AI Ballet Outfit Design 217

Darling, The Tutu To Die For! September's in the air, which means its time to think about new leotards and tutus for the season. Forget those boring black things - its all about bold colour, fabulous fabric and statement designs this month! But creating a fabulous piece isn’t about slavishly copying what the rest of the girls are wearing. No darling, a real diva designs her own! Let me guide you through designing a real statement, that'll get every other dancer and even the audience staring. Imagine, every time you step on stage you'll be dripping in style! What you'll need to make a knock-out tutu: * **A decent fabric shop**: No, not one of those places you find on a shopping street - a good independent shop, one that knows what they are doing and can offer advice. Look for **silk tulle** for your tutu. Don’t even think of buying synthetic or nylon for a real showstopper. It must be real silk - it’s softer, floats beautifully and gives a wonderful elegance. Don’t even consider buying it on line, you need the tactile experience and professional help with colour selection. I like The Ribbon & Fabric Shop, near Bond Street. If you are outside of London then I hope you have a local, specialist shop, that sells proper high quality fabric! * **Elastic** : You will need this to give the tutu shape. The amount you need depends on the size of your tutu, but you will find good quality at places like The Sewing Shop (you will find one in many larger towns, they are often independently owned). * **A needle and thread**. Again you don’t need cheap or poor quality when making such an exquisite item. I like the fine, needle brand “Clover”, and look for good quality silk thread, in the exact matching colour as your silk tulle, from The Ribbon & Fabric Shop * **Some pretty ribbons, flowers and other decorative stuff** – for extra touches to really set you apart. Try John Lewis for their amazing range of accessories, even if they are slightly over-priced. Don't worry about going a bit over budget here - they'll really make the difference, as they'll say "You have excellent taste darling." **My Design Secret:** Don’t use an all-over colour – this year is all about beautiful shades of green - but the really sophisticated look is a "splash of colour" against a neutral or black. It's elegant, subtle, but makes a huge impact when the lights are down! I like **Jade Green** – it just oozes classic elegance. Now for the "splash" - the **Ruby Red** in contrast adds that little hint of fiery passion - its stunning! To Make Your Masterpiece: Now for the best bit! * Using the elastic create the waistline. You will want it snug – a good strong elastic (try the cotton version) is important for a quality finish, as it won't droop in performance. * Start layering the tulle in strips onto the elastic – for this month it’s best to make the top part very short (so the Jade Green just gleams underneath the "splash"), then gradually increase the lengths of the tulle, giving the full look at the end. * Be generous with your **Ruby Red**. Think "statement” – don’t be shy about it darling! A generous splash of Ruby Red (almost the entire width) as you reach the longer lengths will add to the impact of the design. Remember to weave the tulle in such a way that you see more of the Ruby Red than the Jade Green towards the bottom! * Finally a touch of **Jade Green** ribbons to match, added to the waist, are subtle but give a more classic look and some of the "John Lewis" glitter would look divine sprinkled on. There you have it, your show-stopping September creation! A unique, chic look with a little sparkle that’ll take you to another level! So what are you waiting for darling – get busy!