La Garde-Robe Repetto

French dancewear giant Repetto’s breakout mainstream success with its celebrated ballet flats led to an expanded footwear and handbag line, introduced late last year, followed very quickly by its first ready-to-wear collection, La Garde-Robe Repetto (Repetto’s wardrobe, or closet) launched in Paris in December.

But in seeking a larger audience the company clearly has no intention of straying too far from the ballet theme. The new line capitalizes on Repetto’s long expertise with dance apparel, whose defining features are construction, ease of movement and gracefulness. Each of the 19 pieces in the ultrafeminine new Garde-Robe collection looks as if it could go twirling right off the stage and into the street, or vice versa.

Handmade in France or Italy, the collection’s six dress styles, five skirts and eight tops are offered in seven colors ranging from the classic powder pink, black and rose chausson—that indefinable rosy-beige color of new ballet slippers—with touches of ecru, lilac, coral and silver. Versatile and classic, the pieces are easy to mix and match and go brilliantly with jeans or tailored suits. The basic tops are form-fitting but designed for maximum comfort, and can be dressed up or down. The flowing skirts come in four lengths, mid-thigh to midcalf. A long-sleeved, meticulously constructed cardigan called Esprit Corset fastens up the front with real corset hooks. It’s a timeless wardrobe, with pieces that will never go out of style.

22 rue de la Paix, 2nd, 01.44.71.83.12; 51 rue des Francs Bourgeois, 4th, 01.70.79.89.37; 51 rue du Four, 6th, 01.45.44.98.65 and others, also in department stores. www.repetto.fr

Originally published in the January 2013 issue of France Today