Penelope Blue Lace Ballet Leotard • 3/4 Sleeve & Open Back
Penelope Blue Lace Ballet Leotard • 3/4 Sleeve & Open Back - Blue / 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 Blue Lace Ballet Leotard • 3/4 Sleeve & Open Back
Penelope Blue Lace Ballet Leotard • 3/4 Sleeve & Open Back - Blue / 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 • Dancers who love romantic details with a contemporary silhouette
Description
Description
Romance, with a Stronger Ballet Line
There is something immediately special about the Mara Dancewear Penelope Blue Ballet Leotard. Combining an elegant smoky blue body with delicate ivory floral lace, Penelope has the romance of a traditional lace ballet leotard but a cleaner, more contemporary silhouette.
The beautifully wide boat neckline, sheer ¾ sleeves and exceptionally deep open back make this one of Mara's most expressive designs, while the high-compression performance body underneath keeps the overall feel secure, sculpted and unmistakably made for dancing.
Mara Penelope Blue Lace Ballet Leotard – Design & Performance
Penelope is beautifully balanced. The ivory floral lace extends across the entire upper bodice and into elegant ¾-length sleeves, creating the impression of a delicate lace ballet top layered over a sleek blue leotard.
The wide boat neckline runs almost shoulder to shoulder, opening the collarbone and creating a wonderfully classical frame through the upper body. The ¾ sleeves continue that line without visually overwhelming the arms, allowing the floral pattern to become part of the silhouette rather than simply decorative trim.
Then Penelope turns around.
The dramatically deep open back is arguably the defining feature of the design. It exposes the shoulder blades and much of the spine before sweeping into a soft point above the smooth performance body. Against the coverage of the lace sleeves and high front neckline, the openness of the back feels especially striking.
Below the lace, Mara's premium nylon and elastane fabric creates a smooth, sculpted base. This is described by Mara as a high-compression performance fabric, giving Penelope a firmer, more held-in sensation than Chloe and the softer performance styles we've looked at. Four-way stretch keeps that support responsive rather than restrictive.
A flattering high-cut leg completes the silhouette, while the soft absorbent front lining provides additional comfort and coverage beneath the lace bodice.
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 Blue leotard.
Studio Experience
Penelope feels much more like a performance leotard than its romantic appearance initially suggests. The smooth body has a firmer, supportive quality, while the four-way stretch allows the torso to move freely through extensions, cambre and port de bras.
The lace changes the experience too. Instead of adding bulk across the shoulders and arms, its transparency keeps the upper silhouette visually light. We particularly like the ¾ sleeve length: it provides the elegance of a sleeved leotard while leaving the wrist and lower arm completely visible.
The deep back also gives the dancer's upper body plenty of visual freedom. From arabesque to épaulement, the shoulder blades and back remain beautifully exposed rather than hidden beneath the lace.
Dance World Notes
- It looks like two beautifully coordinated pieces. The ivory lace upper body against the smooth blue base creates an almost layered ballet-top-and-leotard effect.
- The back is the moment. Penelope's deep opening creates a dramatic uninterrupted line through the shoulder blades and spine, particularly beautiful in arabesque and port de bras.
- We love where the lace finishes. Its higher transition into the smooth body visually raises the waist and allows the high-cut leg underneath to continue that lengthening effect.
- Romantic doesn't mean delicate performance. Underneath the floral lace is a genuinely supportive, high-compression base designed to stay close to the body through serious studio work.
- The colour combination is unusual. Rather than matching the lace to the body, Mara uses pale ivory against smoky blue-grey. It makes every detail of the floral pattern visible and gives Penelope its distinctive identity.
Dance World Verdict
🩰 Romantic Performance Favourite
Penelope is one of those leotards where the design makes sense from every angle. The front is elegant, the sleeves are beautifully proportioned, and then the exceptionally deep back gives it an entirely different personality.
What makes us like it even more is the substance underneath the styling. High-compression stretch fabric, front lining and a secure sculpted body mean this isn't simply a pretty lace leotard. It's a working dance piece with enough visual impact for an audition or repertoire class and enough performance behind it for regular training.
Penelope Blue Colour Story
Blue is almost an understatement here. The body reads as a sophisticated smoky blue-grey, sitting somewhere between slate, lavender-grey and muted steel depending on the light.
Against it, the pale ivory floral lace becomes beautifully defined. Every flower and fine lace detail is visible without creating a harsh contrast, while glimpses of blue beneath the front lace subtly tie the two fabrics together.
For the studio, ballet pink tights keep the overall look classical. Ivory or white warm-ups pick up the lace beautifully, while soft grey, pearl, dusty blue or muted lavender layers would create an especially refined tonal palette.
If Chloe is Mara's romantic camisole, Penelope feels like its more dramatic, grown-up sister.
Explore the Mara Dancewear Collection
Love Penelope's combination of romantic detail and technical performance? Explore more Mara Dancewear leotards, including Chloe for a lighter camisole interpretation of floral lace, Flora for structured floral texture and a clean tank silhouette, or Aura for a sportier high-neck design with Mara's signature ribbed compression fabric.
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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
