Ballet Shoes

This spring I am simply drooling over the sugary pinks, snowy whites and gauzy chiffon that drifted down this season's runways. Short, fairy - like dresses of dreamy, ethereal shades and delicate, fabrics of chiffon, lace and feather trims whispers of the girlish fragility of ballet dancers and the graceful daintiness of the intricate art of ballet. At the mention of ballet I think of the exquisite costumes of glistening gossamer - like fabrics and the clouds of pastel tulle, the porcelain elegance and the ageless beauty of the ballerinas as well as the highly skilled practice that is ballet. Of course, along with these rather obvious associations, the work of Degas always comes to mind too.

Much of Degas' work celebrates movement and must famously the movement of ballet. His snapshots of chalky pastel ballet scenes capture the vitality of ballet dance as well as the angelic youthfulness of the ballerinas. The blurred texture, the soft, blooming tutus so sumptuous in artistic detail one could almost touch the layers and layers of fabric and the colours - rosy blushes, creamy whites, bursts of blue and green, ripe peaches, corals and dappled yellows winking in the theatre lights.

Just a couple of Degas' many, many ballet studies

To translate this grace of movement and fairy - ballerina twinkle into your wardrobe, think soft, delicate and dream - like as the buzz words, flimsy fabrics and feminine details of gentle frills and sparkling silver embellishments. Nothing most be overpowering but there most be an other worldly element and a doll - like youthful charm.

Michelle Williams in a the Vogue's April edition. I just adore this picture, it is the epitome of doll - like dreaminess! The lace, delicate colours and that magnificent, 'fit - for - a princess' hair piece makes it the perfect mood board image for this post. Michelle is the perfect blend of pixie and ballerina.

The mellow pink - tinged coral of Keira's dress and Audrey's romantic ballerina dress show how glamorous ballet - chic can be.

Alexa Chung strikes a ballerina pose in this gorgeous, girly crochet mini dress.

Chanel Haute Couture s/s 08 is exactly what this post is about. The fairytale beauty, icy whites, blushing pink, glinting hair pieces, the youthful white tights and of course the ballet slippers. I find this collection particularly enthralling as it is almost childlike in it's dollish details and proportions. The detail in the dresses is equally fascinating - feathers, beading, sequins, frills, tufts of fabric sprouting like snowy flowers; just beautiful. Indeed, the immense detail that the dresses consist of mirrors the painstaking precision of ballet dance.

I love these tutu type dresses at Miu Miu. Young and frivolous but ever so ballerina.

At Daks ballet dresses feature but this time with a more sophisticated silhouette. The colours are subtle but feminine and gorgeous ruffles add an element of flamboyance.

There is something in these light summer dresses that remind me of ballet. The simple colours and girly pink stitching make them wonderfully fairy - like too.

Of course Luella translates the ballet vibe into something frightfully cool. The sugar pink velvet tiers of these dresses have been occupying my dreams for some time now.

I love these silver, diaphanous dresses at Erin Fetherston. Swan lake meets otherworldly creature.
Victor and Rolf''s s/s show was all about harlequins but somehow these dresses have a balletic feel. The glittery pink is floaty and fairy - ish whilst the white tiered dress reminds me of a ballerina's tutu. Possibly my favourite collection this season was John Galliano. Overall the collection was inspired by 20's flapperdom meets painted doll but some of the pieces although not strictly ballet still had that sugary sweetness and ballerina elegance. This look particularly caught my eye with it's layers of soft rose chiffon.

Audrey wears an elegant ballet bun whilst dazzling hair pieces adorned the somewhat haughty hair dos at Chanel.

The make - up at Victor and Rolf was romantic with glistening rosy gloss and porcelain skin, perfect for balletic chic. Meanwhile at Chanel the make - up had a more snow - queen feel with misty ice - blue shadows. The snow - queen feel continued with intricate crystal tiaras.

Ballet slippers graced the Chanel Haute Couture show with a dollish daintiness. Gorgeous flats of satin embellished with pearls and twinkling sequins pirouetted down the runway.