Ankha van Ayken - Fashion on the floor

The hallway had this slightly minty hospital tone that actually turned out to be a good match for the faded floral dress Ankha van Ayken pulled from the back of her wardrobe. It wasn’t latex, it wasn’t even fashionable by today’s standards—but it had charm. The kind of charm that makes you smirk because you know you’re about to make something outdated look deadly cute. Ballet heels on sterile floor tiles? You bet. Ankha balanced herself with grace and a cheeky grin, holding on to the railing like a ballerina who swapped the stage for a stairwell.

Of course, this wasn’t just a random shoot. It was the 6-year anniversary of ballet-heels.com, and we wanted to honor the beginning of the project in a throwback look. I had to twist her arm a little to get her out of latex and into the vintage dress, but she finally gave in. One look at her legs laced up in black patent ballet boots and the pink flowers on white chiffon didn’t feel quite so innocent anymore. She still had the posture of someone who knows she owns the room—or the staircase, in this case.

But don’t be fooled. Ankha’s heart beats faster for latex these days. She’s already done several sets for latexperiment, and let’s just say the tight grip of a shiny catsuit suits her much better. Still, she played along for this one, gave us a smile, and pulled her leg up onto the handrail like it was nothing. Classic Ankha. A mix of elegance, sass, and a pinch of rebellion—wrapped in vintage fabric and standing tall on her toes.