Ballet is an extraordinary art: This torture of the body to make something so graceful. All this hard work – to look effortless. Ballet and fashion have inspired each other for as long as performers have been dressing up and dancing.
When did ballet suddenly become so cool?
Ballet is having quite a renaissance in the fashion zeitgeist. Ballerinas are graceful, disciplined, strong yet delicate, so of course we want to emulate them. Every time we pull a chignon or slip on some heels to elongate our legs, we’re channeling some of that ethereal beauty.
Since the very beginning, the dance form has both inspired and been inspired by high fashion. There’s a constant interaction between the ballet world and fashion world, both influencing one another in beneficiary ways throughout the centuries.
Considering that everything from knit jumpers layered over leotards and paired with slouchy trousers to feather-and-jewel embellished tutus comprise the “ballet look”, there is something in the dancer’s wardrobe to appeal to most of us.
Clover Canyon’s Fall 2013 collection for New York Fashion Week pays homage to Russia, weaving printed ballerinas and Siberian plains into their garments with Swaroski pumps and ballet pointe shoes.
Actual ballet dancers stood en pointe throughout the presentation.
Ballerina Keenan Kampa fronted RAW, the new G-Star Campaign for Autumn/Winter 2013, which illustrated the unlimited possibilities of denim as seen by G-Star.
Katherine McPhee poses on pointe against theatrical backdrop of a chandelier backstage for Allure magazine.
Supermodel Karlie Kloss channels her ballerina past in Pas De Deux for Vogue Germany. Miss Kloss said her classical ballet training is a beautiful thing that taught her how to move gracefully in the modelling world.
The story between ballet and fashion is far from over as ballet influences continue to inform the way we dress – and vice versa. So while most of us can’t assume the perfect arabesque or stood elegantly en pointe, at least we can look the part :)
Happy posing!