NikeSKIMS Is Really Trying to Embrace Balletcore Style
In September 2025, NikeSKIMS launched its first line of products. The 58-piece apparel drop included everything from bras to leggings. According to several sources, it was considered a commercial success, with fans quickly buying out stock. The drop also increased interest in SKIMS products in general. While successful financially, the drop didn’t really get fans talking. Several insiders claim the drop felt flat and uninspired. It seems NikeSKIMS has heard the complaints and is ready to try again, this time drawing inspiration from Balletcore.
NikeSKIMS is back with a new product drop, and it’s embracing balletcore
Kim Kardashian and Nike have collaborated on yet another product drop, and this time they are embracing a popular aesthetic. NikeSKIMS newest line of products has been heavily influenced by balletcore fashion that remains popular. The sub-label launched a new line of products this week, including wrap sweaters, stirrup leggings, and low-profile sneakers that embrace the silhouette of a ballet slipper.
According to the company’s website, the lineup is “engineered to perform” while offering a sculpted look. There are several fabrics in the collection, though fans note the satin Rift shoe and the stretch knit collection are the most ballet-coded items in the lineup.
What is Balletcore, and where is it popular?
NikeSKIMS didn’t develop the concept of balletcore, of course. The style has been gaining traction on social media for a few years, with early adoption dating back to 2021. The look takes ballet’s aesthetic and makes it streetwear. The style blends rehearsal wear with everyday street style, utilizing studio staples like leotards, wrap sweaters, tights, and ballet flats to create outfits fit for the streets.
As Vogue points out, balletcore is not a new concept. Over the years, the dance aesthetic has been woven into fashion. Ballet flats were a key staple in most wardrobes in the early 2000s, and tutu-style skirts and dresses, like the one Carrie Bradshaw wore in the Sex and the City opening, have come in and out of style many times over the years. The new face of balletcore, however, is a bit different. The blending of workout wear with the aesthetic is relatively novel.
The look is most popular in major cities like New York and Los Angeles, where ballet is also popular. The look has also been adopted in Paris, where the styling aligns with a minimalist approach to fashion, and in Seoul, where balletcore meets the Y2k influence popular among Korean youth.
