Overview
#Balletcore is a fashion aesthetic romanticizing ballet culture - wrap cardigans, leg warmers, ballet flats, slicked-back buns, and soft pink hues. The trend brought dancewear into everyday fashion, emphasizing grace, femininity, and classic elegance.
Key Elements
Fashion:
- Wrap cardigans and shrugs
- Ballet flats (especially Repetto and Miu Miu)
- Leg warmers over jeans or tights
- Wrap skirts and tulle
- Bodysuits as tops
- Soft knits in blush pink, cream, lavender
- Ribbons and bows
Hair & Beauty:
- Slicked-back low buns
- Center parts, no flyaways
- Minimal makeup with pink lips
- Dewy, natural skin
- Delicate jewelry
Cultural References:
- “Black Swan” (2010) aesthetics
- Classical ballet imagery
- Ballet Beautiful workout culture
- Misty Copeland inspiration
Viral Catalyst
The trend exploded in spring 2022 when Miu Miu released $1,150 ballet flats that sold out instantly. Celebrities like Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, and Jennifer Lawrence wore them, triggering mass adoption of ballet-inspired fashion.
Fashion Industry Response
Designers embraced balletcore for Spring/Summer 2023:
- Simone Rocha’s tulle and ribbons
- Sandy Liang’s ballet-inspired collections
- Miu Miu’s viral ballet flats
- Repetto seeing massive sales growth
TikTok Explosion
The hashtag reached 650 million views by mid-2022, with users styling:
- Leg warmers from Amazon
- Thrifted wrap cardigans
- Ballet flats from every price point
- DIY ribbon accessories
Workout Culture Crossover
Balletcore overlapped with:
- Barre workout popularity
- Pilates princess aesthetic
- Ballet Beautiful and P.volve
- Athleisure’s evolution into more feminine forms
Accessibility
Unlike many fashion trends, balletcore worked affordably:
- Uniqlo and H&M sold wrap cardigans under $30
- Amazon flooded with leg warmers
- Thrift stores had vintage dancewear
- DIY hair accessories easy to recreate
Criticism
Detractors noted the trend romanticized ballet’s toxic culture (eating disorders, body standards, extreme discipline) while ignoring actual dancers’ struggles. Ballet companies deal with low pay, injury, and systemic issues rarely acknowledged in aesthetic TikToks.
Peak and Decline
Balletcore peaked summer 2022 and declined by early 2023 as new aesthetics (mob wife, office siren) emerged. However, elements like ballet flats and wrap cardigans remained in mainstream fashion.
Legacy
The trend legitimized dancewear as everyday fashion and contributed to the feminine, romantic aesthetic that dominated 2022-2023 after years of athleisure and streetwear.