AI Ballet Review 185

Darling, it's the beginning of a brand new season, a fresh canvas for new and inspiring ballet! September always seems to bring with it an air of creative revival. Like a dancer returning to the studio after the summer hiatus, the world of ballet is bursting with fresh energy. And of course, what would a ballet be without the stunning costumes? From the shimmering tulle tutus to the dramatic silks, the costumes are a dancer's best friend.

Let’s get right into the nitty gritty of the most iconic looks:

Oh, darling, the tutu! It's a timeless masterpiece, a ballerina's dream. This year, there's a real resurgence of the **traditional Romantic tutus**. A wisp of silk and tulle, creating an ethereal cloud around the dancer, its almost ethereal quality never fails to create that awe inspiring image of effortless grace. From "La Sylphide" to "Giselle" it’s as much a part of the magic as the music itself! You simply can't have a ballet collection without them.

Then, there's the **modern take** on the classic tutu: The **peplum tutu**. This little darling has more fullness in the skirt and gives it a lovely flow and a sophisticated silhouette and a real sense of drama! We saw this beautifully executed by The Royal Ballet’s performance of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", just stunning, the perfect way to move into modern storytelling.

Of course, a girl’s gotta sparkle! Sequins and spangles have a very particular place in ballet costumes. You don't see them on stage too often because they really grab the attention! They just scream "I'm on stage, I'm glamorous, look at me!". I saw a production of "Sleeping Beauty" in Vienna, they added **iridescent sequins** on the fairies' tutus, they had this breathtakingly reflective quality under the stage lights! It really is magical and they were totally appropriate for the magic and enchantment of the fairy tales.

Darling, the world of ballet costumes has evolved far beyond just the iconic tutu! There's a new emphasis on **contemporary design**, using unusual and very exciting fabric combinations to highlight both athleticism and grace.

• Silk and Lycra combinations: A match made in heaven! This is so versatile! It really shows the curves of a dancer's body so beautifully while allowing for amazing freedom of movement! You get this sleek, modern look. And the silk? Oh, it drapes so wonderfully!
• Mesh and Lace : This really comes to life with light! You see these combinations so well in modern pieces "The Rite of Spring" for example, where the costume needs to really reflect movement and feeling. This combination brings the dramatic flair, the modern edge!
• Velvet and Brocade: These are not as common in dance costumes because they tend to be very heavy, but they can create a really luxurious and dramatic look, think "The Nutcracker", where the costume reflects the fantasy and the opulent setting! These combinations really bring a fairytale feel, almost medieval! And in some ballets, the historical context demands them.

You know, dear, for me, a well-crafted ballet costume is a second skin. It’s not just a costume; it’s an integral part of telling a story. It helps express emotions, emotions as varied as love, sadness, strength, vulnerability. It's almost like wearing a visual translation of music.

It also becomes a unique way for choreographers to leave their signature. And, let's not forget about the **artistry of the designers**. There are so many talented people bringing these pieces to life, these intricate details, all the little hand-stitched things, they make all the difference. It’s not just about covering a dancer's body.

Here are a few of my favourite designers. These guys are like modern-day wizards, conjuring up such ethereal beauty through fabric, texture and colour:

• Christian Lacroix : Oh darling, a true magician of color, he never fails to evoke such an explosion of vibrant, joyful feelings, very Grand-Ball style! This guy understands the energy of the stage.
• Karl Lagerfeld: The King of Haute Couture himself! His costumes have this striking simplicity, clean lines, it's like watching sculpted elegance on the stage.
• Jean Paul Gaultier: He is, of course, an iconoclast. His costumes are both edgy and provocative, but always elegant, daring to question conventions. It's like he’s challenging traditional boundaries while creating something stunningly innovative. He has this playful energy.

When we’re talking about the best, we’re talking about the perfect fit, of course, which leads me to another little secret to how good costumes look on stage, the art of making!

I'm no fashion guru, darling, but I'm always looking at what's happening in the ateliers. I've learned that a truly perfect costume is all in the detail! I know it's about more than just picking the fabric or the color. The key to truly stellar costuming, as it relates to ballet, is the way a costume is constructed. I've been watching the best costumers in London and Paris:

• The Skill of the Stitch : The tiny details! A delicate hand stitch that perfectly captures the curvature of the body, allowing it to move with the dance, rather than restricting it. I'm just captivated by this little world where a tiny stitch can make such a huge difference in a garment, really taking it to another level.
• Fabric choice, is, of course, super important. A skilled costumer has this intuition! They will always know if it will flow just right, the exact way that movement is intended to be perceived on stage. If the fabric moves well, you move well, the two go hand in hand.

And speaking of movement...

Now, darling, you know ballet is all about the artistry of movement, it is as much about how the costumes are designed for movement as how they look when they're perfectly still. Those fabulous fabrics! They help accentuate all those movements:

• Tulle: The delicate whisper of movement! This magical fabric evokes a lightness and flow. I adore how it creates these swirling, almost ethereal effects.
• Silk: A smooth, elegant drape! A beautifully crafted silk dress captures the flow of a dancer's movements, emphasizing graceful lines.
• Velvet and Satin: Opulent, sensual, dramatic. Velvet, particularly when used in black, evokes shadows and light that enhance movement. You just feel the intensity!

I can't even begin to tell you how many costume changes have been my makeup artist’s nightmare, just a few seconds in the wings, with me needing to quickly transform from a fluttering ballerina into a sassy siren, it's a truly remarkable thing to witness in its sheer complexity!

It’s also a matter of detail, all these little details are vital!

• Jewels - Think, "Jewelled ballerinas", the glistening embellishments! From a scattering of tiny gems to a full-fledged bejeweled bodice! Sparkle on stage is absolutely mesmerizing! They truly make costumes feel extra luxurious and theatrical.
• Feathers : Those are a true expression of artistic finesse, darling. Each one is placed by hand, carefully designed to add a specific dimension of movement to the costumes! The feathers on an iconic piece like "Swan Lake" will tell a tale of freedom and ethereal flight in just a brush against the stage, it really makes it more magical!

But ballet is no longer just on the stage, it’s spilled onto the streets. It’s in our clothing and our trends! It has that sophisticated air that never fades and the designs have really transcended.

Now, let's not forget the influence of ballet costumes on the wider fashion scene! From high-end designers to the more mainstream brands, elements of the ballerina's wardrobe are constantly inspiring:

• The tutu: It is a truly timeless icon! I think even Karl Lagerfeld, my favourite, uses it in some of his collections with such incredible impact.
• The ballerina flat : That comfortable ballet flat, they offer an airy, feminine elegance, they really became staple footwear! We see it in street style all the time! They add just a touch of grace.
• The romantic camisole and ballet skirt : That’s always chic and always appropriate! Every season we see that feminine style creeping in!

This season's dance world is more creative and stylish than ever. The costumes truly continue to be the magic of ballet! It’s an essential part of that whole illusion of a fairytale on stage! I love seeing how those beautiful, crafted garments transform on stage! The energy, the music, and those stunning costumes that help us all embrace the story of the ballet.