Tutu Takeover”: Chanel Elevates Ballet Trend at Paris Haute Couture Show

In a resounding proclamation, Paris fashion unveils the tutu skirt as the breakout trend of 2024, with Chanel leading the way in its haute couture showcase. The catwalk witnessed the tutu skirt stealing the spotlight, outshining even the revered Chanel tweed jacket.

Championing the ballet-inspired look, Chanel’s show featured tulle dancers’ skirts as the stars of the runway. Tutu skirts, ranging from wisps of translucent white to frothy pink lace with delicate silk bows, took center stage, capturing the essence of ballet’s elegance.

Leading a procession of models adorned in white ballet tights, leotards, dancing-school sandals, and featherweight couture embroidery was Margaret Qualley, a former ballerina turned actor. The revival of ballet flats has spurred a broader “balletcore” trend, evidenced by the recent Dior menswear show in Paris, inspired by Rudolf Nureyev.

This homage to ballet resonates with the centenary of Gabrielle Chanel’s first ballet costumes, designed for Le Train Bleu performed by Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes in 1924. Virginie Viard, Chanel’s unassuming designer, aimed to “bring together the power and finesse of bodies and clothes” that ballet epitomizes.

While Viard didn’t adopt the tutu trend herself, her vision unfolded through a lineup of models exuding balletic grace. The show emphasized lightness, summer vibes, and an abundance of tulle. Julie Gayet, the guest of honor, witnessed the spectacle that began with a short film featuring Qualley’s quest to replace a lost button on her grandmother’s Chanel jacket.

Chanel’s European focus for the year continues with the next destination show in Marseille on May 2. Marseille, celebrated for its multiculturalism and cultural vitality, marks a departure from traditional glamorous settings, aligning with Chanel’s recent choice of unconventional locations, such as Manchester for the Métiers d’Art show in December.