Ballet in fashion - Top 3 designer collaborations

To add interest into a range or a brand, designers will usually combine fashion and dance into their work. From Jacques Fath (costumes for 'The Red Shoes') to Saint Laurent (Ballet Russes collections), there are many designers who use this tool of communication and use ballet for inspiration. Designers like Riccardo Tisci and Muiccia Prada created costumes for productions like New York City Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet. Using collaborations with ballet goes hand in hand with the quote 'fashion is art' as it allows designers to do something purely based on art.

1) Fortuna Desperata - PRADA 2015

One of the most recent collaborations was this year with Prada - Fabio Zambernardi's costumes for the American Ballet Theatre. The costumes were worn by dancer David Hallberg in the one night performance and was considered 'the perfect metaphor his 'Fortuna Desperate' show.




The costume was made from black natte wooden fabric with pink lining. The fabric was then bonded with crinoline, which was traditionally used for mens coats, to hold the shape. It also has embroidery made of stones and crystals, which were hand - made.

2) Jean Paul Gaultier - Snow White 2012

Jean Paul was responsible for designing the costumes for 'Snow White' - choreographed by Angelin Preljocaj - which fitted the 'dark' take on the fairytale. Most of the cast were barefoot, including Snow White. The Wicked Stepmother wore spiked thigh high boots and a high cut black bustier. Snow White wore a thin white draping jersey which had been modified for dancing.

3) Christian Lacroix - La Source 2012

In 2012, The Centre national du costume de scene collaborated with Christian Lacroix to produce costumes for La Source that was shown at the Paris Opera Ballet. Most of the costumes were embroided with Swarovski crystals and afterwards were presented in an exhibitions.




The costumes refined neo-classical style for the roles tinted with shimmering colours for the folk characters, which is exactly what Christian Lacroix dreamt. The costumes also had rustic elements that contrasted with the opulence of the ornaments and jewels. The tutus were made of Japanese Organza, odalisques draped in tunics and loose pants made of Saris.