When I seek advice on how to dress more fashionably, I am actually looking for the right way to disguise a figure flaw in hopes to "balance" my proportions and make me look more symmetrical. Anything that will widen my shoulders or hide my narrow waist is a welcome.  But what if, through a mastectomy and the personal choice not to go the reconstruction or prothestics route, a woman's body is permanently altered so she will not be able to disguise her asymmetry through off-the-rack clothing? 

With luck, she finds a designer who emphasized her beautiful assymetrical form in clothing.

Laurie left a comment at last week's Wardrobe Refashioning post about 3 garments that had remade to suit her new body by  Rebel One in Eight  so we could all see the results.  This is fabulous and inspiring. While television "how to look better" programming focuses on women working clothing to emphasize their strong points and camoflage their weak points, ROIE's Jacqueline wrote about creating balance in what is an "unbalanced" profile. She speaks with the voice of experience.

The first primitive standard of beauty is symmetry. When we dress to de-emphasize a wide bottom, or to widen our shoulders to bring balance to the torso, we are seeking symmetry. When that torso has had it's symmetry dramatically  altered through surgery RIOE has dedicated her business Rhea Belle to making these women beautiful by balancing the positive and negative spaces in their bodies.  She frequently does it by emphasizing the negative space.

This is what completely floors me about ROIE's vision!  I was always taught to avoid placing pattern or embellishments on a garment that would emphasize or suggest a nipple.  Jacqueline uses techniques to visually "create" a breast where one is not to perfectly balance the body's appearance. Or as she wrote:

Conceived and designed by a two time breast cancer survivor Rhea Belle garments create visual balance, re-invent symmetry and invite women to embrace their natural architecture. A cotton tunic becomes an empowered asymmetrical cardigan, a blouse discovers a new center, ruffles unite and a swirling scarf takes on a whole new life atop rich plum goodness. There are many sides to comfort and every day is different as a woman's transformed body gracefully invites buttons, zippers or gathered falling fabrics. Rhea Belle clothing is more than fashion. It's a lifestyle with a view.

How did Laurie's refashioned cardigans turn out? Check out this photo and Laurie's remark:"I have come home inspired and rejuvenated. You have helped me to go back to feeling good about my body, as it is. You are doing a wonderful thing with Rhea Belle."  Interested in purchasing these creations?  Rhea Belle Fashions has an Etsy Shop.

Others blogging about Rebel One in Eight and/or Rhea Belle fashions:

Our own Amanda Shaffer: What Really Works: Lifestyle, Beauty, and Coping Techniques For Female Cancer Patients.

The Assertive Cancer Patient: The One Breasted Woman Fashion Show.

Adventures in Deconstruction: What Am I Missing? It's Rant Time!

Beach Bungalow 8: wtf moment-rebel 1 in 8, you blow my mind

Debra Roby blogs her creative life at A Stitch in Time and her mundane life at Deb's Daily Distractions .