Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Choreographer Jermaine Browne’s New Line

Dance and fashion have long inspired one another. Just look at the number of glossy editorials ballet has inspired, or the number of ballets costumed by designers (see: Valentino for the Vienna State Opera, Rodarte for Black Swan). And for choreographer James Browne, whose credits include the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, Louis Vuitton, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger and Rachel Roy’s gorgeous video look book for her spring Rachel Rachel Roy collection, fashion and dance are inextricably intertwined. So creating a high fashion dancewear line was the logical thing to do.

“There’s nothing out there really for someone like me who likes fashion and is also looking for dance wear to dance, be comfortable, and look fashionable in, and then run from a rehearsal into a quick meeting,” Brown said. “I’ve always had this idea of trying to find dance clothes that can be worn in the studio or onstage and out to dinner.” In collaboration with designer Dominic Louis, Browne has created a 12-piece capsule collection that is comprised of harem pants, unitards, and leggings, in stretch jerseys and French cotton ribs, all of which could easily be translated into everyday wear. The pieces are designed with a unique functionality, keeping a dancer’s um, personal needs in mind. Consider Browne's men’s unitard: “Usually for men in a leotard, they have to totally unzip and pull it off to go to the bathroom,” Browne said.

“But this is structured in a way where the bottom is almost like underwear. You don’t have to go through that whole reveal when you go to the bathroom.” How convenient.Stretch pants crackdown causes widespread reaction.And since Browne has choreographed the last four Victoria’s Secret fashion shows, we had to ask: Can the models dance? “Candice, who opened up the show, she’s a trained ballerina, actually, she’s a really cool dancer,” Brown said, laughing. “All the girls, if you see them during the show and the footage behind the scenes, they’re always rocking to the beat, doing their thing, so they have pretty good rhythm.” He would know!

Stretch pants crackdown causes widespread reaction

Stretch pants crackdown causes widespread reaction

A school's reminder for female students to cover up yoga pants and leggings is sparking debate about what clothing is appropriate for school.Students at Ottawa's St. Joseph's High School were reminded that the school's dress code says wearing stretch pants without a shirt that covers the bottom would result in students being sent home to change.Wednesday, the Ottawa Catholic School Board defended the move after students protested, saying they were just enforcing a long-standing dress code.

"Guys at our school can wear their pants around their ankles and they don't get in trouble," said one student at Pierre-Savard French Catholic High School, where a similar ban is in effect. "Girls wear something a little too tight or a little too revealing and the whole world comes crashing down.""My daughter has some lululemons but I don't find them too revealing," said one parent."I think some people are looking for attention, so that's why they're wearing them," said another.

Clothing company lululemon issued a statement saying their pants aren't meant to be provocative."Our apparel and products are designed for active women and men," it said. "We cannot comment on the policies and codes of other organizations."Etiquette consultant Suzanne Nourse said students should think about how they're presenting themselves."Our attire is speaking volumes, and what message are we sending?" she said. "When we get into the workplace there will be guidelines and I think it's much better to be aware, not have somebody come up to you after the fact."