Help, I'm Obsessed with Nutcracker Ballerina TikTok
Balletcore, a maternity gear survey, SKIMS x TNF follow up and more...
The magic, if you can call it that, of writing this newsletter is the way a topic makes itself known to me. I can be scratching my head late into the week for a new hook, and then – invariably as I am scrolling TikTok before going to bed at 8:30 p.m. (5-month-old life!) – it will appear. That’s how I stumbled on this week’s topic: what I learned about ballerina style (and trash pants!) from Nutcracker TikTok.
But before I get into my new obsession, I have a request to share. Since launching this newsletter, I’ve been interested in exploring how women dress to work out while pregnant. It’s been top of mind for me during the past year, but if I learned one thing from pregnancy it’s that no two are the same. If you’ve given birth in the last few years, I’d love to hear about your experience finding workout gear. So please take and share:
If you have questions, comments, or just want to vent about leggings, email me at leeglandorf@gmail.com.
Ok, on to the tutus.
Nutcrackertok and #Balletcore
I was so excited when, during my “Ask and Activewear Designer,” interview with Emily Jagos, she mentioned being a dancer. She indulged me by answering a follow-up question about her take on #balletcore and I adored her response:
“As a forever Center Stage devotée, I'll just never tire of the seemingly effortless style of ballet dancers. A simple scoop neck tank or wrap sweater looks good on so many body shapes, can be dressed up or down, and projects this sense of confident elegance that I love. It's such a versatile, flattering way to dress, and that's probably why it keeps getting recycled and re-introduced as a new "trend" every few years. Dancers have been dressing like this for decades, and it works, and it still looks great. Look at photos of Gelsey Kirkland rehearsing in the 70s, and she's wearing the same things that someone like Chloe Misseldine wears today. Center Stage is such a fun representation of how great dancers are at tweaking things to project their personal style, and just looking perpetually cool. My God, Eva's olive mock neck leotard and claw clip. Maureen's touseled bangs and pink wrap sweaters. Good style is good style!”
There’s an insouciance to the way dancers dress, particularly for warm-ups and in between classes, that I find undeniably chic. So I was thrilled when the TikTok algorithm gods saw fit to send me a series of videos from ballerinas performing in the Nutcracker this season. Much like Olympic Village Tiktok from Paris, this coverage offers a glimpse behind the velvet curtain and sheds light on the way dancers dress before, during, and after performances. I am obsessed. Here’s what I noticed:
I could watch this pointe shoe ASMR video from Alicia Mae Holloway 50 times. Who knew it was a whole job in and of itself? And how perfect are her white tights, oversized sweatshirt, and slicked-back bun?
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In addition to prepping their pointe shoes, I’ll never get over the way dancers have to do their own hair and makeup. It’s such a vital part of the show’s creative direction and yet it falls to the performers themselves? Doesn’t make sense to me. Also, it was in this video I first caught a glimpse of what I now know are trash pants.
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From what I can tell, @lifeof.lori is to #Balletok what Kylan Darnell is to #BamaRushtok. She shows off her warm-up looks, which often include the aforementioned “trash pants” in a soft pink. I googled and learned their formal name is “trash bag pants.” Much like wrestlers jogging in actual trash bags to sweat and make weight before a match, dancers wear loose-fitting ripstop pants over their leotards to keep their legs warm.
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This is a pretty good trick to steal from the dancers, whether or not you are also obsessed with #balletcore. I’ve been accidentally doing it for the past couple of weeks – layering this pair of swishy black New Balance track pants over my running tights when it’s cold and windy. It’s made a huge difference.
But let’s get back to Lori.
Here she wears trashbag shorts, striped pink leg warmers that go past her knees, a sheer cropped long sleeve I wish I could pull off, a cropped vest, and Repetto puffy boots. It’s the best outfit I’ve seen all week.
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Lest you think Nutcrackertok is all pink trash bag pants and moonboots, Mackenzie here contrasts Lori’s glamour as she applies painter’s tape to her toes. Still, I am obsessed with her mini buns and her blush pink and neon green colors. Ballerina brat?
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I could go on and on, but I’m assuming if this caught your fancy you too may soon be 15 scrolls deep in Nutcrackertok. To wrap things up, here are a few ideas for ways to incorporate these ballerina vibes into your wardrobe.
