As a little girl, it was my dream to be a prima ballerina. I had always been in awe of their grace, poise, and the sheer technical ability they possessed. Watching them go up on pointe, and leap ever so gracefully around the stage, skirts fluttering in the wind, hair in the most precise bun I had ever seen, always put a smile on my face. My mother taking me to see Giselle is one of my most treasured memories. Despite the tragic story, the way it was portrayed was just so heartbreakingly beautiful I couldn’t find it in myself to cry tears of sadness, only tears of joy. Although my days of dancing ballet are far behind me, and I know I'll never be a prima ballerina, there’s nothing stopping me from dressing like one.

The emergence of ballet fashion, or balletcore allows those who either never did, or no longer do ballet take part in the beautiful art in a small way. If you can’t be up on pointe, at least you can look like you could be. 

The balletcore color palette is composed of light pinks and grays, whites, and cream, although black sometimes finds a way in. With regards to the actual clothing pieces, there are many ways to incorporate a little bit of ballet into your look. 

Top 

For tops, you can go one of two directions: a wrap around top, or a bodysuit. The bodysuit emulates a leotard, and is good for layering if it’s colder weather. You can even layer a wrap sweater on top. As for the wrap top, as previously mentioned, it can be a sweater, or of a lighter material. Dresses are also a good option, leaning more towards a performance look. 

Bottom 

For bottoms, you can do some leggings or a skirt. Leggings are more casual, more of an off-duty ballerina look, while skirts are more “at rehearsal”. Most commonly worn are wrap skirts, white pleated skirts, and even tulle skirts.  

Shoes

For shoes, there is only one path: ballet flats. Flats are a more casual way to elevate any outfit, but to look like a real ballerina, you’ll want to get flats that either have a bow on the toes, or that have lace-up ribbons. My current favorite, and a viral sensation are Miu Miu’s Satin Ballerinas, which look just like actual ballet shoes. 

Accessories

Tights and leg warmers are staples of balletcore,  as they can really tie a look together, and add a touch of ballerina. Speaking of tying together, bows and ribbons are another common accessory in balletcore, whether worn in the hair, on shoes, or on clothing. 

For further inspiration, check out Camri Hewie, a real life ballerina who completely embodies balletcore, and Chazlyn Yvonne, a former dancer. No matter how you decide to style your ballerina inspired look, I can guarantee that you’ll have a ball. 

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