balletcore x pilates gremlincore

I started taking ballet classes through BalletX!

It is fun to do adult beginner ballet, when the stakes are low and everyone is sort of doing a joyful movement body positive thing rather than a scary tween bullying ground. it is also VERY fun to wear an outfit!!!! The dancers are inspiring teachers both in their movement direction and their LAYERING CHOICES! My friend Ashley coined the term "pilates gremlin" which is very similarly aligned--there is something great about an outfit which is functional but also clearly thrown together (adore both those and her dressed up ballet fits)

Obviously this trend is kind of old (I like this substack on twyla tharp + this one on dance practice outfits) but want to emphasize the practice is the point/getting sweaty and moving is a feature of the athleisure of it all//this is a non-leggings-set iteration that I am enjoying! I don't like the tutu and flat thing as much as I like the enormous basketball shorts, little tank top, legwarmer thing. Also recommend: rewatching center stage and turning point; turning your tights into a top!

in an effort to thrift my looks and (mostly, I still make exceptions for my sportswear basically but we're getting there too) be clad in natural fibers my dance outfits are made up of the following:

-cashmere sweaters that i cut the sleeves off of to make legwarmers and armwarmers/have as tanks

-silk wrap skirts (I thrifted some of these but darn good yarn makes them out of recycled sari silk! Also had some new ones made in plain colors when I went to the fabric market in Shanghai)

-vintage capezio sweater/dress/overlayer that I wear everywhere actually all the time

-For leotards I really like elevé as a longer-torsoed person

-big t-shirt layer, my go-tos are my vinovore shirt and my prince tour t

-a giant pair of basketball shorts, such as these

-a pair of windbreaker pants, mine are thrifted adidas

Depending on the time of year, some/all of these layers are on before hitting the studio; depending on how warmed up I am the outfit after changes but it's very adjustable because of all the parts that can go on and come off! I also feel chic doing it even though I am not a REAL BALLERINA I can dress like them (which is kind of just dressing like adam sandler with a sports bra, which is a fun way to make an outfit)