Ballerina: Fashion’s Modern Muse

Beginning in the 1930s, ballerinas and their costumes became a source of fashion inspiration, with haute couture looking to ballets like Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty for ideas. The corseted tutu—and eventually the leotards and tights—became prominent in activewear by the middle of the century, continuing until the 1970s. This exhibition features appoximately 90 high-fashion garments, including Parisian couture, British custom-made and American ready-to-wear, that highlight the connection between classical ballet and fashion.