Swan princesses, snow queens and a bleeding, crazed Natalie Portman might be the images that come to mind with the mention of the word ballet. Fashion, not so much—unless of course we’re referencing Carrie Bradshaw’s pink tutu on Sex in the City. But to bring style and beauty back to the stage, the New York City Ballet will be working with five designers for the Fall Gala at the Lincoln Center on September 23. Creating costumes for the dancers will be Mary Katrantzou, Thom Browne, Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, Carolina Herrera and Valentino Garavani of Valentino. Each designer will be working with a different choreographer for a different routine. Herrera and Valentino will be reworking costumes for Christopher Wheeldon and Peter Martins ballets, respectively, while Burton works with Liam Scarlett, Katrantzou with Justin Peck and Browne with Troy Schumacher.
The New York City Ballet has worked with designers before, including Valentino in 2012. Rodarte worked on costumes that same year, while Oliver Theyskens, Iris van Herpen, and Prabal Gurung partnered with the ballet company the following year in 2013. While this isn’t their first collaboration it does feature some of the biggest names so far, leading us to believe next year will be even better. Karl Lagerfeld fur tutus, anyone?
