A Sneak Peek of the Redesign for "Thou Swell"

September 21, 2015

New York Fashion week is well and good, but the dance world awaits New York City Ballet’s Fall Gala with equal anticipation. Each year, the company partners with couture designers to create elaborate, unexpected costumes for the handful of world premieres. Peter Copping, the creative director of Oscar de la Renta, has embarked on his first attempt at costume design rather than high fashion: He’s redesigning the costumes for Peter Martins’ Thou Swell.

Thou Swell
premiered in 2003 and was last performed in 2013, and Coppings creations signify a major visual redesign for the piece. How’s this green fringed dress for a contemporary tutu?

 

(Photo via Women’s Wear Daily)

 

Copping is in good company—Thom Browne, Prabal Gurung, Carolina Herrera, Mary Katrantzou, Olivier Theyskens, Iris Van Herpen and Valentino have all designed for NYCB. As with all of the company’s couture collaborations, I’m excited to see how the clothes work onstage. If the movement of that fringe is any indication, it should be glamorous indeed. Check out more costumes for Thou Swell here.