Russian choreographer George Balanchine once said, “ballet is woman.” And this week, we saw the sartorial equivalent of a pas de deux, one that proved whether classicallly or modern-inclined, when it comes to dance–inspired red carpet dressing, Balanchine’s ballet woman knows no age. Take, for example, Sarah Jessica Parker, who on Monday stepped out for the ACE Awards in Needle & Thread’s ruffled tulle party frock paired with ballet slipper–like sandals. While the 51-year-old actress and producer’s look recalled the tutu-style skirt she once wore for the opening credits of Sex and the City almost two decades prior, the moment was as perfectly charming as ever. In continuing fashion’s recent flirtation with the trend, last night, French Canadian actress Charlotte Le Bon turned up to promote her new film, Anthropoid, in a Valentino dress that only just spun its way down the runway for the Fall 2016 season.
The Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli design was only one in a collection of ballet pink, crystal-embroidered, and whisper-thin gowns, but 29-year-old Le Bon’s nearly nude take felt far from literal. The abstract motif of sky blue and seafoam green with silver glitter sprinkled throughout was both visually interesting and offset the delicate transparency of what could be considered the Valentino version of SATC’s The Naked Dress. That’s not to say the moment was less than sufficiently covered up—the high neckline and full sleeves added an air of ladylike elegance, and though it was a wise move on Le Bon’s part to wear a neutral-color slip underneath (unlike the model who first wore it on the runway), the overall sheerness allowed her to showcase her long limbs and lithe frame. Topping off the look, Le Bon’s translucent makeup maintained an ethereal radiance worthy of Swan Lake, while a tousled head of hair, rather than slick ballerina bun, was both pure bombshell—and positively on point.