This Viral TikTok Trend from 2022 has made a comeback and is more stylish than ever—here’s how fashionable individuals are sporting it now.

      Balletcore has made a comeback, this time leaning more towards Black Swan than Sugar Plum Fairy. You might recall the term emerging on your TikTok FYP around 2022 with carefully curated outfits featuring fluffy, pale pink tulle. It seemed to blend the "coquette" and "clean girl" aesthetics, bearing the complexities associated with the latter. The most significant change now is that the trend is led by actual dancers, giving it a sense of authenticity, as if it carries the weight of effort and emotion rather than just a trendy beverage.

      As with many fashion movements, several influences must intersect in our collective awareness for a trend to gain momentum, and balletcore is no exception. A key figure that caught my attention was ballet-trained pop artist Adéla Jergova, who left a mark while touring with Demi Lovato and Tate McCrae. Her vibrant pop performances, characterized by striking choreography and alluring outfits, evoke the hyper-sexuality of the Christina Aguilera era. Her unique selling point is the visible influence of her rigorous ballet training. Additionally, her fashion choices are striking; while her outfits are bold and dark, she sports a pink hairstyle—an unexpected choice that suggests a punk twist despite being linked to the delicate prima ballerina image.

      At the beginning of the year, journalist Liana Satenstein advocated for a revival of grey cotton workout clothing that showcases sweat instead of concealing it. Her video references a previous piece she wrote before the boom of athleisure and immaculate workout outfits that hide all signs of sweat, reminiscing about the iconic '80s workout attire.

      I also noted that the fashion media has been highlighting Patricia Zhou, who is currently performing in Cats in the West End. In our video interview accompanying her Best Wardrobes in Britain feature from August 2025, Zhou presents her stunning wardrobe, showcasing dynamic styles with numerous intriguing references to femininity. One standout outfit features a pink feathered dress adorned with a bow, complemented by black leather Miista boots. Zhou doesn’t confine herself to the traditional ballerina "look," but instead incorporates it into ensembles where softness harmonizes with edgier elements.

      On Instagram, she posts videos from the dance studio where she’s seen in a sleek black vest and capris paired with pink pointe shoes and a fiery red pixie cut. This entire aesthetic evokes Edie Sedgwick, the celebrated It girl and "superstar" from Andy Warhol’s Factory, who set trends in the '60s with her cropped silver hair and bold eye makeup. Her signature style, rooted in ballet training, often featured her in black tights, a leotard, and a simple top—an effortless look that emerged out of convenience.

      Additionally, a post by content creator Lara Violetta, founder of Violet Papers, caught my eye with her "ideal" outfit formula for Pilates that strayed from the overly curated online image: a nude-illusion leotard from Bloch paired with a visible hot pink Agent Provocateur bra with blue bows for a chic twist. She topped off the outfit with an off-shoulder Rick Owens sweater and a coveted Matthieu Blazy Chanel bag. Personally, I often opt for a black leotard and sheer blue tights for ballet class, believing that an advanced fashion sense can somewhat make up for my beginner skills.

      Fashion’s intrigue with ballet history remains constant; what changes is the prominence of those references. "Ballet flats and tutus come in and out of vogue, but designers have continually drawn inspiration from ballet," notes ballet archivist Cheyenne Postigo. Marc Jacobs' spring/summer 2027 collection features layers and jumpsuits reminiscent of dancewear, contrasting with Ferragamo’s spring/summer 2025 ballerinas that, while maintaining a subdued palette, had their own authenticity through mix-and-match styling. In comparison, Marc Jacobs' pieces exhibit vibrant jewel tones that prioritize visibility over subtlety.

      Several moments have contributed to the evolution of balletcore, but Madonna stands out as a significant influence. Confessions II, her much-anticipated follow-up to 2005’s Confessions on a Dance Floor, takes us back to the iconic dance studio scenes of her "Hung Up" music video, where she sported a fuchsia leopard-print ensemble with nude tights.

      Madonna has also sparked nostalgia for Frida Giannini’s cropped leather jackets from her Gucci era featured in the music video and on tour, but that’s a topic for another day. Last month, Madonna graced the cover of Vogue Italia in a pink-themed shoot tied to her album promotion. Posed with legs extended and wrapped in kneepads over brown fishnets, she embodies a full baby-pink aesthetic, yet her outfit, adorned with a corset and signature fingerless gloves, straddles the line between softness and rawness.

      Rosalía embraced the ballet aesthetic during her LUX tour but opted for a less polished approach,