1. From Madonna to Carrie Bradshaw, tulle is a go-to favorite of fashion eccentrics. The saucy, low slung tutu on this Ralph Lauren dress alludes Lara Flynn Boyle’s infamous 2003 Golden Globes number. 2. Rodarte this seaason ballet with a punk, slashed-stockings spirit, much like Cyndi Lauper on the cover of her 1983 album, She’s So Unusual. 3. The Elegance of Alexander McQueen calls to mind the beautiful Ninette de Valois of the Ballets Russes. A major influence on fashion of the time, the Ballet Russes performed in Paris between 1909 and 1929. 4. Victoria Beckham’s graceful yet flirty Alaia dress ( worn last summer on a Today Show apperance) reminds us of Degas’s Dancer taking a Bow.

When Azzedine Alaïa began favoring balletlike silhouettes a few years ago, his designs became a favorite of fashion devotees such as Carine Roitfeld and Mary-Kate Olsen. From the looks of the fall 2008 runways, Alaïa seems to have unleashed a phenomenon. Of course, the trend is simply the remixing of a familiar tune: The dance world has inspired fashion creators since the provocative days of the Ballets Russes. From Degas to Victoria Beckham, we connect the dots between today’s trends and fashion of yore.