Get Summer Style Inspiration From These 8 Ballerinas
You might be used to throwing on a leotard, tights and warm-ups each day, but now it’s summer, and your schedule is different. Whether you’re trying to dress to impress for a day off at your intensive or you’re packing for a much-needed vacation during your company’s summer break, the idea of wearing “real clothes” can leave you feeling paralyzed. Never fear! We’ve pulled some of our favorite dancers’ street styles from past issues of Pointe to give you the summer style inspiration that you’re looking for.
Dores André tends towards eclectic, colorful ensembles with a bit of a punk edge. Her look reminds us that the pieces you already own can be combined in any number of ways—and that summertime doesn’t mean that your favorite pair of boots are off-limits.
Even if designer pieces like this Balmain dress aren’t in your budget, Dorothée Glibert’s sophisticated look proves that between Memorial Day and Labor Day you can never go wrong with an all-white ensemble. Gilbert also gives us permission to wear sneakers… with anything. After all, your biscuits work hard—they deserve a break too.
As long as rompers are in, we’re on board. Not only do we love not having to coordinate a top with a bottom, but they’re extra easy to slip on over a leotard and tights. Channel Adji Cissoko by adding a dash of pink to any look; she describes her style as “pink casual.”
Natalie Varnum is truly the queen of vintage. She loves high-waisted pants, loafers with socks, and oversized sunglasses; her Instagram is chock-full of her eclectic looks. Not a lot of vintage stores in your area? Next time you’re visiting family, dig through your mom’s closet (or your grandmother’s…) you never know what might be back in style.
Zhong-Jing Fang epitomizes elegance. Long and flowy skirts and dresses are the perfect way to stay cool when the weather heats up. Also, do we spot a leotard under that blouse? Fang shows that sheer tops can be paired with simple leos you already own to tie an outfit together without added bulk.
We’re all about Keenan Kampa’s relaxed summer vibe. Plus, she proves that denim on denim can work; and she makes carrying two bags (your pointe shoes have to go somewhere!) look cool. Kampa favors comfortable pieces that work with her active, bike-riding lifestyle—what could be more summery than that?
Miami-native Jeanette Delgado knows how to stay cool, yet stylish, in steamy weather. She shows that shorts can be chic, especially when worn with hip sneakers. Another style tip we can steal from Delgado is the sunglasses as headband trick: If your bun is a mess after a long day in the studio, throw sunglasses on top; no one will ever be the wiser.
Is there anything more summery than yellow? From her simple wrap dress to her red lipstick, Kelsey Ivana Hellebuyck is all about bursts of color. As a young student at San Francisco Ballet School, Hellebuyck started recording what she wore each day in a notebook. Take a page from her book and try that method yourself; next summer you can look back to jog your memory of which outfits you liked the best.
