Darlings, the August ballet season brought with it the usual whirl of fabulous premieres, dazzling debuts and glorious gowns. Oh my! However, nothing, absolutely nothing, can compete with the sheer breathtaking spectacle of this year's new tutu styles.
The season's star is, undoubtedly, the **Ballet Nacional de Cuba's** new *Giselle* creation. The company's stunning production was graced with a *tutu extraordinaire* by **Dame Sylvie Guillem's** long-time design collaborator **Jean Paul Gaultier** himself. It's a work of genius - delicate yet bold. The tulle is featherlight and layered with intricate swirls of the finest chiffon - a veritable whisper of a design. It was almost too beautiful for the stage! A work of pure, unadulterated genius and just *divine* on **Aliciana Alonso**. It was a showstopper, and you won't catch me sitting through any performances where the **Dame's** designs are *not* on show!
In contrast to **Gaultier's** romantic, dreamlike masterpiece, **New York's American Ballet Theatre**'s *Swan Lake* boasted the most glamorous and *truly* daring design - and not for the faint of heart. Inspired by the 1990s** Chanel **pre-collections, **Karl Lagerfeld's ** design was *tout simplement sensational*. He took **Rodchenko's** classic monochrome, bold geometric and turned it into a couture spectacle, using layers of white chiffon, organza and a sprinkle of black to dazzling effect. The *jeté* jumps were the *piece de resistance*, and every single one of the *corps de ballet's* graceful movements were amplified. It was truly one for the books.
Speaking of, one of **Moscow**'s **Bolshoi Ballet**'s leading ladies had the honour of donning an absolutely extraordinary **Dior** creation at last month's **Red Square GALA**. It is, simply, the tutu to end all tutus. Designer **John Galliano** was clearly inspired by **Yves** **Saint Laurent's** early *couture* from the **sixties** - a combination of shimmering *lamé*, bold *metallic* details and an audacious design that hugged the body like a dream. I, for one, cannot wait for next season!
A month of fabulousness: The best tutus on the dance floor.- **Ballet Nacional de Cuba's ** *Giselle* : **Dame Sylvie Guillem** & **Jean Paul Gaultier's** feathery tulle delight.
- **New York's American Ballet Theatre's** *Swan Lake*: **Karl Lagerfeld's** modern take on **Rodchenko** in bold monochrome
- **Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet**: **John Galliano's** magnificent **Dior** tutu with its vintage inspired design.