The Tutus of August
It’s September, which can only mean one thing: Fashion Week has been and gone! The streets of Paris and New York echoed with the sound of clinking champagne flutes, clicking stilettos and the oh-so-slight swoosh of the finest fabrics, and with it, came some of the most intriguing looks seen for decades. While it was a celebration of the latest trends, what stood out for me, a devoted ballet devotee, was the unmistakable nod to ballet that trickled down onto the catwalks. It was like the designers had been taking inspiration from our world – a beautiful world – for months. I daresay, the trendiest tutu right now would have been just as comfortable pirouette-ing in as it would strutting down the most discerning fashion street.
One of my favourite things I saw was at the **Valentino** show. **Maria Grazia Chiuri** was clearly paying homage to the world of dance. One showstopper saw a shimmering, soft, layered lilac tulle gown adorned with embellishment. It looked utterly divine, evoking the kind of classical ballet dress I remember from the Royal Ballet, but for modern times. You just want to be swept up in a waltz.
Another gorgeous show, and it had some beautiful tutus in the collection, was at **Giambattista Valli**. His collections are always exquisite and he did not disappoint. While there were quite a few elegant tulle skirts in his collection, my eyes went straight to the bright cerulean blue creation, which I could easily picture an ethereal ballerina performing en pointe in. It felt very romantic and elegant and would be the ultimate evening dress.
Now of course, we can’t talk about the tutu without mentioning **Dior**. The show was awash in tulle, the softest fabric you can imagine, but what made this collection even more exciting was the way it played with proportions and layering. I can’t believe some of those dresses even fit through the doors, they were so full! It had an exciting, dynamic and free-flowing look, all about the drama, all about the moment – exactly how the greatest ballets should be.
The fashionistas are now talking about **punk, **gothic**, **romantic**, **minimalism** and **femininity**, but it was the **ballet** which gave me my inspiration. For a ballet devotee like me, I'll never get bored of watching this lovely art form blossom on to the runways, where its tutu is celebrated once more!.