, the skinnies, and a black super slim midi to try underneath it. So I'll give it a go.

Wow, another great thread full of ideas. Well I only skimmed and I hope you aren't tired of reading responses but I will add mine and read the whole thing more carefully later. I like both pieces. The black one is something very typical around here, except for the sleeves (can they be removed - sleeveless would be better I think). Israeli design is all about drape. The blue one is more interesting to me and I think it has a lot of potential. I love the black Zara jacket for you. My only hesitation is some (but not all) Zara jackets have quality issues in my experience. Meaning that they sometimes look less good in person or don't fit quite right. But in principle that jacket is fantastic.

Finally, please take your family's reaction with a grain of salt. That is what I try to do - their eyes just aren't trained the way yours are at this point. And they like you so much how you are they don't want to see any changes.

Suz,
I think the thread is really helping you identify what you're attracted to about asymmetrical items. I wouldn't give yourself too hard a time about buying these items - would you be willing to see the blue shirt as the one item you "practice" with to determine whether or not it's you? If you at least determine what your future style path is, I would say the shirt was worth the money!

Notice I'm out of my Freudian place now.....

suz, I love this thread - there are so many great ideas here. I am very much interested in the term architectural in describing the style direction that you may be headed - to me it implies a bit more structure than arty, and I wonder if that's what you're after. BTW, I am trying out Zara jackets, too this fall. Not sure I'm succeeding, though.

For you:
"Ninety per cent [of women] are afraid of being conspicuous and of what people will say. So they buy a grey suit. They should dare to be different. Although I am very shy...I have never been shy of appearing in public in the most fantastic and personal get up. --Schiaparelli

I had to take a photo of this quotation at the fabulous exhibition "Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations" at the New York Metropolitian Museum of Art when we were there. You would have thought you'd died and gone to heaven to see the gorgeous pieces by these two designers. I thought of you immediately when I saw all the gorgeous Schiaparelli jackets. They were paired with Prada skirts for the show.

This is such an interesting thread Suz. I'm not sure if I can add anything useful. I have already said I like both dresses, particularly the blue one. I don't find either piece avant garde but I do find the blue dress modern and fashion forward. If it was me, I would wear the blue dress with black tights, heeled booties and Una's Theory? Jacket. The jacket adds the structure and the individual pieces create a semi? crisp, unique and fashion forward look (IMHO). I wonder sometimes if the labels don't help us, a look can read avant garde on one person but tragic on another...it's all about what works for the individual.

Suz, a quote from Valentino for you;

Only wear clothes that make you feel alive.

Suz, I agree that the black dress is cute, but not striking because of how the collar-sleeves are shaped - although you have a fantastic bod. Somehow you look very "French" in it. (in a good way). From the side though, it looks like fabric was surrendered in order to allow a tummy to relax. It's a particular look I have seen on some garments, some love it while others think it's weird. Personally, I think it suits curvier women best (with larger hips and behinds to pull the sides). I have tried it myself and bought items like that but have found the extra fabric bothered me more than anything else. On my body, with no hips, the fabric gathers too much in the front creating a little pouch. It doesn't seem to do this on you but it does look like more fabric than needed in the front.

On to the blue dress: it is stunning. It's very curved but in just the nicest way and the fitted top balances it out. I agree with Angie to wear heels + skinnies with it. Although it is extremely cute in the picture as well. It's true that the top calls for some accessory.
I understand and agree with Angie's advice to include circles on the top, such as bangs and infinity, to add extra interest and avoid putting too much straight lines on the top. Go for large ring earrings! (that's what I would do, leaving the beautiful simple collar free).

Jackets: I love the first one (white) for you! I can imagine it suits you very well and that it will be very useful because of its unique yet classic design. I am not a fan of the second one, too Channel in my mind, but that is a very personal taste. I don't like the ruffle-like trims.

Big hugs to you Suz, and kudos to have tried new things. In my experience, it is often what happens ESPECIALLY in times of sales. One miss, one win. So now I always go for two or three items instead of just one when it's a sale, so that I know at least one will work. This summer I bought some things on sale which I kind of regret now. Two pairs of patented sandals from Beautifeel for $100 each (normal price $250 each). I am so bummed out to have suffered tons of blisters from both pairs, just from walking around, when they are supposed to be the most comfortable brand. And I can't return them.
I have also bought a couple of polo style tops which have remained folded in my drawer for most of the summer. Too hot for the heat wave, then, not appealing. Oh well. I tried a preppier style but I guess this is just not the best direction for me.

Krish, thank you for your wisdom, styling advice and commiseration. About the black dress, you have expressed it perfectly. The extra fabric in the front just seems to hang there on me and bunch, whereas on the larger woman I saw trying it, the whole effect was quite enchanting. Alas! And lesson learned....

I will also try your styling advice for #2. It will be usable this year, and then I will probably retire it.

As for the jackets, I didn't buy, so at the moment it is all theoretical!

Deborah and Joy, your beautiful quotations brought tears to my eyes.

I feel as if this has been a very powerful learning experience, worth the money that it cost me. First of all, you have helped me to rescue these two pieces for at least one season's wear. They may not be my best look but they will fill a travel and appearances hole for the immediate moment.

