Prima Ballerina

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.

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

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.

Tux Redux and TAG!

In honor of the 2008 Premio Awards (see tag below!), today's post is dedicated to elegant and cheeky tuxedo-inspired looks!

Think ruffled blouses, tailored jackets, slim pants (maybe with satin side stripes, a la formalwear, as at Roland Mouret), bow ties, and lots of bold black and white!

On the runways (pictures via nymag.com except where noted):

Roland Mouret Resort 2009; first three images courtesy style.com
Balenciaga

Chanel

Ruffian

6267
Givenchy
Givenchy detail, via style.com.

Balmain

Temperley London, courtesy style.com

Conceptually:

The lovely sketch below was done by Premio Award Winner Annabel. See link at end of post!

Real Way:

The Collector, a stylish Aussie lawyer and Premio Award Winner, wears the look two different ways. See link below!

In the stores . . .

Cynthia Steffe keyhole dress.

Go to shopbop.com to purchase!

Alice + Olivia Tuxedo Blazer, at Bergdorf Goodman

Stella McCartney cropped tux jacket. Visit net-a-porter.com.
Rachel Roy Eliza blouse. Visit the Designer Boutique at shopbop.com.

Betsey Johnson black strapless dress, currently half off at bluefly.com.

The following dresses are ALL at
net-a-porter.com, and many of them are on sale!!

Roksanda Ilincic strapless mini dress -- CC loooooves this one!

Michael Kors contrast trim vintage-inspired zipper detail dress

Paul & Joe Sister Elysee gray ruffle placket mini dress

Thread Social bow detail dress

Marc Jacobs belted frock

RM by Roland Mouret Rhea dress
Rachel Roy sleeveless dress

American Apparel opaque two-tone hosiery - tuxlicious!
Chanel leather two-tone carousel boot. Photo via style.com.

TAG!

I was given the wonderful 2008 Premio Award tag by the incomparable
Danz of http://fatalfashionattraction.blogspot.com/
Tina of http://youreverydaystyle.blogspot.com/
and http://www.styledumonde.com/
Thanks, darlings!

The rules for passing on the award:

1) When received, you may post the premio to your blog.

2) Link to the blogger you received it from.

3) Give it to 7 blogs

4) Link to those 7 blogs

5) Leave those seven bloggers a comment about receiving the brilliant premio.

I'm tagging the seven bloggers below because they're stylish, talented, original and inspiring!

Annabel of http://frauda-chanal.blogspot.com/

Brandi at Blicious http://engagedtobengaged.blogspot.com/
Clara http://comewhatmai.blogspot.com/
Daisy Chain Dreams http://daisychaindreams.blogspot.com/
Erin http://erindelacruz.blogspot.com/
Fashion Frenzy http://nikkimaria.blogspot.com/
The Collector http://inprivatecollection.blogspot.com/

Congratulations to all! Hopefully you'll wear one of the above tux looks to the awards ceremony (j.k.)!!

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Late Addition: Thanks to Danz of Fatal Attraction 2 Fashion (link in right hand column and at top of post) for pointing out that the black tie look was recently worn by none other than Miss Universe! Thanks, D!

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Correction: The Collector, whose lovely self-portraits are featured in this post, is Australian, not British. CC regrets the error.