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Alexander Mcqueen – Spring/Summer 2008

If you know me by now, you should know that there is only one thing that I love more than fashion
and Chanel in this world… the ballet. To the surprise of many, I happen to spend all my hard earned
cash at the Royal Opera House in London (and erm, on a glass or two, or three of champagne during
the intervals…) rather than splashing it on a new bag or a new pair of shoes. I know! You didn’t think
so hey?

I happen to be a frustrated ballerina thanks to a renowned Cuban ballet instructor, who inspected tiny
little mini me, at the age of 6, and after taking a good look and feel at my ankles, she turned around and
told my mum: “Dear, save your money, this girl will never be a prima ballerina with those ankles… NEXT!”

So my tutu dreams were shattered and I never had the chance to dress and dance like
the lovely little ballerinas, which danced inside the wooden musical boxes that my poor
old Dad would buy me, as consolation… Ah, such is life!

So, you can imagine my face when I discovered that one of the hot fashion trends
this season is, in fact, ballerinas!!!

But here comes trouble number two:

What could be worst than being a frustrated ballerina?
Being an over 25 frustrated ballerina!
Why?
Well simply because, if you stick a tutu on you past the age of 25, you risk looking more like an
old fairy, rather than one of the swans from ‘The Swan Lake’.

Unless of course that you happen to be an actual, professional prima ballerina – those types of
ballerinas never age, as their beauty and grace accentuates with the passing of time and it goes
on forever… Awwww!

Chanel ballerina dress by Karl Lagerfeld

So, I am obviously talking about the fashion trend in this case, the thousands of lovely tutus that
are absolutely everywhere this season! Fashion too takes inspiration from these delicate tip-toeing
beauties, who once inspired the great artist Edgar Degas, who immortalized their graceful movements
in the most beautiful pastel coloured paintings, drawings and sculptures…

The ballerina look is definitely one of the strong trends this season…

Check out this video of a ballerina inspired photoshoot, where Hilary Alexander
explains the trend and recommends (erm, me) and all the other over 25s to keep
off the tutu rail. Miu! So unfair…

…but she’s got a point d’ya know? – it can happen to the best of us… [Oh-my-god-she-didn't!]

The curse of the Cuban ballet instructor clearly continues….

Now here is a lovely editorial by VOGUE US featuring models dressed as lovely fairy-tale
ballerinas, mixed in with the young crew of the Billy Elliot Musical, how fab!

But there is nothing like the real deal… here is a slice of ‘The Swan Lake’ finale,
what Nonita’s dreams are made of…

Love and tutus,
xoxo
Nonita