Recently reinvigorated by Miu Miu, Ballet Mania is back in fashion—only this time it's called a ballet, and it's not just a tutu. All of our barre workouts allow the practitioner to get used to the leotard and leg warmers. On and off the runway, the ODD (off-duty dancer) look gives the MOD (off-duty model) aesthetic a run for its money. It helps that the viral dance craze is rampant, and comfort (often translating into an active fashion mix) is at a premium.
"Ballet's influence on fashion—particularly practicing garments such as catsuits and leotards—can be traced back to the rise of Ballet Mania in the 1930s and '40s," curates "Ballerina: Fashion's Modern Muse" at the FIT Museum ’ Patricia Mears of , told me. "During the disco era of the 1970s, it had a strong revival long before the word athleisure entered our vocabulary," she continues. Thus, the recent resurgence of ODD may indeed be related to the current social media-driven dance craze. "The use of social media platforms by classical dance companies and their star dancers helps make this art form more accessible." The virtual output includes everything from costumes commissioned by leading designers to what ballet dancers wear in their everyday lives.
Whatever you like to call the trend, this Ballerina iteration speaks more fully of the full range of experiences dancers experience from the street to the studio to the stage. The results include a line of clothing that fits not just fashion fantasies but everyday needs, which is a step in the right direction. Here, take a look back at fashion's ongoing fascination with dance.