Everything in Left On Friday’s apparel section comes with a strong whiff of #balletcore. Maybe it’s just the styling.
Channel Alicia’s look above with the Field Day sweatshirt. I particularly like this white version that says SPORTS on the back.
And go all in on Lori’s soft pink with the Field Day sweats in “Delight.”
If you want Lori’s sheer crop top, she namechecks Freed of London. This was as close to the one she wore as I could find. (Also, please note Freed refers to trash pants by the relatively more demure name of "sauna pants.”)
Here’s a different version of the sheer crop top in pink.
Orolay, makers of THE coat (IFYKYK), have cropped puffer vests that feel reminiscent of Lori’s.
Or take the spirit if not the letter of the look and get this pink fleece one.
Repetto has all the options if you want to be literal about your ballerina attire. But of course, lots of folks are selling ballet-inspired pieces like wrap tops or shrugs.
Old Navy has an option for $12 if you just want to dabble. Or you could try this from Beyond Yoga.
I also like this recovery shrug and tank set from Pruzan.
If you also liked McKenzie’s pink and green combo, these Prana trash pants could be fun.
And let’s end with some vintage options.
This Oregon Ballet Theatre Sweatshirt has the potential to be oversized perfection. (I spotted Lori in an old Nutcracker sweatshirt in a video too)
A Moscow Classical Ballet Company Tour 1988 Tee? Maybe not exactly the vibe shown above, but with jeans? What a conversation starter.
Quick Thoughts
Things that Drew My Eye or Ire…
I first clocked the Altra x ROA (an Italian brand founded in 2015 that “takes the sportswear attitude and applies it to outdoors“) collaboration in the Instagram story of my favorite fashion Substacker, Becky Malinksy. It was a paid engagement, but it stopped my scroll as I’ve never before seen Altra pushing themselves in a fashion influencer context. And Becky is as fashion insider as you can get. Peter Verry of Footwear News provided a little more detail on the strategy:
“We were able to stay grounded in performance, take one of our pinnacle franchise styles and put more of a fashion edge onto it, which is great,” Altra global brand president Jen McLaren told FN. “I think it’s going to do great things, opening up the brand to new consumers, but also really speak to our core consumers who love us for who we are.”
”The look, according to Altra, merges “performance engineering with understated design” and “challenges preconceptions about how technical footwear should look and perform.” It is dressed in deep earth tones, which Altra stated were pulled “directly from alpine soil studies.”
As demonstrated by Pantone’s color of the year Mocha Mousse (feels like it should be Moose), browns are having a moment. Ultimately, this shoe looks like what might happen if Hoka and Salomon had a baby.
I guess Altra is doing well because this week they also announced a record-breaking (six-figure?) deal for Appalachian Trail FKT holder Tara Dower. Sometimes I see Altra around on runners, but it’s usually (no shade) on older men.
Speaking of VF Corp companies, here’s the SKIMS x The North Face follow-up, courtesy of Ski Mag, which outlines the fairly stark divide in reception for the collaboration. It comes down to this: if you’re in the outdoors industry or a core skier, you’re also certainly anti. Given the makeup of the industry, I supposed that could be further distilled to “Men don’t get it.” But a lot of women definitely do.
WWD reported that “The North Face x Skims Collaboration Generates $5.4 Million in Media Exposure Within 48 Hours.”
And the collection sold out in 5 minutes online and in 2 hours at TNF’s NYC store.
Please, please, please message me if you see someone in the looks on the slopes. I need to know if this collection is actually achieving its stated goal of inviting “more women into snow sports.”
Can I share a pet peeve? I hate when female athletes are on magazine covers and they get styled in a weird mashup of activewear and fashion because they have to represent their sponsor. It almost always ends up with them in a sports bra. The only thing I like about this Caitlin Clark TIME cover is the fact she’s wearing Jenna Lyons’ pants.
Thanks to everyone who is reading, sharing, and commenting! I’m having a lot of fun with these, and I appreciate hearing from you all.
Wow, thank you for introducing me to my new obsession with balletcore.
Your sports cover peeve is so specific but I instantly recognize what you mean!
I am a female Altra wearer so was hoping for more from that fashion collab… I guess I’m not into the gorp. I like Altra as my casual sneakers because they’re so freaking comfy. I’m a foot health nerd though. My current pair is blush pink and I am reticent to replace them even though they’re older.