TikTok Trend Balletcore Reintroduces Ballet To Fashion
If you paid close attention to the trending styles from 2022, then you are probably aware of the balletcore aesthetic.
Balletcore is a niche term for the variations of ballerina-inspired clothing. Think flats, ruffles or satin slip skirts just to name a few. Your typical outfit could come with leg warmers, ballet flats, light-colored pantyhose, tulle skirts, or a bodysuit. Color does not matter, but the staple can range from baby pink to beige or white.
“With the balletcore hashtag trending on TikTok and Gen Z showing how they reinterpret the aesthetic while American Ballet Theater stars make their mark on the platform, it feels like ballet is reclaiming itself for a new generation,” Kristen Bateman wrote in an article for W Magazine.
People love balletcore because it is comfortable and gives them a more subtle feminine vibe.
Of course, this style did not come out of nowhere. The earliest ballet wear was influenced by The Romantic Ballet era in the 1830s which marked the staple ballet tutu. This era also led Marie Tagloni to be the first dancer to wear the pointe shoe.
In the 20th century, Ballet inspired fashion designers from Coco Chanel to Paul Poiret to create fresh ballerina-esque pieces, like tulle evening gowns. The dancewear company Capezio then collaborated with designer Claire McCardell to design ballet flats for casual wear.
Leg warmers made its debut in the 1980s as a known piece for dancewear and athleisure in general. It reemerged in the 2000s, and people like myself remember owning that one pair of leg warmers from Justice as a kid.
Nowadays we have seen the history of ballet fashion influence how people express their femininity, some even say Balletcore comes close to the cottage core aesthetic.
Celebrities have also taken their turn with this style. Supermodel Bella Hadid was spotted wearing white leg warmers and blue ballet shoes, and actress Jennifer Lawrence is often seen with ballet flats on her walks through New York City.
Balletcore is a fun way for people into soft-feminine fashion to try something different. Nothing beats living a ballerina dream