Meanwhile, they have taught me that I really do need more angles, simplicity (vs. curves) and now I know exactly what I will be looking for. SOME draping is okay. But it needs to be quite restrained.

I keep going back to those David Kibbe categories (http://colorconnection.yuku.co.....ECtkkIZd-A) and also to the Dressing your Truth mini-course (http://dressingyourtruth.com) that I did. BOTH of these systems suggested that angles and asymmetry
were my friends. In the Kibbe system I am a Classic Dramatic. In Carol Tuttle's system I came out a 3.

On that 12 Blueprints site (http://12blueprints.com/the-dramatic-true-summer/) I saw an acknowledgement of what is particularly difficult and what makes my shopping extremely frustrating. I'm a cool summer in colouring. This means I shouldn't be wearing the stark black and white or the autumn tones that clothes in the SHAPES that are right for me are typically made!

Perhaps the reason that I "get away with" black at times is simply because it is in a SHAPE I need.

Wouldn't it be great to find the shapes I need in the colours I need -- cranberry, orchid, raspberry, purple, smokey blue-grey, charcoal, ink blue, navy, taupe, denim.

Maybe I need to learn to sew. Maybe I need to get some of my clothes made.

I think it also explains the appeal of a suit to me. A suit is often a sharply angled, structured piece with a jacket (one of my KEY wardrobe items, as per Kibbe) in a blue or a grey.

Hmmm. Off to ponder some more. Thank you, again, everyone.

Caller # 4,931 weighing in on your purchases...

If I were doing a graphic of the responses, woo-eee there would be lines and wiggles and poles-apart basecamps. Lots of stuff for you to sort through and evaluate against your inner voice!

I'm pretty aligned with Krista (and others who said similar):

>I love both of these items on you, but I can see how they are so different from other things you wear. Trying out the styling ideas suggested by others may help you see how these items can look totally awesome and may challenge some of the beliefs about avant-garde/edgy/unstructured dressing that you weren't aware that you had.

Single-layer dressing -- no jackets, ma'am -- is always going to be a bit of a challenge for you and your evolving style goals, I think. Collared, linear shirts/dresses tend to skew more classic or run the risk of swamping your small frame in blouse-y artistic severity.

Kibbe (who gives me a headache) and DYT aside, I think there may be some forest/trees things going on here. Yes, these 2 items have some draping. But overall the silhouettes are *quite* angled and graphic -- especially the blue, but also the black*.

My .02, of course you have to feel like "you" in these items.

That said: No, I don't love the black color on you -- but you're doing what's rec'd, which is to keep an open (but not terribly so) neckline. Find that spiky silver-toned metal statement necklace or an alternative if it's too open for you.

[* Re the black dress: As another hip-impaired person, I'd explore reigning in that side view a bit with a tailor...a few stitches and you may be streamlined. Front/back views look fine at this point to me. If you can post a clearer shot of what the folds are doing and ask our sewists for advice you'd be armed with more knowledge.]

Thanks, Vix! As always, your thoughts are helpful.

My overall assessment is this. The black dress was a bit of an error (not worth the cost to alter it) BUT it IS in a super travel-worthy fabric and is great to pop over a swimsuit, even, were I to travel to someplace hot. Therefore...not a complete mistake. I'll keep it for travel and those specific uses.

The blue is salvageable for appearances this fall. I will put it up with some styling and show it. I think I can make it work and since the colour is so great, it will be a nice addition.

Suz, this is such a fascinating thread! The discussion is about SO much more than the two outfits that you bought and posted on. I have to run now, but I'm planning to return to it, so I can read all the comments. I'm not going to be much help to you on this avant-garde style journey, but Im here supporting you (and taking notes).

ETA: FWIW, I think what you're doing is really cool. And they do say that the journey is more important than the destination...

Epic Thread - i love it!!! so much good info. A couple of thots before i'm off to do errands.

Suz, i think you mite benefit from studying some people or designers who do the type of avant-garde looks you like (as Una said, price no object). Focus in on asymmetry and structure and pay attention to what type of pieces they use, how they put them together, fabrications, etc. 'avant-garde' is a pretty broad category and i'm thinking you're floundering because you don't have much direction. The citizen Rosebud and Style Odyssey are both very out there, but their styles could not be more different!

" Maybe I just need to figure out my summer equivalent of jackets so I don't spend all my Augusts dying for some architectural integrity! "

yep. i'm all about jackets too and have found that structured blouses are a lifesaver. Recently i was looking at Brooks Brother's site, their sale prices for shirts are very reasonable (as low as $40 US). Don't know about Canada, etc. but maybe someone could work a buy and ship? A couple could be very useful for tossing over a fun skirt on hot days.

"Maybe I need to learn to sew. Maybe I need to get some of my clothes made."

Maybe. I know i'd be in terrible shape if i didn't make so much of my own. Even sewing a few simple pieces, like hanky hem skirts or knit tunics, can really help to beef up the wardrobe. Many etsy sellers are open to making custom pieces, you could get a black piece made up in burgundy for example.

Best of luck and HTH!!! Happy Day, steph