in lieu of symmetry.

Meet Rhea Belle. A single right-side mastectomy mannequin. Rhea is entering the world free of fear and self-conscious thorns. In lieu of rules and traditional solutions Rhea plans to embrace her form through thoughtfully designed fashions.

Several months after my right-side mastectomy in January of 2004 and proudly moving forward without reconstruction or a prosthesis I was forced to evaluate my (then) existing wardrobe. It became crystal clear as I dressed that the clothes in my closet were no longer appropriate for my body. Every dawn unveiled a psychological and political discourse within myself to either embrace my new architecture or camouflage it. Philosophically I new the answer. However, socially it was not always an easy thing to do.

As my favorite dresses and blouses fell over my form and rested upon the new landscape the emptiness on the right side was always awkward and apparent- like putting on a pair of three legged pants. I gave up buying anything with darts and began playing with knit t-shirts and sweaters using various texture, pattern and fabric techniques to create visual balance. On the days I wanted to embrace my natural form I'd wear one of my creations. On "camouflage" days I use to swing a silk scarf around my neck to drape and fill the flat terrain.

Occasionally I find garments that work perfectly as they are- asymmetrical designs, cowl necks, blouses with attached scarves, draping and pleated/ruffly fronts will balance out the asymmetry. However, cool ones (and not as in temperature) are few and far between and a huge time investment is needed to procure an up-to-date everyday wardrobe. Eventually I began to examine clothing in a new way. Instead of accepting clothes the way they are on the rack I'll immediately start "renovating" them in my mind to work with my body. If I can technically handle the renovation I buy it- if the price is right that is (on occasion some garments become sacrifices to the cause). A pull-over angora sweater has become an empowered asymmetrical cardigan, the buttons on a blouse have found a new asymmetrical center, ruffles on a blouse have been united to one side while the right side was de-darted, ruching creates balance and "scarfin' it" has taken on a whole new meaning for a black cotton tunic with a draping scarf stitched to it. Rhea Belle garments create visual balance and re-create symmetry. There are many sides to comfort and every day is different as my transformed body gracefully invites buttons, zippers or gathered falling fabrics within new terrain. Necessity is the mother of invention. Wearing garments that are created for, honor and embrace my unique architecture is not only empowering it is necessary and crucial to social acclimation in my post mastectomy world.

"The design and marketing of items of wear for one-breasted women is only a question of time, and we who are now designing and wearing our own asymmetrical patterns and New Landscape jewelry are certainly in the vanguard of a new fashion!"
Audre Lorde, "The Cancer Journals", 1980

See Rhea Belle.