Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu! This month, I'm whisking you back in time to a truly special date, 6th June 1728! Let me tell you, it was a ballet bonanza of a trip, filled with frills, flounces and just a hint of history…
Now, as you all know, my passion is for all things ballet, and especially those fabulous pink tutus! So imagine my delight when Magic Meg, my beautiful pink shire horse with her golden hooves and flowing white mane, deposited me right outside the Palais Royal in Paris, 1728. Talk about a dream setting for a budding ballerina!
Right from the moment I dismounted, I could feel the energy buzzing! I was straight into the heart of a glittering scene, as elegant Parisians in powdered wigs and silk gowns strolled by. Even though we're talking about a time when the word “ballet” hadn’t quite been invented, dance was already blooming in this grand city, full of theatrical passion!
This time period was so very different from our modern world! Ballet was in its early stages, blossoming from courtly dances to elaborate ballets. It was all about elaborate costumes, incredible technical feats, and storytelling on the stage, a real treat for the eyes!
It was amazing to see the origins of what we now recognise as ballet, how they wore these intricate, elegant costumes. Forget about Lycra and tights, in 1728, it was all about layers of fabric, panniers, and opulent brocades, giving the dancers these magnificent shapes! Imagine – big hoops to give them a regal shape, laced with ribbons and intricate patterns that would dazzle and fascinate. These were definitely not the minimalist styles of today!
Oh, and have I mentioned the jewellery? Jewels! Gems! Headdresses that shimmered and glistened under the soft candlelight, creating a spectacle that must have been just magical. They were, you see, creating ballet fashion that would set the stage for the decades to come, and we were lucky to be a part of it.
As for me, well, you know I love to stand out! Imagine a ballet fan of today in the past! I definitely had all eyes on me, not least with my signature pink tutu. Of course, no one wore them back then! It’s like time-travelling with a bright beacon that lights up the historical ballet world! I even picked up a few pieces from my ballet backpack - a pretty silken ribbon from the time to add to my collection and a beautiful old ballet program! It’s truly one of the greatest joys of travelling to these amazing historical eras and discovering the ballet jewels they hold!
The star of the show during my time travel trip was a fascinating young woman named Marie Camargo, one of the pioneers of ballet, who danced at the Paris Opera Ballet in 1728. A true star, she brought the grace and artistry that truly launched ballet as the performing art it is today. Just as captivating today, it's impossible not to be in awe of the poise and talent she brought to the stage back then.
On 6th June 1728, Camargo performed in a ballet called 'Le Ballet des Filles,' and let me tell you, it was truly captivating. A story filled with love, intrigue and even a dash of humor, which left the audience utterly enthralled. Even the king was there, enjoying every intricate step! It truly solidified her place as one of the most famous dancers of the time, and I'm so lucky I got to experience a part of that moment in time!
The passion and energy in that performance just resonated, as though time had been woven together through the dancing! And there I was, taking in the entire scene in my signature pink tutu. It really set the tone for my trip - an exciting collision of fashion and ballet history that felt so surreal!
From here I set off on another fabulous fashion journey! To truly immerse myself in 1728 fashion, I travelled through the busy streets, exploring the charming shops and workshops. Imagine, every silk scarf, every lace ruffle, was a delicate handcraft – pure magic in motion.
I felt inspired to create something truly unique back at my studio – a ballet collection that celebrates that time in history and its fashion. It will have these gorgeous flowing silks, sparkling embroidery and lots of pretty pinks. Who knows, perhaps we’ll see tutus for every day as well, from ballet classes to fancy evenings! Maybe a little bit of 1728 magic can inspire our ballet fashions!
Just one thing that was a bit of a shock - no pink in fashion back then! So it was a little strange wearing a tutu and pink leggings when all around was the elegance of powdered wigs and white silk and delicate laces, which is so, so lovely! It was a fun challenge, though. Maybe I can make pink the colour of the future of ballet, from tutu's to leotards, to shoes and fashion?
As you can imagine, my heart is full of excitement, and my ballet collection is overflowing with inspired new designs. Oh, and the new pink ballet shoe designs I bought from one of Paris’ top cobblers... Don’t forget, pink always makes my life and our ballet trips so much more fun!
I've just returned to Derbyshire, England, back to my beautiful pink tutu studio. Now I’m looking forward to sharing all the tales and trinkets with my dancers. They're my favorite bunch - always up for some new inspiration.
And don't forget - my next Pink Tutu post comes out on [insert date], so stay tuned, and make sure you're ready to travel through time!
Until then, dance your heart out!
Love and pirouettes,
Emma xx
