On: Our Favorite For Comfort And Style

Hayward has recently switched to On’s ‘Cloudzone Moon’ sneaker, co-created by Zendaya and stylist Law Roach, in a soft beige shade that mimics the tonality of the moon. It’s a switch-up for the dancer, who spends her days on stage wearing so many soft ballerina-pink colors and sparkly tiaras that wearing head-to-toe black off-stage has become her sartorial signature – it’s a playful duality that she embraces. Her on-stage persona is glamorous and hyper-feminine; but outside of work, her aesthetic has an urban edge. She prefers flats to heels and tends to go makeup-free, with the exception of evening events.

Ballet enables Hayward to embrace her multi-dimensional career and lifestyle. It’s a message she identifies with through On’s collaboration with Zendaya. “On is a high-performance brand, and Zendaya is a performer,” she says of the parallels between On and the Hollywood star’s exceptional talent and dedication to her craft. “It shows that you don’t have to compromise,” she says. “I want a kit that performs really well when I’m rehearsing, but also looks cool outside of the studio. I wear a lot of layers – and the pieces in this collection mean I don’t always have to get changed.”

Hayward’s favorite pieces include a cream tracksuit, which is cut to a cool and loosely boxy silhouette – the fabric is textured, which lends a refined, non-sports feel, while the shorts are roomy enough to enable real movement. “I don’t love wearing really tight pieces,” she says. “Athletic pieces are either too baggy and swallow you up, or really fitted. I love that I can layer the tracksuit over the bodysuit or a tank top, and wear it to walk to work and in the studio,” she says. “The fabric and shapes hang off the body really nicely.”

The On ‘Studio’ bodysuit is one of Hayward’s favorite pieces from the collection. Ballerinas wear leotards for a reason; they get lifted up during a pas de deux so often that they cannot wear shorts-and-top sets. “The fabric bunches up around the waist, which affects grip and we could get dropped,” she says. The bodysuit, in a moon-cream tone, offers a smart alternative to her typical rehearsal outfits of tights, a leotard, and a ballet skirt. “I’m going to wear the bodysuit with my ballet skirt; there’s no gap in the fabric for my partner’s hands to get caught.”

Ballet days are particularly grueling and labor-intensive, arguably more so than any other sport. Rehearsals start at 10am through to 5:30pm, followed by evening shows from 7:30-10:30pm – every single day during each performance season. It’s another example of duality. “As ballerinas, we have to exude grace, romance and effortlessness – to be soft and feminine – but the reality is grit, determination and physical strength. It demands so much from your body. That’s why what we wear is so important.”

Women like Zendaya, who also spend a long time in rehearsals, understand what women want to wear, explains Hayward. “The black bomber jacket was one of my favorites because it was a really great shape; it’s not enormously big but has structure, with a really elevated fabric.” She plans to wear hers with jeans, or slip it on over her bodysuit for her walks to work. “Zendaya is an artist who knows what women like me want to wear from the studio to the street.” And On is a brand that has perfected the art of giving you the best of both worlds – whatever your profession or sport of choice.

Raise the barre, with Francesca Hayward

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