The romantic tutu is composed of three to five layers of a light, often sheer, fabric. It falls just above the ankle and is designed to appear airy and light. The romantic tutu's skirt sits at the waist. The romantic tutu with basque is a similar version with the skirt beginning just below the waist.
The Balanchine tutu, sometimes called the powder puff tutu and the platter tutu are the most common classical tutus in use today. The classical tutu style started off at a length that ended just below the knee, but over time, has been greatly shortened to show off a dancer's leg and foot work. The Balanchine tutu is much softer in appearance than the platter tutu. Both designs jut out around the dancer's waist, allowing the full length of the leg to be seen.
The bell tutu is shaped loosely like a bell. It is shorter than the romantic tutu and does not employ a hoop to keep its shape. The bell tutu is similar in shape to the first classical tutus worn in the 1880s.
It was probably inevitable that such a beautiful and iconic piece of dancewear, like the tutu, would steal the hearts and imaginations of little girls the world over. It is for this reason that tutus have become widely available for purchase and are no longer exclusively for the ballet dancer. Retailers, like Tutu Moi, provide beautifully hand crafted tutus for young children in a variety of styles and colors.