Please help me define "avant garde" - YouLookFab Forum

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Please help me define "avant garde"

Aziraphale

Veteran

At Angie's suggestion, I'm starting a thread to help answer this question. Angie writes in her blog today that one way to bypass current trends while still looking stylish is to wear avant garde pieces with updated classics. That sounds appealing, and I think I might already be doing it sometimes, except that I'm fuzzy on what exactly "avant garde" is. What makes an item "avant garde"? Can you think of examples? Do you own any?

To quote Angie, "Avant-garde pieces are not associated with a particular fashion era, so they have a high degree of fashion longevity".

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Anonymous

Not sure but I would say Avant Garde is doing something that is before it's time or something used in a different manner.

Often Avant Garde becomes trend when the masses except it. Like combat boots with dresses. Also the huge pattern mixing trend used to be Avant Garde.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

By definition, it means experimental or innovative. However, I'm always confused when they have the avant garde challenge on Project Runway - nothing the contestants come up with seems like anything that has never been done before.

Angie - would your suit with the ruching be considered avant garde?

cciele

Veteran

I like one of Wikipedia's definitions:
"Avant-garde represents a pushing of the boundaries of what is accepted as the norm or the status quo, primarily in the cultural realm."

So it definitely depends on context as far as what the norm is.

For example, I classify my dress as avant garde because it doesn't really fit into the norms in my environment Likewise, the space-age vest.

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rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. You know, while avant garde ostensibly means at the forefront of some cultural change (which is pushing or altering the norms), I tend to feel it's a more distinctive style than that. Just being ahead of the game is not enough... i.e., being the first person to buy a Snuggie or switching out Juicy Couture for yoga pants doesn't count.

I really think being avant garde requires sophistication and erudition and a big sense of continuing history. A lot more than going from spinning to tai chi involves.

Anyways, Surface magazine use to be quite avant garde. Further back, Vogue would relay some news of the scene. However, I think Surface - if not defunct - has devolved into slick hipster. Vogue, Vogue also went more common a long time ago. Old issues though would show avant garde stuff. In the 80s/90s, the avant garde was really in Japanese hands if you ask me. Flirted with NY, with a touch of London, in the late 90s.

I'd maybe look to Scandinavia at the moment. Or maybe stay with England and someone like Gareth Pugh

DeniseP

Have wondered about avant garde fashion and checked the usual dictionary/encyclopedia sources for a description.
It seems to be an item of one's wardrobe that is quite unusual, maybe one-of-a-kind, or a statement piece that is of high quality.
At least, that's my definition for now, and will watch this thread.
Would love to see some visuals!

rachylou

Veteran

cciele, I'd call your vest avant garde. Your dress I could see styled both avant garde and not.

cciele

Veteran

rachylou, perhaps a more avant garde styling of the dress would be with the cowl up? (picture is of the dress in a similar cut but in a different fabric; mine is a latexy shiny fabric instead of fleece)

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rachylou

Veteran

With the cowl up, that would definitely be more avant garde. But I don't think it needs to be up to be avant garde. I think accessories would matter a lot.

More avant garde would be no purse, a messy braid, flat slippers, and a big chunky sweater.

Far on the other end of the spectrum, you could go hoochie with a little satin clutch, strappy high heels, a shawl, and ringlets hanging from a high bun... Not that there's anything wrong with that.

ETA: I just saw the fleece pic... a fleece gown is avant garde pretty much... although you could make it "just sporty."

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Tilda Swinton is an avant-garde dresser. And what Rachy said.

All Saints is pretty AG. Rick Owens too. Comme des Garcons.

Cathy, your waistcoat is AG for sure. Your dress - hmmmmm. Kind of. Or just Bombshell.

My black suit is probably the most AG piece I own. It's still too classic in silhouette to be considered AG despite the hectic rushing.

cciele

Veteran

Hm, interesting you consider All Saints avant garde Angie -- I don't, for whatever reason. They seem kind of mainstream to me (but on the cutting edge, or whatever). I think of Demobaza as an avant garde version of All Saints.

I guess I think of my dress as on the avant garde side because of the material -- it's rubberized. I tried on a top made of the same material and it was sooooo hot!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I agree, Cathy! AG comes in levels and in price points. All Saints is more mainstream AG. Demobaza is the more PHD version.

But we are painting a very black-dead-warrior image of AG, when it can be a cheerful style too.

cciele

Veteran

Heh, so true Angie. For the opposite of the dead warrior image, I would go with Comme des Garcons!

K. Period.

Veteran

I always think of it as the moment when the dressing is elevated and the wearer starts to think of it as an artistic effort rather than merely function or pleasant aesthetics.

Annagybe and Rachylou are avant-garde.

I am pleasant aesthetics. I might be willing to push into AG with a piece or two, but that will never be my core.

Art versus decor.

rachylou

Veteran

That flatters my ego, k, because I think that's a good thing! Thank you. Of course, my b.f. can't take me anywhere without fear... hehe.

I also think that's a good definition, k.

Today driving into work I was thinking that you can be pretty classic and avant garde. Or you could at one time. I had a navy blue wrap dress in a jersey. It was maxi-length with a very full skirt - very un-Diane von Furstenberg, whose wrap dresses I do adore. Used to wear it with very plain, tall pumps in black and black sheer stockings. I feel it was rather AG, a bit Georgia O'Keefe. Something in the draping.