Ballet En Pointe 221

Ballet En Pointe - Finding The Perfect Fit In Chichester Hey lovelies, I’m back again, and guess what? I’ve finally taken the plunge and gone en pointe! Yes, after years of yearning to dance on my tippy-toes, I’ve decided to take the plunge and explore this incredible new dimension of ballet. So naturally, I needed to get all kitted out! You’ll know I love my fashion, and it was all I could think about when the moment arrived. Finding the right ballet shoes was top priority, obviously! After all, it's like finding your dream pair of high heels - except with far more supportive and demanding qualities. Imagine the Cinderella of the ballet world; with an emphasis on elegance and precision, it’s like the glass slipper but way more practical! First, let's talk **pointes**: my weapon of choice - I was determined to get the best fit! Oh, the excitement, it was like my 10th birthday all over again! I must confess I did go slightly bonkers and maybe got a little over-excited when I went shopping. (Don’t judge!) I mean, they’re so pretty! I literally fell in love with these classic black satin shoes - I could hardly bear to walk past the display. You'll see why when you look at the photos. There are all sorts of brands too. The biggest ones in ballet? Blochs and Capezios. Then of course, you’ve got the smaller more specialist shops. Now this is where things start to get really interesting. Like most ballet dancers I’d tried the classic, basic ballet shoes. However, nothing feels quite like pointe shoes, and the specialist retailers cater for that uniquely shaped foot. They’re quite an experience I must admit, because every dancer’s foot is unique, so they need to be adjusted to the right level of flexibility and strength, and trust me it’s important. It’s a really special moment, kind of like when you buy your first pair of jeans you know will never go out of fashion! The fitter assesses your foot - the shape and even how you stand - so she can adjust the fit of your shoes to fit you perfectly. Now it wasn’t all plain sailing – it took a bit of trial and error. I even got a bit confused by the lingo! * **Shanks** are the stiff parts of the pointe shoe and I can guarantee you the thicker the shank, the harder your foot works! I have strong ankles thank goodness! I like my shanks pretty stiff to help support my foot, the right amount to prevent strain on the metatarsals and give my muscles the proper strength and flexibility. I can only imagine those on pointe shoes without enough shank strength would really be aching! I got lucky on my first shoe selection; I have small feet anyway so I don't want to say my foot was already well shaped but the shape of the shoe is pretty similar, which helped my teacher choose the right shoe size! * **Plateaus:** This refers to the area that sits directly under your toes. It helps to balance the weight when standing up on pointe and a well-fitted shoe makes for such a different feeling – like magic! * **Wings** are pretty essential; if you think about pointe shoes, you think of that little ribbon to hold it in place on the back of the foot. Now the most popular are the satin ribbons, for both practical and fashion purposes – but do let me know what you think in the comments! I’m trying to find all the best brands! I’ll tell you what’s working for me in my next post! From Pointes to Leotards: A Fashionable Twist Then there’s the **leotard**, and finding the perfect leotard was another mission I embraced whole-heartedly! In fact, who even knew there were so many colours and fabrics to choose from? My biggest question? Should I go for something that really lets me shine? My personal fashion philosophy is - keep it sleek and sophisticated! Let’s be honest; it's one of the reasons we love ballet! When choosing my first ballet leotard, I made sure to go for something in a dark shade to really highlight my shape - with some tasteful sparkles, just to add that extra touch! (Ok maybe that was me getting swept up by my love of shimmer. You know, I love sparkly clothes! Who doesn't!?) You’ve gotta find your balance and keep those fashion moments subtle! After all, there's an air of sophistication we need to embody. Ballet is definitely one of those arts that require discipline – the dancer must look the part - not to mention make sure the look goes with the right **tutu**. Oh yes, that's right the **tutu**! Where do I even begin to discuss tutus?! For years, my dream was to wear this magical garment of silk and fluffiness and feel like a true ballerina, graceful, beautiful, elegant... This was what I lived for! What's interesting is how you can take a simple tutu - a classical one, made of layers of net or tulle and they're all so classic. And all you have to do is change the colour, or add sequins or a little bow! Boom - an instant classic-chic fashion item! The key to achieving the perfect balance is getting the look right with the colours and details of your leotard. Of course, no ballerina can be caught out without the **tights**, these help the look come together! For that special occasion - that opening night performance – my favorite are those seamless ballet tights that help make legs look long and smooth - the absolute perfect combo. I can’t imagine being without my trusty tights! Let's Go Tutu Shopping - Choosing My Favourites In Chichester So of course, I couldn't help but go shopping in Chichester for my tutus! And just when I thought it couldn't get any better! It truly was heaven for a dancer like myself, a veritable paradise! My biggest challenge? There were just too many choices - and so many gorgeous looks to create! How could I choose? It was almost as overwhelming as trying to decide what kind of coffee I wanted on the morning of a big performance! * For classic and romantic performances, my favourite was the **Romantic Tutu**, which had all those tiers and ruffles! A lot of beautiful silk and I looked just like a flower swaying in the breeze, soft, sweet and stunningly delicate! The **Romantic Tutu**, of course, would make for such a magical show. * Next came the **Classical Tutu**. You know the kind – a more streamlined look with those flat layers and the perfect silhouette! There is just so much room for creativity with these – a true sign of how stylish a tutu can be. For any dancer, you'll always feel like a star - especially on stage with that **tutu** swirling around your legs! All the girls in my class went a little crazy about those. Shop, Style and Enjoy #enpointe #ballet #Chichester Overall, my trip to Chichester was simply fantastic - from finding the perfect pointe shoes, to discovering my own sense of style - and even finding that amazing leotard for those special events! If you're a ballet dancer in Chichester, I'd recommend visiting some of the wonderful shops there! Just be prepared to find your favourite brands, with an endless number of exciting tutus, leotards, and pointe shoes! It's almost like stepping onto the stage in a real-life performance!