Hello darlings! It’s Emma, your resident pink tutu-loving time-traveller, ready to take you on another whirl through history! This month, we're going back to March 3rd, 1886 - a date filled with excitement, beauty, and, of course, ballet!
I’ve been absolutely obsessed with the elegance of ballet from the 19th century, and this time period is bursting with fabulous inspiration. Think romantic storylines, gorgeous costumes, and those perfectly delicate movements!
Now, let me tell you about my trusty companion – Magic Meg. She’s a pure pink shimmering Shire, with golden hooves, a magnificent white mane and tail, and the gentlest eyes you ever did see. She’s my ride to any time period I need to be in! I love her to pieces, and she adores our pink-hued tutus, naturally.
Today’s trip to 1886 took us all the way to the Opéra Garnier in Paris. Talk about fabulous! It was so exciting seeing the ballet performances in such an amazing space!
The opera house was an absolute delight. The chandelier is magnificent and the decor was utterly lavish. I spotted a woman in a pink silk dress with her partner in a blue frock coat – very glamorous, don’t you think? They looked right out of a ballet scene, but better yet, they looked like they stepped out of a fashion magazine! The ladies here wear some incredible outfits, especially the opera glasses; my favourite detail was that they're adorned with colourful feathers.
But wait, there’s more!
On this particular date in 1886, the Paris Opéra was hosting Giselle, one of the most popular and heart-wrenching ballets of the era! You’ll never guess what? I actually bought a copy of the original choreography for my Ballet Backpack, which is a little leather rucksack that I strap onto Meg's back. It's filled with all kinds of goodies from the past, like a hand-stitched pointe shoe and even an old program from the show. I feel a little silly admitting it, but I might have taken a sneak peak and twirled a bit on the stage. It just felt right, don't you agree?
And for the fashion enthusiasts like myself, the Paris Opéra was a total inspiration. The ladies’ tutus were beautiful - delicate fabrics in soft pinks, peach and ivory colours. So romantic! You see, the fashions from the past offer such elegant details that we could adapt for our modern pink-tutu wardrobes. How about adding some feathers to a modern tutu? That’s something I’m working on, you know.
I also went for a little peek into a local ballet school. I'd heard so much about the famous dancing school here and it didn't disappoint. These ballerinas worked so hard - and in tiny tutus with those intense toe shoes! I nearly got caught sneaking in. That wouldn’t have been a good look.
Let’s talk a bit more about those delicate pointe shoes. Can you imagine wearing them every day? Those women are truly fearless! I tried them on briefly and you can feel your entire foot being strengthened, you’ll be so toned and sculpted, no wonder these ballet dancers have the strongest calves!
I’ll leave you with a piece of wisdom I picked up from the 1886 ballet dancers I met – they taught me that every pirouette and every arabesque, even if we're not quite graceful enough yet, are a tiny, beautiful victory. And of course, there is never, ever a time for boring tights! Remember to make time for ballet and find your perfect pink tutu, you gorgeous ballerinas. And as always, keep twirling, dear friends!
Until next month,
Emma xx
P.S. You can join me in our wonderful pink tutu-loving community at www.pink-tutu.com. Come tell me your favourite stories about ballet! I love hearing from you! Don’t forget, every ballet enthusiast can be a time traveller – all it takes is a bit of imagination, a love for the history of dance and, of course, the perfect pink tutu!
*Stay fabulous and keep twirling! 💖🩰 *
