Penelope Lilac Lace Ballet Leotard • ¾ Sleeve & Elegant Open Back
Penelope Lilac Lace Ballet Leotard • ¾ Sleeve & Elegant Open Back - Lilac / XS is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Size & Fit Advice
Size & Fit Advice
At a Glance
At a Glance
Materials & Construction
Materials & Construction
Care information
Care information
Use your body measurements rather than your everyday clothing size. Mara Dancewear uses different sizing across leotards, ballet skirts and warm-up pants, so always check the chart for the garment you are choosing. If your measurements fall between sizes, consider the measurement most important for that garment and your preferred fit.
Mara Dancewear Leotard Size Chart
Use your chest, waist, hips and girth measurements to find your recommended Mara Dancewear leotard size.
| Measurement | XXS | XS | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | 78–82 cm 30"–32" | 82–86 cm 32"–34" | 86–90 cm 34"–36" | 90–94 cm 36"–38" | 94–98 cm 38"–40" | 98–102 cm 40"–42" |
| Waist | 58–62 cm 22"–23" | 62–66 cm 24"–25" | 66–70 cm 26"–27" | 70–74 cm 28"–29" | 74–78 cm 30"–31" | 78–82 cm 32"–33" |
| Hips | 84–88 cm 32"–34" | 88–92 cm 34"–36" | 92–96 cm 36"–38" | 96–100 cm 38"–40" | 100–104 cm 40"–42" | 104–108 cm 42"–44" |
| Girth | 125–132 cm 49"–52" | 132–139 cm 52"–55" | 139–146 cm 55"–58" | 146–153 cm 58"–61" | 153–160 cm 61"–64" | 167–174 cm 64"–67" |
For Mara leotards, girth is one of the most useful measurements because it reflects the dancer's full torso length. If your measurements fall across different sizes, pay particular attention to girth. Dancers with a longer torso may be more comfortable in the larger size.
Mara Dancewear Skirt Size Chart
Use your waist and hip measurements to find the most suitable Mara Dancewear ballet skirt size.
| Measurement | XS/S | M/L | One Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waist | 62–70 cm 24"–27" | 70–78 cm 28"–31" | 64–76 cm 25"–30" |
| Hips | 88–96 cm 34"–38" | 96–104 cm 38"–42" | 90–102 cm 35"–40" |
Mara Dancewear Warm-Up Pants Size Chart
Use your waist, hips and height to choose your Mara Dancewear warm-up pants.
| Measurement | XS/S | M/L |
|---|---|---|
| Waist | 62–70 cm 24"–27" | 70–78 cm 28"–31" |
| Hips | 88–96 cm 34"–38" | 96–104 cm 38"–42" |
| Height | < 167 cm < 66" | > 168 cm > 66" |
How to Measure for Mara Dancewear
Measure over underwear or close-fitting clothing using a flexible tape measure. Stand naturally and keep the tape comfortably against the body without pulling it tight.
Girth
Key MeasurementUsing a flexible tape measure, start at the centre of one shoulder. Bring the tape down the front of the torso, through the crotch and back up the body to the same shoulder, creating one complete loop.
Keep the tape comfortably close to the body without pulling it tight. The dancer should stand naturally while being measured.
Chest
Measure around the fullest part of the chest, keeping the tape straight and level around the body. Keep the tape comfortably against the body without compressing it.
Waist
Measure around the natural waist, usually the narrowest part of the torso. Keep the tape level and do not pull it too tightly.
Hips
Measure around the fullest part of the hips and seat while standing naturally. Keep the tape level all the way around the body.
Height
Stand straight without shoes, with feet flat on the floor, and measure from the floor to the top of the head.
Mara Dancewear uses different size structures depending on the garment. For leotards, compare chest, waist, hips and especially girth. For skirts, waist and hips are the most useful measurements. For warm-up pants, use waist and hips together with Mara's height guidance to choose between XS/S and M/L.
Penelope Lilac Lace Ballet Leotard • ¾ Sleeve & Elegant Open Back
Penelope Lilac Lace Ballet Leotard • ¾ Sleeve & Elegant Open Back - Lilac / XS is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Best For Ballet class • Repertoire • Auditions • Coaching • Vocational training • Summer intensives • Photoshoots • Romantic ballet styling
Description
Description
Soft Ballet Romance, Beautifully Reimagined
The Mara Dancewear Penelope Lilac Ballet Leotard feels unmistakably romantic. A beautifully muted lilac body meets delicate ivory floral lace across the upper bodice and ¾ sleeves, creating a soft, almost ethereal palette that looks completely at home in the ballet studio.
But Penelope isn't simply delicate. Beneath the lace sits Mara's smooth, supportive performance body, creating a beautiful contrast between feminine transparency and a clean, sculpted silhouette. A wide boat neckline frames the collarbones, while the dramatically open back transforms the leotard when viewed from behind.
Mara Dancewear Penelope Lilac – Design & Performance
Penelope's beauty comes from the way two very different fabrics work together. The ivory floral lace extends across the entire upper bodice and into elegant ¾-length sleeves, while the lower body remains beautifully smooth and uninterrupted.
The wide neckline sweeps almost shoulder to shoulder, opening the collarbones and giving the upper body a wonderfully classical frame. Rather than looking heavy, the transparency of the lace keeps the shoulders and arms visually light, allowing the dancer's natural line to remain visible beneath the floral pattern.
