Elevé Guide

Of the two major custom leotard makers (Yumiko is the other), Elevé is my favorite--the sheer variety of options and the lovely finished products can't be beat. See the gorgeous photos on Elevé's website for a sampling of its offerings.

Kansas City Ballet's Angie
Sansone modeling the "Amber"

Elevé's customer service matches its leotard quality. The company has been quite responsive to questions, which is great given the variety of choices available.

Elevé has been around since 2009. Founder Lisa Choules danced with Ballet West and Kansas City Ballet. Dancers from those two companies are featured as models on the website.  You can read more about Elevé's history on its About Page.

                              Variations on the "Vinzant"                             

Styles

Elevé currently has 48 different basic leotard styles.  They add new styles from time to time. Each style is modeled from a variety of angles and often in different fabric, color, and options.  Elevé also provides a sketch of each style so you can see its basic shape.

A couple of
patterned fabrics

Options

Elevé offers 46 solid fabrics (most available in either matte or shiny), 71 patterned fabrics, 29 patterned meshes, and 46 solid meshes. The patterned fabrics and meshes change from time to time as they run out and buy new stock.  So if you see something you like, make sure you order it--once Elevé reaches the end of its stock, there's no guarantee they'll stock that fabric again. (I'm still kicking myself for missing out on the lovely mallard lace that is no longer offered!) One option Elevé doesn't offer is velvet fabric, which is too bad because mixing textures can be fun.

The "Amy" in mallard with
discontinued mallard lace

Most styles ask you to choose at least two fabrics, so you can mix and match to your heart's content. To help you out, Elevé lists the solid colors that match the patterned fabrics so you can be sure you don't order something that looks ok on your computer screen but is hideous in reality.  If you're curious about a color/pattern combination you don't see listed, email the company and ask--they'll send a picture so you can see what it looks like.

All styles let you add a liner (bust for no charge and full front for $8). Many styles have sleeve options--no sleeves, just over shoulder (cap sleeves), above elbow (3/4 sleeves), below elbow, and to the wrist. There is no short sleeve option, and not all styles give sleeve choices.

Many styles offer back options too.  For example, you can order the "Laico" with or without a back cutout and the "Vinzant" with a scoop or a keyhole back.  The "Aisling" lets you choose different strap styles.

Order Page for the "Rendina"

Prices

The leos range from $60 to $68.  A full front liner costs an additional $8.  For leotards with sleeve options, you'll pay an additional $3 for cap sleeves, $5 for 3/4 sleeves, $7 for below-elbow sleeves, and $9 for long sleeves. 

Timing

According to the website, orders take 6 to 8 weeks.  Both of the orders I've received so far have arrived earlier--four weeks for one and five for the other.  I'm in a major metropolitan area not far from Kansas City (where Elevé is located), so my results may not be typical.

Elevé Women's Size Chart

Sizing

Elevé comes in sizes XS to L. Their size chart is pretty accurate (meaning I fit the size the chart says I should). According to the website, Small and Medium are about the same except that the Medium is longer. I feel like adding a full front lining makes the leotard feel smaller, so I go up a size if I'm ordering a full lining.

I don't know why Elevé doesn't make an XL--people of all shapes and sizes dance, but if you're over a certain size, Elevé might not make a leotard for you.

Ballet West's Sayaka Ohtaki  modeling
"Christian" with matching flare skirt

Other Products

In addition to women's leotards, Elevé sells skirts, shorts, and men's dancewear. Elevé does not make unitards for women, nor do they make children's dancewear.

My Elevés

The first Elevé I bought was an "Amy" (described on the website as "An 'oh soslimming' design with a sporty twist").  Since then I've bought an "Ida," a "Vinzant," and another "Amy."  In a recent fit of Black Friday acquisitiveness, I ordered a "Rendina" (with matching flare skirt), a "Chris" and a "Laico" with sleeves. 

"Amy" in Wine

"Vinzant" in Vampire

"Ida" in Purple

"Amy" in Black