Balletcore 2023/24: the eternal TikTok trend

taketonews

Microtrends on TikTok are fast-moving and short-lived. What is even more surprising is the fact that the hashtag “Balletcore” is experiencing a second wind on the social media platform at the end of 2023, recording over 142.1 million views. The trend was originally started on TikTok in 2022 and is based either on dancers’ training clothes such as camisoles, leg warmers, wrap jackets and training pants or on the extravagant performance costumes of professional ballet dancers, including corsets, tutus and long tulle skirts.

But why does this microtrend in particular have such longevity? First of all, there is the number of young people taking up ballet in their twenties and beyond. According to an article on media platform Hypebae, the term “adult ballet” has been searched over 34.7 million times on TikTok and the hashtag ‘startingballet’ has just reached 2 million views.

Act No.1 Spring/Summer 2022Image: Act No.1 ss22/Launchmetrics Spotlight

Ballet dancers have long embodied the epitome of strength, power and femininity and have always inspired the fashion world. From Christian Dior in the late 1940s to today’s designers such as Molly Goddard, Rodarte, Miu Miu, Jacquemus and Act no.1, the fashion world has repeatedly presented collections that adore the dancers and their clothes. And for those who simply want to wear accessories from the ballet world, there are currently a variety of options, be it designer or retail.

Balletcore on the run for spring/summer 24

Judging by what designers have recently shown on the runways for the upcoming spring/summer season, Ballecore is here to stay – even away from TikTok.

Marie Adam Leenaerdt

In Paris, Belgian designer Marie Adam-Leenaerdt showed what she called a “holiday collection” of clothes intended for summer vacations. However, some of the looks seemed to come straight from the dance studio.

Adam Leenaerdt ss24/ look 6
Adam Leenaerdt shows off a white high-cut camisole under a white wrap skirt and brown soft round-toe shoes for SS24.Image: Adam Leenaerdt / Launchmetrics Spotlight
Adam Leenaerdt ss24/look 22
Ballecore also comes in darker shades, as shown here with a black spaghetti strap leotard, black trousers and silver earrings.Image: Adam Leenaerdt/Launchmetrics Spotlight

Adam

Adeam ss24/ Tiler Peck and Hanako Maeda
Adeam SS 24Image: Launchmetrics Spotlight

For her brand Adeam, Japanese-American designer Hanako Maeda focused on ballet as a sport and showed a collection inspired by athleisure styles with a touch of punk. Maeda already had a connection to the New York City Ballet, for which he designed costumes in 2015. One of the ballet’s principal dancers, Tiler Peck, performed at the conclusion of the show.

Adeam ss24/look 4
A white wrap cardigan and tiered lace skirt, pearl and silver jewelry and Doc Marten gladiator sandals at Adeam SS24 Image: Launchmetrics Spotlight
Adeam ss24/look 10
Another look on Adeam consisted of a black wrap cardigan with beaded arms, a black tulle skirt, black hold-ups and Doc Marten gladiator sandals. Image:/Launchmetrics Spotlight

Alain Paul

Alain Paul showed his debut collection on the stage of the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris. The designer was inspired by images of Rudolf Nureyev rehearsing and the Pina Bausch troupe performing their production “The Rite of Spring”.

Alainpaul ss24/ look 14
One look in Alain Paul’s debut collection featured a nude spaghetti strap leotard under a black satin miniskirt, chiffon pants and ballet shoes. Image: Launchmetrics Spotlight
Alainpaul ss24/ look 16
Another ballet-inspired look from the designer featured a double-layered nude chiffon slip dress with an asymmetrical hem and nude leather ankle boots with a blunt toe.
Image: Launchmetrics Spotlight

Christian Siriano

New York designer Christian Siriano was also inspired by ballet, which he studied as a child. He presented a gender-neutral collection full of dance references.

Siriano ss24/look 9
Siriano showed off a black, longer and layered tutu with a cropped tuxedo jacket and patent leather loafers. Image: Launchmetrics Spotlight
Siriano ss24/look 21
Another look from Siriano featured a black sheer shrug over a black satin bra, a knee-length pink tulle tutu, delicate diamond necklaces and pink satin slingbacks.
Image: Launchmetrics Spotlight

Balletcore in retail

Reformation x NYCB
Reformation x NYCB Image: Reformation x NYCB

Los Angeles-based Reformation and New York City Ballet collaborated on a 19-piece ballet-inspired capsule collection that launched in October 2023. “We combined our signature vintage-inspired silhouettes with the allure of ballet, using edgy materials such as tulle, lace, silk and chiffon,” Reformation’s website says of the collection.

Recycled cashmere two piece set
Recycled cashmere two piece set Image: Reformation x NYCB
Rana Knit Bodysuit and Edda silk skirt
Image: Reformation x NYCB

This translated and edited post previously appeared on FashionUnited.com

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