A Parisian leading ballerina for young children
Marie-Agnès Gillot, first dancer at the Opera National in Paris
Ballet dancer and choreographer of great fame and acclaim, Marie-Agnès Gillot reinvented the iconic Petit Bateau garments working with great freedom of expression and innate chic and glamour à la française. The result is a capsule collection for babies, children and women inspired by the dancers’ wardrobe and the fluency of their movements. A collection, in a nutshell, that turns into an irresistible invitation to dance.
Under the creative direction of Gillot, the iconic materials of Petit Beauteu break the ranks and are mixed together with surprising results. The classic yellow waterproof waxed material flirts with navy blue and plays with classic items like a belted jacket, a cape, a long skirt and even a bag.
The signature striped Breton motif stripes becomes a jumpsuit and then succeeds under the spotlights to become a long dress with an unexpected glamor with a draped neckline at the back. Or it features a with a deep V neckline, so much loved by those who dance by profession. Inspired by one of her first ballet costumes, incidentally ‘The Nutcracker’ with Rudolph Nureyev, the tutu dresses have a built-in jumpsuit. The leading ballerina also adds floaty tulle to the range of Petit Bateau fabrics to further highlight the spirit of ballet and dance into to the collection.
Freedom of movement is indispensable to Marie-Agnès Gillot just as the fluidity of the garments is for dancers who want to feel comfortable in both the rehearsal studio as in an urban environment. For the children’s clothes, Gillot returned to her own childhood memories and was inspired by her daily life as a mother. Part of the range is thought for her three-year-old son and conceived as a protection for the little ones, always allowing them to move without any hindrance or restriction.
All proceeds from the sale of the capsule collection, available from November, will be donated by Petit Bateau to the Ten Months of School and Opera education program. Created more than 25 years ago in partnership with the Paris National Opera Academy and the Education Department, the program involves more than 1,000 primary school students every year.