Meet Me at the Barre
Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!
I’ve got another guest post for you today, coming from the lovely Chloe Angyal! Chloe is a journalist and a contributing editor at Marie Claire; she’s also the author of Turning Pointe: How a New Generation of Dancers Is Saving Ballet From Itself, a “deeply reported look at how racism, sexism, and a disregard for dancers’ wellbeing are threatening the future of the art form — and a look inside the fight to save it.”
I met Chloe when she was just starting work on the book; she hired me as one of her research assistants to help transcribe interviews. I danced ballet for 15 years — from age 3 up until I went to college — and though I’ll always have a deep love and appreciation for the art form, I’m also still grappling with the harms that ballet culture inflicted on my adolescent psyche. Needless to say, I’m very excited to read the book when it comes out on May 4 (though it’s available for pre-order right now!), and I highly recommend you check it out. Now, on to the recs!
Hello, good readers of WIWO, and big thanks to Kitty for having me this week!
I’ve got some recommendations for ballet enthusiasts and ballet neophytes alike. As the weather warms up and we prepare to reemerge from our COVID isolation as the sparkly, brightly coloured butterflies we never thought we could be but screw it, life is short and fragile so wear the bold print and the sequins, here are a few ballet-adjacent items I love.
Tulle Box
COSMOS EMBROIDERED TULLE SKIRT - CLOUD & VICTORY
Cloud & Victory is a Singapore-based brand that sells ethically-made dancewear with a snarky point of view (pointe of view?). Their embroidered tulle cosmos skirt is handmade to order, which means they can make any size, and it’s floaty and romantic with excellent twirling potential. It’s made to dance in, but fully lined, so you can wear it on the street or to a soiree.
Prints Charming
ISA’S CAVALOS - CHAMELEON ACTIVEWEAR
Chameleon Activewear, founded and run by American Ballet Theatre dancer April Giangeruso, makes leotards with bold prints, each of them named for a different member of the company. Their camisole leotards double as swimsuits, which makes them ideal for non-dancers (and dancers who want to take a dip). I particularly like Isa’s Cavalos, a fun horse print named for Isadora Loyola.
Dancing Down Under
APEX LEGGINGS - KETO DANCEWEAR
Keto Dancewear, founded by an Australian costume designer and a ballet dancer, makes sleek, stylish leotards and other dancewear, but they also make gorgeous, high quality workout leggings and sports bras. Their graphic designs are simple and elegant, and remind me of the spirographs I used to play with as a kid.
Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com or swing by my Twitter @kitguo!