What does Avant-garde mean?

I always hear the phrase Avant-garde on fashion or decorating shows. I always thought that it meant new technology like Ebac dehumidifiers. In a Project Runway sense Avant-garde means ugly stuff that I would never wear. It usually looks like some sort of chicken.

I'd always gotten away with this definition until someone actually asked me what the phrase meant. Can we say uh oh? The definition basically means experimental or unorthodox. The history of the phrase is really fascinating. According to wikipedia Avant-garde means advance guard or vanguard. The vanguard was a troop of soldiers who would explore what was ahead for the rest of the army to follow. Now you know. More importantly, now I know.