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Pretty Ballerina

By FashionUnited

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Lots of little girls want to grow up to become ballerinas and in a world where we are told to tap into our inner child, wouldn't it make sense for us to perpetuate that dream? Of course, most of us won't have the talent, posture or discipline to be a dancer, but that can't stop us from sporting those lovely ballerina slippers and wide, tutu-like skirts.

Fashion designers are finely in tune with these secret designers and are translating the ballerina look into wearable fashion. "Women aspire to capture the almost goddess quality that the ballerina embodies," chairman of Ferragamo USA, Massimo Ferragamo, says on the matter. Ferragamo has created a ballet shoe called the Audrey - after the actress Audrey Hepburn - in various colours and fabrics every year since 1954.

Ferragamo is not the only company to offer ballet slippers. Chanel, I love Hollywould, Maloles and French Sole are just some of the brands to chose from. A proliferation of colours, designs and fabrics make the task of limiting one's choice almost impossible. The shoes look perfect under a pair of pedal pushers or a pretty, wide skirt. These skirts are going to be hot for spring/summer 2005, with designers like Miuccia Prada promoting the image. The look is reminiscent of the ultra-feminine 1950s, elegant yet informal.

Also part of the ballerina look is the concept of layering, which the dancers do during warm-up exercises. Pretty wrap sweaters in soft pastel layered over leotards, and pants with wide waistbands that fold over. Designer and founder of the cashmere line Cris, Cristiana Proietti, has tapped into her own inner ballerina by designing such items for her current collection. She also advises "a delicate pink" to complement the cashmere and to emulate the look.

Shari Hershon, senior vice president of Ann Taylor Loft, predicts that the layering of clothes will continue to be a trend at least through till fall 2006'. However, she warns against overdoing the look by wearing only ballerina-inspired items. The old adage "less is more" certainly applies here.

The clothes are, above all, comfortable, as a dancer's clothes should be to allow movement. This comfort also applies to the ballerina slippers with their low or non-existent heels and supple leather. The ballerina look is a short cut to looking feminine, graceful and elegant without having to sacrifice comfort.

www.ferragamo.com www.revolveclothing.com 21 December 2004