Dress Challenge: A Little Avant-Garde

I'm not an avant-garde dresser because I prefer structured movement, softer lines, and pretty pieces for my own style. That said, I've worn dresses over pants for decades and enjoy the look. 

I seldom wear olive with black, but since my outfits are governed by my emotions - this is what I felt like wearing this morning. No logic and no reasoning. It just is what it is! White pearls and red accents make it feel right-for-me. 

20C or 68F so it's much cooler today. Worked from home writing blog posts this morning, and it's errands and Sam walking this afternoon. I don't have a work from home look. I just wear what I feel like wearing and get to work :)

This COS dress is beyond body type. Anyone can wear it because the tent drapes to the shape of your body. I always wear it with leg covering like jeans or hose because it's short in front. Today, I'm wearing it over black skinnies. A black lace cami softens things up and adds the pretty. Red bag and shoes make me happy. The denim jacket has black sleeves to match the skinnies. Got to have some matchy-matchy. 

No need to switcheroo since the loafers are walking shoes and the satchel converts to a crossbody. Outfits with movement and comfy shoes are all I need to give Sam the walk he wants. Sorted. 

Have a lovely weekend. xo

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This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

53 Comments

  • Toban replied 4 years ago

    I LOVE everything about this, especially how the denim jacket adds some structure and the pops of red. COS for the win on wildcard items that transcend trend. I’m overdue for another visit :).

  • Cardiff girl replied 4 years ago

    I would never have thought that someone as slight as you could wear a tent like that without it swamping you,but you can so there you go!I really like the red accents ,they lighten the look and make It more summery in my opinion.

  • Angie replied 4 years ago

    Toban, HAH. Good to see you chime in. I'm a COS fan too. 

    Cardiff Girl, YES. My slight frame can wear extreme volume when the shoulder neck points are structured and the sleeves are tailored . The drape and fabric has to be great too. COS tends to do that type of thing well. Hope that makes sense.

  • Cee replied 4 years ago

    Nice... and it also doubles as an emergency parachute :D :P

  • Tanya replied 4 years ago

    Ooh, this is an awesome look, Angie!   That dress is so much fun.
    I used to wear the dress-over-pants look a lot, but its a lot less these past couple of years as it is often too casual for my work environment.   This makes me miss it.

  • Style Fan replied 4 years ago

    I love this outfit.  Good point about the shoulders for the dress.  I will look for that.  

  • Mainelady replied 4 years ago

    Could you be any cuter?! There is so much here that I admire: the colors....love the doses of red, the tented drape that does not overpower you, your poses, to show the different views of your dress, oh gosh and Sam! These pictures make me smile.

  • Angie replied 4 years ago

    Cee, exactly. Extra pragmatic.

    Tanya! Dresses over jeans can be dressy. I'll show you a version next week. No jeans. Thanks for the kind words. 

    Style Fan, this is your palette. Structure in the right places makes all the difference. 

    Mainelady, and your comments make me smile :)

  • replied 4 years ago

    Another knockout :)  This is my kind of casual dress look .

  • Cee replied 4 years ago

    Re the parachute thing... Just make sure you or hubby post it to Youtube !

  • Jenn replied 4 years ago

    This post is such a good primer to how Avant Garde dressing works. Looking at this dress, I realized, I could wear that! My styling would be totally, totally different and it would happily chameleon to suit. Pretty incredible!

  • replied 4 years ago

    Your hair is looking so good!
    My first thought was that it's much darker overall than I'm used to seeing you, but it makes your eyes stand out! I'll leave the voluminous dresses to you and others, but I like the hemline!

  • Bonnie replied 4 years ago

    I love that dress!  

  • Angie replied 4 years ago

    Thank you.

    Lisa P, olive and  black is your palette. Order from COS! 

    Jenn, YES. You would rock this frock. 

    bonnie, I can see you in this dress.

