TIMELESS, TRIED, and TRUE

The balletcore movement and Swan Lake’s iconic impact

“Swan Lake,” an Impressionismera ballet written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, has influenced ballet and runway fashion for centuries. The 1877 ballet boasted exquisitely ethereal costumes and sets reminiscent of the en plein air motif of the movement. Set to the tune of emotional, classical music, dainty feathers are paired with airy, layered tutus, intertwined to create a timeless performance reinterpreted for over 125 years. Balletcore, a modern day renaissance of ballet’s influence on fashion trends and “defined by graceful, feminine fashion” recently gained significant traction in the fashion sphere (Bujnosek, 2022).

“Swan Lake” tells the story of Prince Siegfried and Princess Odette’s tragic love affair, betrayal, and eventual reconnection. Princess Odette and other maidens were cursed by an evil sorcerer, doomed to transform into swans by day and women by night. Prince Siegfried falls for Odette and vows to break the curse with his undying love, until he is tricked by the sorcerer into promising his hand to the sorcerer’s daughter, Odile. Heartbroken, Odette and Sigfried both accept death, thus proving their steadfast love and breaking the curse. Their spirits are then reconnected for the rest of eternity (Irvine, 2022). The fragility and femininity of the swan costumes are elegantly captured in delicate white tutus and bodices adorned with small feathers (Make it Visceral and Real, 2022). Throughout its existence, “Swan Lake” has encapsulated the dream-like aspects of the Impressionist era and combined them with ballet’s unique artistry. The whimsical costumes and fluid, graceful dancing brought Tchaikovsky’s musical score to life, elevating “the work from simple ballet, to an exaggerated pantomime-like masterpiece” (Beghin, 2021). The show’s choreography, an amalgamation of dances from around Europe, has grown into one of the most sought-after programs for ballet companies around the world. The ballet itself is an everlasting manifestation of the Impressionist movement, as the ballerinas’ costumes reflect the gossamer, ephemeral scenes of the era, their physical motion serving as an extension of that same sensibility. Its classicality has been admired for centuries, despite the constantly changing cultural landscapes in which it is performed. “The steps and costumes remain basically unchanged even if the audience, and sometimes the dancers themselves, no longer know what it all means,” an aspect attributable to modern interpretations of ballet costumes (Mainwaring, 2019).

Balletcore embodies this rendition of traditional ballerina attire. Focusing on hyper-femininity through soft pinks, gentle cardigans, and dainty accessories, the trend has allowed the public to explore their delicate side (Bujnosek, 2022). First turning heads on TikTok in 2022, balletcore is known as Gen Z’s presentation of ballet fashion in the public sphere (Bateman, 2022). Balletcore lies at the intersection of comfort and class by combining sleek silhouettes and athleisure, which have proven to be sought-after aesthetics in recent years. Ballet flats paired with silk or satin tops, tulle skirts, and muted pastels serve as a common blueprint for this ballet-inspired streetwear (Goldberg, 2022).

Contrary to the strictly exclusive physiques that are traditionally cast in ballets, balletcore has been widely embraced by people of all body types, challenging what is considered the ideal ballerina figure. The novel inclusivity sweeping the public’s execution of iconic fashion proves to be a timely facet of ballet’s cultural influence. Impressionist impact has manifested through countless avenues into current fashion, entertainment, and lifestyle. “Swan Lake” serves as an exceptional example of the era’s continuous relevance, acting as a canvas for countless reinterpretations, regardless of popular culture. Integrating classic pieces into current fashion reflects the timeless effect that Impressionism and its ballets have on public ideas and expressions of femininity, grace, and effervescence.

Gianna Uvari