Karinska Seafoam Tutu

This costume stood out among many others. Upon closer inspection it became evident that it was a piece by Barbara Karinska. Her work in costume design always embodies an extra aspect that is visually satisfying both up close and at a distance.

In a world that is often operating on a shoestring budget, a costume designer could be forgiven when the design is limited to how it looks onstage for the audience alone. Karinska could never reconcile the sacrifices. She amassed so many notions and ribbons and fabrics with her own money that she felt it financially. NYCB is, to this day, in possession of her collection of all sorts. They are sparingly used in the costume department for reparations on her costumes alone.

The ballet from which this costume comes had an aquatic theme and the costumes were pretty fantastical. The underwater concept is a great visual opportunity to use iridescent sequins that create vaguely fish shaped abstractions making their way up the white skirt. A shoal of minnows swimming up to greet the dancer? Who can say?

The flesh-colored sleeves have sequins that read as seaweed covering bare arms. The stiff curl to the left was part of an elaborate collar that rose up like waves around the neck and head of the performer.