    Suntiger, you're right, although I wear dark blue from head to toe, and navy midis. I guess the olive and black reads darker. Thanks for the compliments. 

  • kellygirl replied 4 years ago

    Adore this on you! Great analysis too. I’d
    Totally wear this and wish that dress was still available! Gorgeous!

  • Cee replied 4 years ago

    Further re using your dress as a parachute. get some proper training in and my lawyer, E. Ville Cowlneck says you should sign a waiver !!

  • taylor replied 4 years ago

    Love how you can change your look up with such seamless fluidity , yet still retain the elements that are consistent to your style !
    ( specs, shoes,statement handbag)
    THAT is FAB!

  • rachylou replied 4 years ago

    Tres chic! Really comes alive with the red!

  • Joy replied 4 years ago

    Love this outfit with your red loafers and bag. It looks like it has the swish facto. Red specs too. You look very modern and ahead of the trends.

  • Bijou replied 4 years ago

    I love how you have added structure by pulling up the sleeves and adding a fitted jacket. I am taking notes because dresses that have volume often swamp me and I end up not wearing them for this reason, also I need to add the pretty, so the red, lace and pearls do the job perfectly. This is a fun change to your usual look.

  • Kate replied 4 years ago

    I love your outfit. I have that dress, and always wear mine with black skinnies. I don't accessorize with brights as you do, but I really like seeing it that way. Food for thought.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 4 years ago

    What a fantastic outfit. It's inspiring to see your range of style, Angie. This look is an unusual twist, but very much you, with your signature elements of red, structure, pearls, and pretty touches.

  • Janet replied 4 years ago

    I really like this. I think I tried on that dress in black and liked it more than I thought I would, but was a little worried I would end up not wearing it, as it is a lot of volume. It looks fantastic on you!

  • replied 4 years ago

    I just might!

  • Column replied 4 years ago

    I have been instructed by your wears this week, Angie. I, too, need variety every which way, from color to silhouette, to enjoy my closet. Getting dressed every morning is so basic to our existence that it should be a pleasure. Thanks for showing us how!

  • ChristelJ replied 4 years ago

    You look terrific in olive! Very interested to read how the finer points of fit come into play here in making volume work so well on your slight frame. I learn something from you with every outfit you post. Prettiest tent dress ever.

  • kkards replied 4 years ago

    oversized dress, black jeans, cross body bag....all things i don't usally associate with you....and yet, this outfit comes together in a way that works so well for you!

  • unfrumped replied 4 years ago

    Very fun outfit! Everything works so well together.
    I often wish I could browse retailers like COS in their actual stores— but then maybe it’s s good thing I can’t!

  • karen13 replied 4 years ago

    That outfit is a knockout. I love that cool shade of olive - veering towards hunter on my screen. Makes your eyes extra green!

  • cjh replied 4 years ago

    Thanks for including the last close up. That shows the olive color. All the others look gray to me, so I’m glad to see the olive, which is one of my favorite colors. You look sophisticated yet relaxed.

  • Angie replied 4 years ago

    Kelly and Lisa P, I wish the dress was available at COS. It works on everyone, if you like that type of thing.


    Cee, got it. Although I prefer my outfit to the instructors....

    Taylor, Firecracker, kkards, Bijou such astute observations. I appreciate the kind words. 

    Janet, I bet the dress looked great.

    cjh, I don't wear solid grey :) - thanks for the compliment. 

    Karen13, I hear that from time to time. That olive makes my eyes look more green. Yet I don’t wear a lot if it....

    Rachy, Joy and unfrumped, thank you.

    Kate, snap!

    Column, there you go. I like your strategy. 

    ChristelJ, you’re a honey-pie

  • Bennett replied 4 years ago

    I would try this in a weightier fabric, maybe some kind of a lightweight knit. As with palazzo pants, I prefer pieces with volume to have enough weight to stay mostly vertical and close to my body until I move, then the volume releases. Yet I prefer the collar and structure your dress has near your head and shoulders, which may be tough to get in a knit fabric. Hmm.... 

