Dearest Darlings,
The festive season is upon us! It’s time to embrace the magic of twinkling lights, the warmth of family and the joy of dancing – for it is, of course, the season of giving. What better gift to give oneself, than a ravishing new tutu or leotard that will have the envy of every ballerina in the room? I have been spending some time experimenting with my own wardrobe and thinking what could be the ultimate dancewear must-have this season. This is what I have come up with.
The perfect leotard is simple but striking, combining classic elegance with a modern edge.
You will need: * A black, scoop-neck leotard. I recommend the "Eleve" from Bloch London. They're famously soft and durable. * A selection of rhinestones - choose sparkling crystal or iridescent ones. I love Swarovski. * A hot glue gun and some strong glue sticks, a fine tipped permanent pen and a cutting mat to make sure you have a safe and precise process!First, take your leotard. We are going to give this classic style a dash of drama. Get those rhinestone gems out and let your imagination run wild. It's best to create a pattern and mark it on the leotard before attaching them, because, once glued, they're glued for life. A good place to start could be on the shoulder straps. Then work downwards. You can add gems around the neck, or make some dazzling swirls down the centre, creating an almost shimmering stripe.
If a classic look isn’t for you, I recommend that you experiment! Take that fine tipped permanent pen, a beautiful turquoise and metallic gold leotard, and make bold swirly, freeform patterns that will catch the light on stage, and then attach a trail of diamante beads in shimmering tones for extra zing!
This season, the perfect tutu should evoke all the warmth and magic of a wintery wonderland. Forget pale pinks and pale blues, my lovelies, think deep forest green and sparkling ivory. If you want something really decadent, why not experiment with layering, creating a layered tutu that shimmers and sways in a mesmerizing symphony of ivory, black, and a flash of gold.
Here’s how:You'll want a solid base tutu, and I recommend using an ivory tutu like the one from Dance World in Covent Garden. Add to this base with an overlay of a soft tulle in deep forest green (found at The Dance Shop on the King’s Road in London), and just the tiniest glimmering of gold in the tulle (you can get tulle with gold sparkle from The Tutu Company). A generous scattering of diamantes – preferably the silver or gold variety – and a tiny, sparkling headpiece will finish your masterpiece.
Let your inner sparkle shine this December with your own custom-designed leotard or tutu and be prepared to steal the show! Now, don’t be shy about sending in some pictures of your own, bewitching, creations, I will be publishing a selection of your best and most beautiful designs in the magazine next month, my loves. Happy holidays and Happy dancing, darling.