[STYLE IN SPADES]

The New York Times beat me to it. I wanted my first post-hiatus post to discuss the ballet influences in late December’s Pre-Fall 2011 collections. I planned to demonstrate the trend using images from Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan. Alas, Ruth La Ferla has already come to the conclusion that the movie “both reflects–and anticipates” the ballet trend in fashion.

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However, I think the article relies too much on the use of feathers in a small handful of Spring 2011 shows (Chanel, Alexander McQueen, and J. Mendel) to draw the ballet-inspired conclusion. Although feathers are relevant to the Black Swan movie, they aren’t representative of ballet in general (and what dancers wear on a regular basis). It is ballet, not the story of Swan Lake that is on the pop culture radar:

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Kanye West’s “Runaway” video

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Despite the fact that feathers may become popular, I believe the bigger trend will be the color light pink as it is commonly associated with ballet (i.e. the leather slippers, satin pointe shoes and light pink tights).

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BEHOLD… ballet pink:

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Ballet pink was used in the Pre-Fall 2011 collections of Phillip Lim 3.1, Burberry Prorsum, Doo.Ri, Hervé Léger by Max Azria, and Oscar De La Renta:

Phillip Lim 3.1

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Phillip Lim 3.1

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Burberry Prorsum

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Burberry Prorsum

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Doo.Ri

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Hervé Léger by Max Azria

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Oscar De La Renta

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Oscar De La Renta

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Just for kicks… here are some more examples from the earlier Spring 2011 collections of Chanel, Proenza Schouler, D&G, Azzaro, Diane von Furstenberg, Jil Sander, Christian Dior, and Chloé:

Chanel

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Proenza Schouler

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D&G

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Azzaro

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Diane von Furstenberg

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Jil Sander

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Christian Dior

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Chloé

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Chloé

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Boo-ya.

^This word is cruelly underutilized

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Photo Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4.