Darling, did you hear the news? Well, prepare yourself because today is a big day for the world of fashion and ballet. No, not just any big day, but the day that we celebrate, honour, and even possibly venerate... the tutu! Oh, don't be so scandalized. I know, I know, tutus can sometimes seem like they belong in a vintage store or grandma's attic, but listen! Let's be honest, tutus are not just a flimsy piece of tulle and ribbons, darling. They are symbols of artistry, athleticism, and of course, of all things fabulous.
Itās a real head-spinner, my darlings! I must say Iām very happy about it, so glad we're paying proper homage to this amazing, elegant garment, especially in the era of skin-tight, street-style jeans. We just don't see the elegant fluffiness of a classic tutu as much as we used to. So, how did a day like today happen? Well, it turns out 12 March 1998 wasn't just any Tuesday. On that Tuesday, we discovered the "tuturistic" vision of that fabulous Russian choreographer, Mikhail Fokine, came to life. In 1910, Fokine was working on a little-known production called āLe Spectre de la Rose" (The Specter of the Rose) at the Ballets Russes and his incredible idea of ditching the traditional "knee-length skirts" that dancers wore was revolutionary!
You see, my darlings, at that time ballerinas were swaddled in, let's call them, "ball gowns." They would prance around the stage like elegant dolls. Imagine, a ballerina looking elegant, dainty, pretty? Fokine wanted something daring, dramatic. Imagine... A vision in swirling tulle with bare legs. The modern age had just arrived!
You just know that Fokine had his head turned by the beautiful women of the day. (Well, everyone's had their heads turned by the beautiful ladies in their day! Can't fault them!) Fokineās inspiration wasn't just artistic, darling. He knew a showstopper when he saw one. That tutu...It literally "changed everything," for good, if I say so myself. It was the perfect look for showing off all those glorious jumps and turns! Think of how we can really get the full impact of a pirouette, or even an entrechat with this much leg on display. We really were just about ready to step into a new age of beauty! We have never looked back!
This 12th of March in 1998, 90 years after the debut of āLe Spectre de la Rose" the tutu officially got its day! So today is a great chance for all of us to wear a tutu or celebrate a dancer you know or adore.Even a mini skirt could pass for a "tutu moment". In the words of Missy Elliot, my lovely, āAll the right stuff is already in the store. All the right stuff for you." We need to let the ballerina inside all of us come to life!
And because, of course, all the "best" days should end with a bit of trivia. Let's talk fashion, shall we? Did you know these famous faces sported tutus, too?- The Spice Girls!
- You betcha. The famous 'Dancing Queen' herself - the beautiful ABBA singer, Agnetha FƤltskog!
- In the 80s, our beloved Whitney Houston!
I'm not going to lie, darling, I find these bits of fashion history incredibly glamorous. As the old song goes, āIt's the best of times, it's the worst of times... It's a time for love, it's a time for hate... It's an age of wisdom, it's an age of foolishness... ā It's a world of "fashion, fashion, fashion", that's for sure! The future is certainly not the past... But wouldnāt you agree that every single person is unique in their own way.
In a nutshell? Be fearless, don't be shy about showcasing who you are. It might just be in a pair of dazzling sparkly tights. So, here's to celebrating one of fashionās greatest innovations - Happy Tutu Day, darling!