A huntsman steals a swan maiden’s feathered robe as she bathes in a lake, rendering her unable to fly. She is obliged to marry the huntsman, and settles into life with him and their two children. One day, their daughter discovers the robe and takes it to her mother, who puts it on and flies away. Her husband must then embark on a difficult journey to find his wife and bring her back home.
Swans have figured prominently in Western literature, music, and ballet, and they have also been represented in fashion in myriad ways. The level of detail on this Undercover ensemble is astounding, including “feathers” that were printed, painted, and laser-cut. The tutu-style skirt evokes the ballet “Swan Lake,” composed by Tchaikovsky in 1875. A composite of elements from several folktales, “Swan Lake” is itself sometimes regarded as a fairy tale.
