The White Ballerina
Raw silk organza cocktail dress with tulle underlayer
Everything about The White Ballerina is movement. The bodice is sculpted, precise, unmoving — and from it, a skirt that behaves like choreography: structured at the waist, softening through the hip, loose at the knee.
The whiteness of the fabric is deliberate. It holds nothing back. It is both the most innocent and the most demanding colour a dress can take — and it requires perfection in every finish, because there is nowhere for error to hide.
- Raw silk organza (ivory)
- Tulle underlayer
- Structured bodice with internal boning
- Hand-stitched boning casings
- Concealed back zip
The Organza
Raw silk organza is stiff, sheer, and unforgiving. It requires specific handling at every stage — it cannot be pinned carelessly, pressed hot, or cut without a pattern weight. The Ballerina is made possible by years of experience with this fabric specifically.
The Balance
The proportions of the Ballerina were refined over multiple toiles before the final pattern was fixed. The cut point between bodice and skirt was moved three times before the balance between structure and movement was correct.
The Hem
The curved hem of the skirt required a bias-bound finish in a matching silk satin ribbon. Stitched by hand in a single pass, the binding follows the curve without distortion — a technique that holds its shape indefinitely.
- Dry clean only
- Store hanging, away from sunlight (ivory silk discolours with UV exposure)
- Do not steam — organza holds a press for a long time, but steam can create water marks