Tutu.com’s U-Finish Bodice Kits Turned a Near-Impossible Timeline into a Success.
Review By: Kelly Flesch, Costumer with Minnesota Ballet
Review Type: Tutu.com Costume Shop Services / U- Finish Bodice Kits Product Review
For our 60th anniversary season, the Minnesota Ballet took on the incredible challenge of presenting Giselle for our fall opener. With its iconic choreography and legendary Willis tutus, I dreamed of bringing something truly special to our Duluth audience. Designing and building seventeen new tutu dresses for the Wilis, with just two months before opening night (on top of all of Act 1’s costumes), felt nearly impossible.
I was determined to give our dancers and patrons the full Giselle experience—yet the workload quickly outpaced our timeline and resources. Then I discovered Tutu.com’s U-Finish Bodice Kits, and everything changed. Their kits meant our team could focus on what we did best, knowing each bodice would arrive ready for fitting and finishing—saving us hours on every dress and offering real value for our tight budget.
The Tutu.com team not only delivered our large rush order ahead of schedule, but every bodice was beautifully constructed, and their support was beyond helpful. The morning after we received the order, we were already fitting bodices on dancers, moving directly to finishing that same afternoon. While the usual backstage magic and last-minute flurry ensued, we ultimately premiered the Giselle of our dreams to an enthusiastic and supportive community.
None of it would have been possible without the speed, quality, and care of tutu.com. Their team guided me—and, as a relatively new ballet costumer, I relied on their expertise every step of the way. We couldn’t be happier with the experience and look forward to more beautiful collaborations in the future.
"The support and quality from Tutu.com made our dream Giselle a reality."
Pictured: Kelly, marking the skirt lengths during tech rehearsal.