Itās official, ladies, the summer of tutus has begun! Yes, the much-anticipated peak of pink and white tulle is upon us. Whilst most of us are content to swathe ourselves in beachy cover-ups and sundresses, the world of ballet has taken a far more theatrical, if slightly more impractical, turn.
The Royal Ballet, as youād expect, are leading the charge with their new summer production of Giselle, a tale of love, betrayal, and a whole lotta lace. The lead, a certain Miss Elodie Dupont (you may remember her from the much-discussed āSwan Lakeā scandal where, shockingly, her tiara was mistaken for a birthday candleā¦), is sporting a truly breathtaking white tutu that practically screams āIām not here to mess about.ā It's huge. The only bigger tutu is my latest wardrobe addition and even I haven't had the courage to wear that outside the confines of my own boudoir.
But hold your horses! Itās not just the big girls strutting their stuff in frothy creations this summer. Over at the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the adorable young ladies of the corps de ballet are rocking an utterly captivating shade of baby pink. They call it āBubblegum Blush,ā and quite frankly, it's adorable. Who knew the combination of leotards, ballet shoes, and a splash of blush pink could be so darn chic? Letās be honest, I havenāt been able to look away from it all summer. Itās made my social media feeds almost unbearable. If there's more to talk about this season then let me know! Maybe some new leotard options are coming through?
Of course, not everyoneās entirely on board with the whole tutu-on-the-street movement. There have been grumbles from the āseriousā ballet community (you know, the type that wears their tights rolled down to their ankles and looks down their noses at you if you ask what they did on the weekend). Apparently, these tutu enthusiasts consider it āvulgarā and āan insult to the art formā. Honestly, darlings, who needs this level of judgment in their lives, especially on a sweltering summer afternoon? My take? It's all a bit dramatic. If I can twirl in my fabulous pink silk scarf and be a little bit more like a ballet dancer, then so be it.
But itās not all tutus and tiaras, my dears. Thereās another hot topic in the ballet world: leotards. You see, leotards aren't just for class anymore, they're taking centre stage, and not just literally on stage. Theyāre popping up on runways, at street festivals and yes, even in the odd coffee shop (not as appropriate). We're seeing a return to the classic designs - think the tried-and-true black or teal. But hold on, because they are giving these pieces a little ā90s edge, darling, in bright neon colors, metallic finishes, and *gasp* yes, even a bit of sparkle. (Don't even get me started on those glittery mesh ones!).
As someone who has, on occasion, worn a leotard and ballet shoes to, dare I say, *shop* at a boutique or two, I know itās not for the faint of heart. There's definitely a fine line between āavant-gardeā and āshould've just stayed in bed'. And honestly, as I get older and possibly, just possibly, a little *ahem* rounder, a strategically placed leotard, as flattering as it may be, sometimes just doesnāt quite work on a day-to-day basis.
But hey, Iām not a dance critic, just an observer who knows a great ballet outfit when she sees it. The key is to know your limits, have some fun, and never, ever be afraid to twirl! After all, what's the point of wearing a fabulous leotard if you can't show it off?
Now, if youāll excuse me, Iām off to check my 'new in' leotard selection. I've found a sparkly navy, an electric blue number that really stands out, and what I believe is called an āiridescent coralā piece. Youāve got to see it! I hope I donāt look ridiculous. Perhaps I'll need a friend for some serious judging. No one needs a whole *crowd* of friends judging.
Oh! And remember, if youāre in doubt about what to wear, there's always the tried-and-true classic: a black leotard with a white tutu! Itās as timeless as they come, darling. And honestly, can you go wrong? What does this all mean, then, for the summer of 2023?
- Get ready for some major tulle-ing around! The tutus are back. But honestly, do we need more? This is going to take some getting used to.
- Keep your eyes peeled for those leotard pops - and get ready to strut your stuff in a few stylish dancewear picks this season.
- Finally, darling, never be afraid to express your inner ballerina ā even if it means walking into a restaurant in a leotard. We can do that! You never know what might inspire your next dance move - but don't make eye contact with the waiter.