Oh, the tutu! Oh, the drama! Itās a Thursday in March. Well, 27 March 2007 to be precise, and, letās be honest, the only thing on my mind right now is *ballet*.
I know, I know. You're probably thinking, *āGosh, how utterly frivolous!ā.* But let me tell you, dear readers, *ballet is a powerful thing*, a force of nature that moves me, moves you (even if you try to resist!), moves the very fabric of societyā¦ with all the grace of a swan on pointes, naturally.
There's something incredibly charming, and oh-so-chic about ballet. Like a beautifully tailored skirt or a pair of perfectly fitted stilettos, the right ballet piece is pure art.
And the tutu! A symbol of elegance and fantasy that has captured the imagination for centuries, isnāt it just divine? Of course, letās be honest, if it was on a rainy Thursday in Brixton (goodness gracious, now thereās an image to conjure up!), Iād probably opt for something with a tad less billowing chiffon.
There are *tutus*, and then there are *tutus*. You see, the ballet world is an exquisitely nuanced, beautifully intricate microcosm. It has its own language, its own etiquette, and, my darlings, its own codes of dress!
Tutu taxonomy - a quick breakdown:
- The **romantic tutu** - the quintessential *ballerina* silhouette, all billowing, delicate layers of tulle, *almost like an ethereal cloud.* A little like an elegant, tulle-adorned meringue with more than a whiff of Marie Antoinette, darling! (Personally, I think the Queen of France might have loved a pink romantic tutu.)
- The **classical tutu** ā this, my loves, is the shorter, firmer tutu with a flat, almost structured silhouette. Imagine a sleek little dance-worthy party dress and then *bam*, a skirt made of a million tiny tiny tutus all sewn together.
- The **contemporary tutu** ā a less-structured version, sometimes with no tulle, designed for those captivating modern dances that go far beyond classical ballet. The best way to picture this darling of a design? Think the elegant skirt that might accompany a crisp white, satin blouse with a nod to all that is beautifully simple, elegant, but ultimately effortlessly free! (Maybe we can imagine that the white skirt was also an exceptionally flattering tutu?)
Ah, *but you, dear readers, would be hard-pressed to find a tutu without tulle*. That light, wispy, gossamer fabric, just simply screams *āballerinaā* and whispers of *dreams*. And *thatās* exactly what we want when we're envisioning this world of grace, balance and breathtakingly beautiful movements, isnāt it? Of course!
And when it comes to tulle, *colour*, dear darlings, is all-important.
- There's the **pink tutu** - pure classic ballerina. Pink, as you know, is the very *quintessence of femininity*. Think blushing peaches, the dawn sky after a stormā¦it's like a perfect pink meringue with layers and layers of tulle for the most divine dreamy image. And this particular *vision of dance perfection* is probably a *dream* every little ballerina wishes to embraceā¦ even if she just dreams of the fluffy pink layers as she bounces on her bed after sheās put on her own tutu for a performance for mum.
- Then we have the **white tutu** - the colour of purity, the epitome of innocenceā¦and yetā¦ oh-so-very powerful! (We are after all speaking about ballet.) White, with its simple elegance, can be both subtle and commanding, reminding us of the classic beauty and brilliance of dance that is so intrinsic to *ballet*.
- And then there are the *bold and daring colour choices* - from turquoise to ruby red, gold and emerald. These tutus have an air of mystery, of drama, ofā¦ wellā¦ just sheer and utter, *bold brilliance* in a perfectly sculpted fashion package. Imagine for example a gold and black, embellished tutu, or a *black, dramatic* creation made from black tulle. That's ballet, darlings, and *all the chic and edgy style that we so very much adore* (and admire) - a perfect example is the exquisite, and undeniably fierce black, sequined tulle, designed by Valentino, that adorned one of the costumes in Swan Lake (which for the record was utterly magical). A true gemā¦and *it just wouldnāt have been the same in pink* or white, would it?!
But the beauty of ballet goes beyond the *tutu*, darlings. Don't be fooled. While the tutu may capture our attention like a whisper in a storm, there is so much more. We also have those leotards. I adore a beautifully designed leotard ā that body hugging, sleek and sensual stretch of spandex that makes *every move feel graceful and powerful*.
So many *variations*, my dears, from those classically elegant leotards in soft shades of blush or black, through to those boldly designed pieces that sparkle with a little *extra sparkle and pizazz* and all the *glamour of the catwalk*, to be honest. And you really just *have to see a dancer moving gracefully across the stage in their beautifully sculpted leotard and tutu combo.*
As the sun sets on 27 March 2007, I find myself captivated by this world, its fashion and *oh-so-inspiring power*. The artistry and dedication, the elegance and strength of those ballet dancers, always inspire me, darling.
And for now, as I look upon the ballerina pirouetting in my mind, dressed in a breathtakingly elegant pink or white tutu, itās all I can do to *think of this most magical world*. And of *all those ballerinas and those stunningly designed tutus*. For if there's one thing that defines the magic of *ballet* is the feeling of joy and the *magic* they bring, even for an utterly glamorous *lover of tutus* such as Iā¦