For the past 10 years, the New York City Ballet has artfully collaborated with fashion designers for exquisite sartorial moments. These have always made their debut at the ballet’s glamourous annual Fall Fashion Gala, sprinkling the beginning of the season with the magic that only the world’s most gifted fashion designers can bring.
Now, in time for the ballet’s 75th anniversary, these inspiring meetings of creative ballet and fashion minds are the subject of Rizzoli New York’s new book, “New York City Ballet: Choreography & Couture,” by NYC Ballet Director of Costumes Marc Happel with Pari Dukovic photographs.
Sarah Jessica Parker, who chairs the annual Fall Fashion Gala, wrote the foreword to the book, which also features essays by Tonne Goodman and Patricia Mears.
The first such collaboration was with Valentino in 2012; it was followed with global talent, including CFDA designers Thom Browne, Anna Sui, Narciso Rodriguez, Zac Posen, Christopher John Rogers, Prabal Gurung, Jason Wu, Oscar de la Renta, and Rosie Assoulin.
Dukovic shot 127 costumes on 11 dancers over six days during Covid. The photographs bring the ballet to life in enchanting and elegant ways, from Thom Browne’s tailored suits on dancers Alec Knight and Gonzalo Garcia, to Zac Posen’s exquisite design on Mimi Staker, and Virgil Abloh’s Off-White ruched tulle on Christopher Grant and Mira Nadon.
“Over the years, the designers, drawing inspiration from NYCB’s unparalleled history of artistic excellence, have wowed us with beauty and elegance,” Parker said in the foreword. “They’ve captured our imagination through their ability to tell stories with their costumes. And, once in a while, they break the mold wide open, completely redefining what a ballet costume can be.”
Check out the magic!
