There has always been a trendy way to exercise. In 2020, it was Chloe Ting YouTube videos. Next came hot girl walks in 2021-2022.
Today, we are watching the rise of pilates. All of these different workout fads seem to be cycling in and out, similar to fashion.
Well, today fashion is a huge part of working out. Girls do slick-backs and wear coordinated outfits to work out. One of the reasons for this is the balletcore aesthetic, which is an ultra-feminine athleisure style inspired by ballet dancers, combining comfort with grace and elegance.
The Skims x Nike collaboration captured this aesthetic perfectly, releasing in February. Since then, balletcore has continued to dominate athleisure fashion. Keep reading to find out what this aesthetic is and how Skims and Nike captured it perfectly.
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Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)When and Why did Balletcore Start Trending?
Beginning in 2022, balletcore has been dominating social media for years. However, it has not always taken the same form.
When the "clean girl" aesthetic gained popularity, balletcore began trending even more as well. The balletcore aesthetic has elements in common with the "clean girl" aesthetic, which has been a major trend for a few years now.
The "clean girl" aesthetic emphasizes an organized, polished and feminine lifestyle. The feminine aspect can be partially achieved through wearing balletcore to work out because balletcore gives off a very feminine vibe. Not to mention, the outfits are adorable.
Balletcore has been especially prominent this year and last year, especially with the rise of the "Pilates Princess" aesthetic. Instead of sweats, girls are opting for matching yoga sets and ballet wrap sweaters. Additionally, many girls have started wearing lighter colors to exercise, including light pink, white and cream.
The trend has expanded to feature legwarmers, camisoles, slouch socks and hair ribbons/claw clips.
This shift displays how people are looking put-together for the gym, when the gym is a place that can be dominated by old, baggy t-shirts. Instead of focusing on just getting to work out, exercise has transformed into a fashion-centered activity.
This style has been seen on many influencers and celebrities, including Alix Earle (especially during her time on Dancing with the Stars), Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid.
Image Credit: Merve Sehirli Nasir from Unsplash.
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Highlights of the Skims x Nike Collection
The Skims x Nike collaboration was nothing short of spectacular. This collection achieved the trending balletcore aesthetic while remaining true to Nike's roots of functional workout clothes. It is easy to see how each of the pieces were made to practical and comfortable for athletic activities.
One example of this is the double strap scoop tank. While it comes in darker colors, such as obsidian and dark sepia, it also comes in Himalayan pink, which matches with the "pilates princess" vibe. However, the tank tops thick straps and double layering provide support for high-impact activities. It is also longer, showing how it can be functional for multiple sports instead of just pilates and barre.
A highlight look of this collection was the wrap long sleeve crop top, paired with the wrap skirt, V Line 26' leggings and the rift satin shoes, all in the color Himalayan. This look perfectly achieves the balletcore aesthetic because it pairs a light and girly tone with a cropped silhouette.
Another standout piece was the wrap front bra. This piece was so unique; it allows for the adorable balletcore aesthetic to shine while not having to workout in long sleeves. Also, the long ties allow for the wearer to tie the shirt in many different ways, including having a bow in the front, back or on the side.
Overall, this collection is a 10/10. It combines functionality with aesthetic, ensuring that the wearer can feel good and look good during their workout.
Image Credit: Elena Kloppenburg from Unsplash.
Marketing
To truly bring balletcore, and their collection, into the spotlight, Skims and Nike had a flawless marketing campaign. This campaign included the K-pop icon LISA in a video filmed in Paris. The video had professional dancers, aiming to create graceful motion, which matched the campaign's title: "Grace in Motion."
Skims is known for being a comfortable, lifestyle, everyday-wear brand while Nike is for athletes who train at high levels. So, this collaboration is the intersection of fashion, lifestyle and athleticism.
The collaboration was also marketed as a head-to-toe collection, meaning that there were matching outfits and shoes. This allows Nike to lean into the Skims lifestyle image because they are now producing an entire, synchronous head-to-toe gym look. Nike can also be seen as more of a lifestyle brand after this collaboration because the brand now has a history of lifestyle centered looks.
This lifestyle idea was backed by LISA. She noted that the collection is super comfortable and that she feels great wearing it everywhere because it fits easily into her everyday life.
Another great marketing tactic is that everything in the Himalayan pink color is a limited edition. This makes consumers really want to get their hands on the collaboration because once the balletcore color is sold out, they are no longer achieving this trending aesthetic. Simultaneously, this will allow for publicity because people will be wearing their limited edition styles to the gym, the store and posting on social media. Basically, limited edition is the perfect marketing strategy to get consumers to market for them.
Image Credit: Elena Kloppenburg from Unsplash.
Conclusion
Skims and Nike outdid themselves with their balletcore collaboration collection. Each piece is functional, stylish and fits with the current trends. Between the material, fit, colors and style of all of the pieces, it is clear that this collaboration was well thought out and well executed.
While we can expect the pilates princess exercises to cycle out like the rest of exercise fads, for right now it is all the rage. Head to your nearest Target to get wrist weights and Skims to get the clothes you need to properly achieve the balletcore aesthetic.
