“Bedecked, Bedazzled & Bejeweled: Costume Ornamentation at New York City Ballet” is a small online exhibition of some of the most beautiful ballet costumes.
There is a great article on the website to accompany the exhibit, and I really loved this bit about the maintenance and continuity of the costumes:
The expected life of a costume at NYCB is about 10 years, depending on wear and tear. Just as Karinska used to slip secret details into costumes that only the wearer would know about – a colorful bow, a strip of gold – so the NYCB Costume Shop continues the tradition. Hynes reports, “If we make a new frock, something we love to do is use some of the trim from the old costume and put it on the brand-new one. I tell the dancer that the diamond edging on your wrist is from Jacques d’Amboise’s jacket, that this flower is from Patty McBride’s costume. I love to find some little morsel to remember.”
nyc ballet costume ornamentation
Page 1 of 0
Comments
totally gorgeous!