Here's the formula: fitted bodice, full skirt, and lots of tulle and taffeta. CC loves these dresses for fall with an open, belted coat.At left: Valentino in his atelier with model; photo via elle.com.
Note: Runway photos courtesy style.com unless otherwise noted.
Alexander McQueen
Givenchy
Blumarine
At Givenchy's Spring 2008 show, pictured at right via nymag.com, even the footwear was ballet-inspired. As a reference, see the studio image above. Ballet studio pic at top of post found and recommended by http://engagedtobengaged.blogspot.com/; go to http://www.rebeccamccarthyschoolofdance/ for original.
Christian Dior Couture lavender party dress
Elie Saab
Elie Saab
Elie Saab
Oscar de la Renta Resort
Oscar de la Renta
Oscar de la Renta (this and previous 2 images via nymag.com).
Rodarte
Rodarte, via nymag.com
Ralph Lauren green strapless drop waist dress with velvet bodice and tulle skirt, courtesy nymag.com
Valentino navy strapless dress
Louis Vuitton brown taffeta gown
Luella Bartley
Ruffian full skirted strapless minidress 
Even outerwear is getting in on the Swan Lake action! See this Fendi belted full-skirted coat . . .
CC adores how there is pink tulle pouring out of this Valentino coat! Photo courtesy nymag.com.
Celebs are loving the ballerina look! Just behold Scarlett Johansson wearing Dolce & Gabbana at the Met Costume Institute Gala this spring. Photo via celebritique.com.
Celebs are loving the ballerina look! Just behold Scarlett Johansson wearing Dolce & Gabbana at the Met Costume Institute Gala this spring. Photo via celebritique.com.
What's in the stores, you ask? Lovely, tasteful dresses that are fun to wear and incredibly flattering!
Above: Oscar de la Renta black ombré dress.
Right: D&G sweetheart neckline bustier dress with plaid accents
Right: D&G sweetheart neckline bustier dress with plaid accents
Alexander McQueen short sleeve coat dress - genius!
Carolina Herrera floral jacquard dress 
Carolina Herrera full-skirted black cocktail dress
Alice & Olivia red ombré dress
Notte by Marchesa fuchsia flounce hem dress. This and previous six looks all at Bergdorf Goodman New York. Go to bergdorfgoodman.com to purchase. 
Diane von Furstenberg strapless dress. Visit net-a-porter.com
Giles pale pink silk skirt. Photo via elle.com.
If some of these shapes and colors remind you of a vintage prom dress, it's no accident! Check out the inspiration: this lovely full-skirted pink taffeta dress from the 1950s is at vintagedress.co.uk.
Jill Stuart black and white Betsey Dress.
Visit chickdowntown.com
French Connection black ballet neck Lady Empire dress. Visit frenchconnection.com.
Oscar de la Renta saffron floral dress, at net-a-porter.com
Foley + Corrina Cobalt Hollywood Dress, at chickdowntown.com
Stand on your tippy toes and practice those pliés, darlings, because the Prima Ballerina trend is hot for fall!Photo at right via somersethouse.org.uk.
It began for CC with Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2008 show, where both the models and their attire appeared drenched! Recall the seemingly sopping runway, pictured at right.
