Saturday 11 June 2011

Fashion meets Ballet

Erdem and Giles are among designers who are putting their individual design take on the tutu, in a new collaboration with the English National Ballet. A host of top fashion names, from the House of Worth and Moschino to Roksanda Ilincic and Julien Macdonald, have each created their version of ballet's famous costume piece - all of which will be sold in a public auction.
"I think that the tutu is one of the most beautiful pieces of clothing invented and I was honoured by the request from an institution as prestigious as the English National Ballet," Moschino's creative director Rossella Jardini said. "It came naturally because the pearl-and-queen button embroidery are typically English and I have always found them beautiful."

Other labels to participate include Kinger Aggugini, Agent Provocateur, and footwear designers Christian Louboutin and Beatrix Ong - who have both customised shoes for the event. While Roksanda has focused on adding a lightness to the piece, Julien Macdonald has gone for a more ethereal look.

"The inspiration came from imagining a gorgeous English garden in the moonlight, cast with a mysterious black shadow," he explained. "I used pleated chiffon, organza and tulle and hand-embroidered the bodice with thistle and bracken foliage motifs to create an ethereal tutu. I already have experience with working with a dance company - I designed the costumes for Richard Alston Company's Shimmer in 2004, and was nominated for an Olivier Award for it, but designing a ballet tutu has always been a dream of mine."


Each piece will be showcased through a catwalk show on June 29, held at the English National Ballet's Summer Party at The Orangery, Kensington Palace. Guests will be able to bid for the tutus in a silent auction, using iPads supplied by event technology company Bidtech.
To book your ticket (price is £150) go to: www.ballet.org.uk/events-diary/the-summer-party.html



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