What four Australian ballerinas actually wear off-duty

“There are days when the ballerina side of me really comes through and I’ll reach for something a little more balletcore.”

Over the past year, our fascination with the ballet world has exploded. I don’t know about you, but my entire social media feed is filled with dancers either gracefully twirling in layers of tulle or not-so gracefully breaking in their pointe shoes. Either way, there’s something undeniably enticing about ballerinas and living vicariously through them via our phone screens. 

The allure of balletcore has seeped into many fashion and beauty trends, from pastel tights, wrap tops and slicked buns, to the way demure ballet flats have reclaimed their place as a wardrobe staple. Unlike other microtrends spawned from TikTok, it’s an enduring style that feels sophisticated and completely timeless.

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While we love to see local fashion labels emulate balletcore in their own way, I wanted to know how actual ballerinas curate their off-duty wardrobes. If they can bring so much character to their rehearsal attire, what do they wear when they’re not confined to it? Below, four dancers from The Australian Ballet share an outfit they’ve been wearing on repeat lately.

Grace Carroll

As Melbourne’s weather warms, I’ve been drawn to simplicity. I like my clothes to feel like an extension of my energy, an embodiment of what I’m feeling or even how I want to feel. Elegant, effortless and delightful is the vibe I’m on right now.

Here, I’ve picked out a baby tee from Bassike; this potent blue inspired the deeper tones of the outfit, so I paired it with vintage jeans that I sourced from Opera, a small curated vintage store in Carlton North. These are my favourite Repetto ballet flats, which I bought recently in Tokyo and I wear them almost every day (as well as my legitimate ballet shoes).

I love my vintage Balenciaga city bag, it’s the ultimate effortless daily companion and my sunglasses are from the Margiela x Gentle Monster collaboration.

@grace.carroll

Bryce Latham

The hardest part of my morning as a professional ballet dancer is styling an outfit for the day ahead. It depends on whether there are many rehearsals between the theatre and the studio, so I always need something easy to throw on.

My colour palette is mostly neutral tones but I always enjoy adding a pop of colour. My Push Push black oversized pants are a staple in my wardrobe, and for the summer, I like the Dion Lee wraparound skirt or the Prada Velcro belt skirt.

My most-worn shoes are my classic black loafers from Doc Martens or my Adidas Samba Jane shoes. My bag is from Verafied New York, a staple that goes with every outfit.

@bryceoliverlatham

Belle Urwin

Most days, what I wear to work really depends on how I’m feeling (and how sleep-deprived I am from shows). Some mornings, you’ll find me in my baggiest track pants and an oversized hoodie that’s seen better days. My curly hair is usually thrown up into a messy bun, with traces of hairspray from last night’s show. It’s the kind of look that says, ‘I’m here to dance, not to impress,’ but honestly, I kinda love it.

Then there are days when the ballerina side of me really comes through and I’ll reach for something a little more balletcore. My Peachy Den black skirt feels similar to the ‘romantic tutus’ we wear in rehearsals, same with my plaid ruched long sleeve top from Après Studio with little flares at the wrist – a nice ballerina touch indeed. I pop on my favourite pieces of jewellery, mostly thrifted from the Camberwell Market, and my Pounamu necklace which I’ve been wearing since I was a baby.

My new Blue Elephant sunglasses from Incu have become a springtime staple for me. I love to pair my red ballerina flats with a slick back bun to fully lean into my ‘ballerina off duty’ vibe. It’s still comfortable and practical, but there’s something special about dressing in a way that reflects what I love most!

@belle_urwin

Davi Ramos

I’m wearing this purple combo because honestly, I feel really good in it. People always tell me purple’s my colour and I vibe with it. I’ve paired the Adidas Gazelles with one of my favourite pairs of jeans from Black Noise White Rain, a Uniqlo jumper, and my go-to scarf from Melbourne Storm.

I live five minutes from work so I don’t go too wild with my outfits, but I like to look good and feel ready in the mornings – it helps me wake up and get into the day. My style leans more streetwear and I always wear something that shows my personality: relaxed, cool, and sexy. Purple definitely gives off that vibe, in my opinion.

@davi1ramos

To read more on balletcore, head here.