The back provides Penelope's dramatic counterpoint. Its exceptionally deep opening exposes the shoulder blades and lengthens the appearance of the spine, before the lace sweeps down towards the smooth lilac body. Against the relatively covered front and ¾ sleeves, that openness feels especially striking.
Underneath the romantic detailing is a genuinely performance-focused leotard. Mara's nylon and elastane body has a smooth, supportive feel with four-way stretch, while the higher level of compression helps create a secure, sculpted fit without visually adding weight to the silhouette.
A flattering high-cut leg continues the elongated line through the lower body, while soft front lining provides additional comfort and coverage during longer studio sessions.
Mara Dancewear Penelope Performance Profile
Compression
High
Stretch
High
Support
Strong
Breathability
High
Fabric Weight
Medium
Coverage
Strong / Sheer Detail
The Dance World Performance Profile compares the technical characteristics of our leotards, making it easier to compare styles across our collection. Ratings may vary depending on fabric, lining, construction and colourway. The profile shown reflects this specific Penelope Lilac leotard.
Studio Experience
Penelope is much more supportive than its delicate appearance suggests. The smooth body creates a secure, held-in sensation through the torso, while four-way stretch allows the fabric to respond naturally through extensions, cambre and larger movements.
The lace upper body gives Penelope a completely different visual character. Because skin remains visible through the floral pattern, the ¾ sleeves don't visually shorten or overwhelm the arms in the way an opaque sleeve sometimes can. Instead, the lace almost traces the movement.
We particularly like the balance between front and back. From the front Penelope appears polished and relatively covered; turn around and the dramatically exposed back reveals the shoulder blades and creates a much more expressive silhouette.
Dance World Notes
- Possibly the most romantic Penelope. Lilac and ivory soften the entire design and make the floral lace feel particularly beautiful without becoming overly sweet.
- The lace creates the illusion of a separate ballet top. The transition into the smooth lilac body sits relatively high, visually defining the waist and giving the leotard an almost two-piece appearance.
- The ¾ sleeves are beautifully judged. You get the elegance and coverage of lace sleeves while the exposed wrist and lower forearm keep the arm line delicate.
- Don't underestimate the body underneath. Penelope combines its romantic lace with a noticeably supportive performance base, making it suitable for serious training rather than saving it only for special studio days.
- The open back changes everything. The contrast between the covered lace front and dramatically exposed back is what stops Penelope feeling traditional or predictable.
Dance World Verdict
🩰 Romantic Performance Favourite
If Blue is Penelope's cooler, more contemporary personality, Lilac is pure ballet romance. The dusty lilac body and ivory floral lace look beautifully considered together, while the wide neckline, sheer sleeves and dramatic back give the design enough sophistication to keep it from becoming overly delicate.
Most importantly, the beauty isn't disguising a basic leotard underneath. Penelope still gives dancers the supportive performance body, stretch and secure studio feel we want from Mara. It is one of those rare designs that can look special enough for an audition or photoshoot while still making complete sense in regular ballet class.
Penelope Lilac Colour Story
This isn't a bright purple or sugary pastel. Penelope's lilac is beautifully muted, sitting closer to dusty mauve, ballet rose and soft lavender depending on the light.
That subtlety is exactly why the ivory lace works so well. Rather than creating a sharp contrast, the two colours sit softly beside one another. Skin showing through the lace adds a third natural tone, giving the upper body considerably more depth than a simple solid-colour leotard.
Paired with traditional ballet pink tights, the whole palette becomes beautifully tonal. Ivory, pearl, soft grey, dusty pink and muted mauve warm-ups would all work wonderfully with it.
And I think this colourway has a lovely audition quality: distinctive enough to be remembered, but refined enough that the dancer remains the focus.
Explore Similar Mara Styles
Love Penelope's romantic detailing? Explore Chloe for a lighter camisole interpretation of floral lace, Flora for structured floral texture with a clean tank silhouette, or discover Penelope in Blue for the same dramatic design in a cooler, more contemporary palette.
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Reviews (0)
About Mara Dancewear Brand
About Mara Dancewear Brand
About Mara Dancewear - Luxury Ballet Leotards & Contemporary Dancewear
Mara Dancewear is a premium ballet and dancewear brand that blends contemporary elegance with exceptional comfort and performance. Designed for dancers who appreciate refined style and technical excellence, Mara creates beautifully crafted leotards, skirts and warm-up apparel that transition effortlessly from the studio to the stage.
Known for its luxurious fabrics, flattering silhouettes and sophisticated colour palettes, every Mara Dancewear collection is thoughtfully designed to enhance movement while providing outstanding comfort and freedom of expression. Whether you're attending ballet class, rehearsing for a performance or preparing for an audition, Mara Dancewear offers timeless designs that inspire confidence, elegance and individuality with every movement.
Delivery & Returns
Delivery & Returns
All orders are sent via GLS. A signature will be required upon receipt of your order. If there is no-one available to accept the package a calling card will be left behind for you so you can re-arrange delivery.
Free EU Standard Delivery on orders over 99€
Please visit our delivery page for further delivery information and our returns page for returns information.
Customer service can be contacted via email : orders@danceworld.ie
By phone - Ireland: 01 497 6129, UK and Rest of World: 00 353 1 497 6129
