The Clara Ornaments are about 5½ inches tall. Clara has a red glitter bow in her hair and is wearing a white, Romantic style, tutu. The bodice is pearl white with red glitter around the collar and below the puff in the sleeves, with a red glitter bow. There are red glitter buttons down the front of the bodice and a sheer red ribbon tied in a bow at the back of the waist. The skirt is two layers of tulle with alternating red and white sheer ribbon bows around the bottom. Clara’s mid calf, pantaloons have a double ruffle at the bottom and a red bow. Clara’s ballet shoes lace to her ankles and are sprinkled with red glitter. Clara is holding a small nutcracker Prince. Select this link to view our Nutcracker Ornaments.
Ballet Tutu’s.
A Tutu must be beautiful but sturdy. It must fit like a glove but allow for a full range of freedom of movement.
A Tutu has 3 main parts, the bodice, the Basque and the skirt. Select this link to view our Wooden Nutcracker Ornaments.
The Bodice is a separate piece of the costume that is attached at the waist or high on the hip. Sometimes the bodice is put together with elastic tabs to allow movement.
The Basque is a piece that sits between the waist and hip and can be continuous with the bodice or a separate, tight fitting band. Select this link to view our Clara and The Nutcracker.
The Skirt determines the shape and style of the Tutu.
There are 3 major styles of skirts, Romantic, Classical and Bell.
The Romantic skirt is long floating and ethereal with 3-5 layers of soft tulle. There are 2 styles of Romantic skirts.
In the first the skirt begins at the waist. In the second the waist begins at the high hip and is called Romantic tutu with a Basque.
The Classical skirt juts out horizontally from the hips. There are two styles of Classical skirts.
The first is very flat and called Pancake, Platter, Plate or Russian. It has a wide, flat, hooped skirt that is tightly tacked and made of stiff netting. The hoop keeps the tutu’s flat, stiff shape. Select this link to view our Set of Nutcracker Suite Ornaments.
The second is softer and called Powderpuff or Balanchine and has ruffles stitched on a panty. The Powderpuff does not have a hoop. It has a shorter skirt and is tacked more loosely. It can be made of softer tulle or a combination of tulle and net. Select this link to view our Prince Ornament.
The Bell skirt is named for its bell like shape. It has shorter and more numerous layers than the Romantic skirt but longer and fewer layers than the Classical skirt. It has no hoop and is loosely tacked and can be made of soft tulle or net or both. The Bell skirt also has ruffles stitched onto a panty. Select this link to view our Nutcracker King with a Sword.