    I do like having a HEWI or two always on deck! I love this and it really shows your creativity. YLF!

  • JAileen replied 4 years ago

    I wasn’t sure about the color until the closeup with your eyes. I like it! I wonder how white leggings would look with it..

  • Marilyn replied 4 years ago

    What a fun ensemble!  It's different seeing you in darker hues although you're still rocking your brights with the shoes and bag.  I love olive and black together. 

  • Sal replied 4 years ago

    This is fantastic Angie. You look happy and it is fun to have days that veer Avant garde or more formal etc. it is instructive - as a larger frame I can feel too boxey in a voluminous dress but the details can make it work.

  • Cee replied 4 years ago

    Sam looks like he'll have to grow into his uniform somewhat.

  • Jaime replied 4 years ago

    I love how you are a mood dresser and can coordinate your mood, your style and your closet on a daily basis (go team moody Cancers :) !). Picture #7 especially made me flip with joy because along with the shoulder points, which I totally agree are the key to so many things, I find that a cross body strap is very helpful in taming billowy dresses and adding some structure. Red is such a good accent with olive. And yes, your eyes look stunning next to this color!

  • RobinF replied 4 years ago

    Love this! It seems different for you but the red accents bring it back. Agree with Shevia about the taming abilities of a cross body bag.

  • Laura replied 4 years ago

    Avant-garde dressing is a fun change-up from the last shirt dress and its preppy leanings. You are a multi-faceted woman! Especially love your sly smile in photo #7. 

  • Angie replied 4 years ago

    Bennett, actually, the fabric is weighty, and you're dead right about that part helping create vertical drape stay put. Fabric and fit are sooooo important. 

    Janet, I don't wear leggings but white cropped straights work just as well. 

    Marilyn & RobinF, thank you. The brights make a difference don't they. 

    Cee, Super Sam has a uniform....

    Shevia, HAH. Team Cancers is spot on! And astute comment about practical crossbodies - and those magical diagonal lines again...

    Laura, variety is the spice of life. You get that! 

  • anchie replied 4 years ago

    This is little unexpected - darker and less structured than your usual style but still works. Red accents make it more you. I wanted to copy it but didn’t have the adequate weather.

  • Cee replied 4 years ago

    When he wears his Super Sam costume I hope you play the John Williams' theme... Otherwise it'd be just too weird.

  • Karie replied 4 years ago

    I love this. I would wear this to work in a NYMinute. Gorgeous and comfy, what more could you ask for! Looks like Sam is ready for his walk. Have fun!

  • RainB replied 4 years ago

    So different and fun! It takes special magical powers to make a tent dress look streamlined :)

  • Kirstjen replied 4 years ago

    Love it!  Very stylish!  I sometimes call this "architectural" dressing.  ;)

  • Angie replied 4 years ago

    Thanks so much, ladies. Appreciate the kind words.

    My arms and wrists have been really sore these last few days. So I’m minimizing my forum time this week. Got to get ready to work with clients...

  • Suz replied 4 years ago

    You look like you are having so much fun in this outfit. Adorable on you! I love the touches of red with the olive. That's what makes it, for me. 

  • replied 4 years ago

    Sorry your arms and wrists are hurting :( That's what happens when you race Direwolf Sam in the Iditarod ;)

  • Cee replied 4 years ago

    Lol... 

  • Cee replied 4 years ago

    **Dramatic music**

  • Angie replied 4 years ago

    Thanks ladies, for the compliments and giggles. 

    Suz, YES. The red makes it for me too. 

    Suntiger, yoga is helping. Magical that way...and you're sweet. 

  • Cee replied 4 years ago

    Re the Iditerod, the message sent by Sam's team: " Ohhh... It's onnnn, bitches. "

  • replied 4 years ago

    *wipes coffee off phone*

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