Stockists featured Julienne & Porselli 9 West Street Cambridge Circus London WC2 9NE Tel 0207 836 2862 Freed 94 St Martin's Lane London WC2N 4AT Tel 0207 240 0432 www.freedoflondon.com Danceworld 52 Bedminster Parade Bristol BS3 4HS Tel 0117953 7941 www.danceworld.ltd.uk Wear moi Units 14-16 Rufus Business Centre 22 Ravensbury Terrace London SW18 4RL Tel: 020 8287 0932 www.wearmoi.co.uk

Little Girls have just got have one

While professional dancers have to have a tu-tu to perform, little girls (even if they don't dance) - just have to have one. Lots of little eyes from passing buses used to light up when they saw the huge poster of Agnes Oaks resplendent in a silver and white tu-tu for ENBs Nutcracker.They gasped 'Isn't she beautiful' They wanted to be her- and all added that tu-tu to their wish lists for Santa. Luckily parents can't resist buying them as the cute factor of seeing their little princess preen and pose as a cygnet or fairy is huge.

So where do you get one from ? and what does it cost.

The answer is - it depends. Unlike the splendid ornate number worn by Ms Oakes - a little girls tu-tu is basically a strappy lycra leotard with about 3-4 lengths of net gathered and sewn around the hips. They are sold at dance shops and prices vary. Given that all kids suffer from the same design defect - Growth and the tutu is only likely to be used for one show or dressing up - it is worth making one before you consider buying.

To make

As a guideline- it will cost:

• Camisole leotard from Freeds £8-10
• Net- about 1.5-2m £4-5

To Buy

Local dance shops can normally get a tu-tu but if you cannot get to them- it is worth looking at Mail order.

Freeds of London

Freeds keep tu-tus in stock and they look fluffy when worn. The colours are limited to the ballet pink, white and a few others the sizes are quite generous. My experience of their tu-tus is that the net is quite soft and tears easily.

Standard tu-tu - A shiny lycra strappy leotard with 5 double layers of net and costs about £26. Rosebud tu-tu - A shiny lycra strappy leotard with 4 double layers of net which are decorated with little rosebuds and costs about £35.

Porselli

Porselli have a colourful selection of tu-tus hanging from the ceiling.Unlike Freeds they have to order some type of tu-tu.

Intermezzo tu-tu - A very strong net on a lycra leotard which is not too stretchy. It is small fitting but comes in a variety of colours and costs £20.

Porselli tu-tu - A shiny lycra leotard (monique) with 8 layers of net and costs £29. A limited stock is kept and it may have to be ordered in which case it takes 2-3 weeks

When she gets serious about ballet- she needs a serious tu-tu

If your daughter gets serious about ballet, she will want something better for the festivals and shows. Suddenly you hear 'But I need to make my legs look longer and thinner' and 'I've earned the right to wear a proper tu-tu' and you realise that you no longer can use the strappy leotard with gathered net. She wants a professional's one.

Miss Katherine Lumley during performance testing...

The professional tu-tus are masterpieces of workmanship,a stiff plateau of ruffles that radiate from mid hip and show off the full line of the leg. Unfortunately they are nearly always custom made and cost in the region of £300 which rules it out for most ballet students.

Until recently it appeared as if there was no product alternative product available..Seeing this opportunity Christophe Ridet and Thelma Browning from Wear-moi spent about a year researching and experimenting with nets and lycra until they developed a tu-tu that looks professional for the mass market. The tu-tu itself consists of a very thick lycra leotard with a top bodice of crushed velvet a zipped back and spaghetti straps with 9 layers of pleated net. The strength of the netting varies; for comfort the underneath layers are soft and for shape and durability the top layers are very hard. The overall effect is that the tu-tu sits like a table top shows almost all the leg and the cut of the leotard displays the top of the body, especially the back very well. It is well constructed and looks like a fan from underneath.

My daughter tried on the review tu-tu and would not take it off

My daughter tried on the review copy and would not take it off - She had to have it and much negotiation took place There is a quantum leap between this tu-tu and the shiny lycra gathered net versions that the little girls have. It costs about £72 which is expensive but it is practically indestructable and since it will last for years the price per wear is reasonable.. It is available through the Wear moi website at www.wearmoi.co.uk. It is advisable to give very good measurements as the tu-tu retains the table top look if the length/girth is just right.

You will need some serious money - if she wants the real thing

If you find yourself in the position where you want a professional tu-tu you will find that you cannot readily buy them in a shop in London's theatreland as you would expect.Tu-tus are made to measure by specialist makers based all over the country and it is difficult to find out who they are without being in the know.

However if you want the custom made russian masterpiece you can get it - but at a price. Luckily it is now possible to order them through the Danceworld in Bristol. They are made in Russia, take about 10 weeks on average and cost between £250 and £450. They are made to fit absolutely any size. If you are serious about tu-tus I recommend that you look at the web site www.danceworld.ltd.uk that shows beautiful pictures of the range available. (and just hope your daughter does not get so serious about ballet that she has to have one !)