Art teacher chic my dear, wearable art with a punk twist
...or a ruffled flamenco skirt from THAT Vogue pattern
or something steampunk influenced
pleather with flowing silk might be excessively heavy- but how about black satin for contrast? Or a lightweight black stretch velvet...you could do a nice goth skirt and a lovely sexy piratical shirt with mahoosive sleeves
Get that Westwood/Galliano vibe with one of those Brenne skirts I'm currently mad about- they are VERY wearable, and more sassy than 'elegant'
...or you COULD make a subtraction dress