Costume designed by Alexandre Benois for Lydia Lopokova as a Sylph in Fokine's ballet Les Sylphides created for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes.

Costume designed by Alexandre Benois for a Sylph in Fokine's ballet Les Sylphides created for Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in 1909. This costume was worn by Lydia Lopokova ca. 1916.
Romantic tutu with white fitted bodice overlaid net, loose net cap sleeves, a long white multi-layered net skirt and small double wings at the back. The wings were initially fixed but in 2019 conservation removed them and they now attach when the costume is displayed.
The costume is therefore now 3 parts

S.874:1-1980 The romantic ballet style dress
S.874:2-1980 Proper right wing
S.874:3-1980 Proper left wing

Cyril W. Beaumont Bequest

Les Sylphides ('The Spirits of the Air') was one of Serge Diaghilev's favourite works (the second most frequently performed ballet in the repertoire). He presented it in homage to the French Romantic ballet tradition. Dancers considered it was a privilege to be included in the cast. The sylph's costume was essentially a Romatic tutu although the accessories altered to reflect contemporary fashions. The costumes double-wings indicate that this is an early versionof the costume, probably made for Lopokova during the War period.

S.874-1980