giselle

i tend to infuse my wardrobe with ballet inspired pieces often. it could be the immense comfort spandex provides, combined with an overall feeling of poise when i put on a wrap and some flats. i was a ballerina at 5, and am still a ballerina at heart. the form-fitting silhouettes of a dancer's ensemble has been giving inspiration to designers and stylists for decades, if not centuries.




crinolines (tutus) can be placed under a gown for extra body, or worn alone for an eccentric, elegant look. i like to pair mine with something on the other end of the fashion spectrum, such as a little leather bomber or a vintage t.


it's a bit of a chicken/egg situation.. what came first? fashion-inspired ballet wear or ballet-inspired street wear? the classic wrap dress or sweater is often seen in dance studios or dance retailers. the highly revered diane von furstenberg is known for her wrap-style garments, and if worn with some ballet flats or pale tights, would really show off the graceful look of a dancer.

i'm a big fan of pale tights this season. with leggings and tights being in style for the past few years, the focus has drifted from sheer hose. kate bosworth was pictured in semi-sheer cream tights earlier this month. i like the pale pink tights that capezio (or other dance wear companies) makes, and they are more durable, probably due to the fact they are made specifically for ballerinas.

probably the most popular ballet-inspired piece of street wear is the ballet flat. amy winehouse caught a lot of slack for wearing ballet shoes as outerwear, but i secretly envy her for being bold enough to get 'em dirty. bloch makes wearable ballet flats & replicas, as do other shoe companies. i love the edgy metal-studded capezio ballet flats, they are on my wish list. i spent a little more than the average joe on some ballet-inspired christian louboutins, but the comfort is off-the-wall amazing.