Mirror, Mirror: Tutus, for that fairy-tale look

Infants are precious, yes; but a teeny-tiny babe in a tutu? That's just pinch-your-cheeks adorable.

That's why Leah Wright was shopping late last week at Fiona's Fairies, Karen Clarke's Northern Liberties boutique. Wright heard Clarke's clothing was magical, and because her baby girl, Kalea, turned 1 on Thursday, she decided her pudgy-faced princess needed something in which to preen.

"I want her to stand out," Wright said as she purchased a lacy eggplant tank and matching pettiskirt. "I want her to be special."

And if there's one thing a tutu accomplishes, it's standing out. The ballerina-inspired froufrou, once reserved for kids and, obviously, dancers, is now making star-studded appearances in the wardrobe of grown-ups, too.

In Philadelphia, that's largely Clarke's doing.

"They make women feel pretty," Clarke said in a hushed, arguably fairylike, tone. "They feel transformed."

It's easy to offhandedly refer to all of the flouncy skirts Clarke stocks as tutus. But if you do, the 59-year-old grandma will look over her glasses and wiggle her nose in the manner of Bewitched's Samantha. And that's some fairy dust you don't want any part of.

Technically, Clarke sells three distinct poufy garments: a classic ballerina skirt, with several layers of tulle over a satin lining; a pettiskirt, which features rows of frothy chiffon stacked so tight it resembles a cancan skirt; and a traditional tutu, a short skirt fashioned from mounds of tulle.

Clarke also makes fairy skirts - they are much longer, with asymmetrical hems - and sells sparkling boas. Everything comes with matching wings.

The clothing is available from infant sizes to a girls' size 12, which, because of the generous cut, can fit most women. (I tried on a soft-as-a-cloud petticoat and almost floated out of the store.) Clarke, however, will custom-fit customers, too. Prices range from $30 to $100.

Most of us didn't think about wearing tutus until Carrie Bradshaw wore one when she first got splashed by a New York City bus in the opening credits of Sex and the City back in 1998. I remember thinking, "What in the world is she wearing?"

But the ensemble proved to be perfect. Carrie was a New Yorker living a fairy-tale life.