The definition of what fashion is, is often defined by industry-relevant standards of beauty, styling and mediums of expression...While it may be easy to break the generic models of existing standards, it is harder to experiment and redefine it using social, and cultural contexts.
Personally, what has worked for me, as a fashion-collaborator and a creative-director, is bringing in various creative aspects like ambiance, natural-lighting, experimenting with jewelry and accessories, and utilizing the other person's full creative abilities while weaving my own into them. When you have defined your base-line for a fashion-shoot and a theme guiding it; it becomes simple to go about experimenting with the person, place and the whole idea of what fashion truly can be.
The process has to be original though.. to comprehend the final meaning of the work, in an effort that the creator and the the created are unified, to bring out quality, well-measured quantity, utility and the implications it can have on the artists' future works. 
Special gratitude: Sid and Arvind, project collaborators.