I’ve been going on about the return of ballet-inspired fashion since the beginning of fall, so it irks me just a little bit that all the fashion and beauty people are hopping on the ballet bandwagon now that Black Swan is so popular. Oh well, such is the fate of being ahead of the fashion curve! Seriously though, it’s a fun trend that you can incorporate into your wardrobe without looking totally Flashdance if you don’t overdo it. Here are a few items that you can mix and match with other wardrobe staples during any season!
Bodysuits are something you might remember from the early 90s, and like leggings, people have been dreading this trend’s return for years. But like it or not, tucked-in shirts are back, and if you’ve ever spent all night retucking your shirt into your skirt or pants, you know it is a pain in the ass. With fuller skirts back in, a good way to emphasize the waistline is to have a sleek tucked in top, and bodysuits are a great way to do this. Whether you like yours with short sleeves, long sleeves, or no sleeves at all, you’ll find plenty of choices at American Apparel. I particularly like the short sleeved ones, the wider the neckline the better, because they really lend that ballet feel. Here are a few cute ones:
Cotton Spandex Jersey Short Sleeve T-Shirt Leotard ($28)
Printed Cotton Spandex Jersey Double U-Neck Long Sleeve Bodysuit ($36)
Nylon Spandex Stretch Floral Lace Long Sleeve Thong Bodysuit ($44)
Cotton Spandex Jersey Cross-V Bodysuit ($36)
Now, keep in mind, the American Apparel bodysuits really only work for those with small to average sized boobs. If, like me, you absolutely cannot go braless, then I would suggest going with a leotard from a dancewear store like Discount Dance Supply. This online shop is also a great place to go for all sorts of costumey dresses and tutus, but rocking a full-on tutu in public if you’re not Carrie Bradshaw might earn you stares for the wrong reason.
However, with long boots and leggings back, there’s no reason leg warmers can’t be part of your winter outfit. The ones at Discount Dance Supply are actually pretty tasteful, and they come in a wide variety of colors that won’t give you Saved by the Bell flashbacks.
Adult Legwarmers (Discount Dance Supply, $7.95)
27″ Stirrup Legwarmers (Discount Dance Supply, $7.95)
Thicker, more opaque tights worn under a skirt are also a great ballet-ish look, and with long boots you’ll keep the cold out pretty well. I personally love all things gray this season, especially charcoal gray, so even though they are clearly of cheap and crappy quality, I’ll probably end up buying a few pairs of these cheap Target tights over the course of the winter.
Merona Women’s Opaque Tight (Target, $7)
These Hue tights from Macy’s are also quite affordable, and they come in gray as well. Hooray for gray!
Hue Super Control Top Opaque Tights ($12.50)
As for your hair, the obvious way to allude to ballet is to put your hair in a bun, or better yet a braided bun, and decorate it with ribbons. Hair ribbons are a great investment anyway–they are cute, feminine, and effortless.
As for shoes, do I even need to say it? Ballet flats!
Fiona Ballet Flat (Payless, $10.99 on sale)
So go forth and discover a whole new world of sweetly feminine, Degas-channeling ballet appreciation, in the one place it really matters — your wardrobe! Or you could, you know, learn how to dance. But that sounds like a lot of hard work.
Posted in Shopping
Tags: accessories, apparel, hair accessories
