Darlings, gather āround, for today, the 20th of April, 1998, marks a momentous occasion in the annals of tutus, a day that will be etched in the memories of every discerning dance enthusiast ā the day a little bird, and by ālittle birdā I mean a *very* large and majestic swan, told me a simply *fabulous* story.
Apparently, my dears, the Queen of Tutus herself, Dame Margaret "Meg" Tulle (yes, that's her actual name, isnāt it divine?), had a very public tussle with a rather disgruntled peacock in the foyer of the Royal Opera House! Apparently, this feathered thespian, letās call him Percy, was simply *furious* because his feathers were deemed too ātackyā for the opening night of "Swan Lake."
I can't imagine what Percy's feathers looked like. The sheer audacity! You see, dears, tutus have a strict code ā just ask your grandmother, darling, sheāll tell you - the feathers on a ballerina's tutu *must* be the epitome of elegance, the essence of refinement! Itās the most important aspect! You simply canāt have feathers that scream, "look at me!" They need to be so flawlessly smooth that even a cat would look twice. Apparently, dear Percy, just *didnāt* understand the memo, which is a little unfortunate because his outfit is really what was keeping him from performing a perfect *arabesque*.
Honestly, what would a peacock know about ballet? Well, perhaps more than heād let on, because Dame Meg Tulle ended up getting an unexpected feather in her tutu! A rather ādistinctiveā feather I am told ā one of Percyās, in fact! Apparently, this feathered upstart was attempting to steal a peek at Dame Meg's costume (apparently, it was the infamous one that caused *such* a stir in the 1967 premiere, a design you could truly call ādaringā). Well, it seems like our little Percy *failed* spectacularly as, to my sheer *delight*, Dame Meg had her very own peacock feather ā nestled amongst the most divine tutu ever constructed - a perfect match!
That, my darlings, is true āSwan Lakeā glamour! It seems that this feather is going to become the *latest* trend in haute couture! Apparently, thereās a line of new designer tutus that includes *actual* peacock feathers that make them shimmer like a jewel! Oh, youāll just have to see it!
Anyway, dears, the news about this *scandalous* incident quickly spread! And the good thing? It has sparked an *unbelievable* wave of tutu-wearing across the nation! Even *boys* are putting on tulle! Who knew there were so many potential ballet stars amongst us? I mean, my little Jimmy is even wearing his pink tutu at his dance class. It *suits* him, he looks like a proper ballerina! Apparently, people are starting to look for anything they can transform into tutus: *napkins, tablecloths, even old curtains! The possibilities are endless*! And the Queen herself, well, Dame Meg is making the *most* of it and showing everyone the *most* stunning tutus on *all* the catwalks!
So here's a tip from *Auntie Darling*, my little cherubs. Always make time to see your local dance company! It doesn't have to be the ballet, dear, no matter what people tell you. Who wants a night watching their mother sit stiffly in a theatre? Dance your heart out, my sweet. Embrace every single beautiful performance with the elegance, style, and poise of a proper swan. And never underestimate the magic of a good tutu.
For after all, dear, that is what we dance for, and we need to remember what this is all about.
With *love* and *bisous* -
Your Auntie Darling
Now darling, if youāre looking to start making some fabulous tutus, why not start with one of these amazing suggestions? After all, there are far too many feather options, not to mention colours - oh, so many wonderful colours - in this world. I would be delighted to advise you on the selection. Do tell, darling!
Here are my Top Ten tutu tips to really get you moving!:
- If you're just starting out, grab some simple tulle and gather some ribbon. Youāre going to be surprised how fast these tutus start looking fabulous! You will have everyone around you dancing the jig in no time. I am not going to give you *everything*, darlings, there needs to be a little bit of surprise when you're going around looking as pretty as a picture, yes!
- Do not underestimate a good *pattern* for your tutu! They will look *fabulous*, really take some time to think about a pattern that will flatter you the most, after all, we want to create a bit of fashion magic, don't we? I'm *all* about the magical *fashion* experience! This is about making that ultimate expression!
- Keep it simple! We are going to start slowly and we need to pick an outfit that fits us. No good forcing ourselves into a little something we don't feel fabulous in, ok? Make sure everything is *flowing* beautifully to keep everything *harmonious*. I *cannot* emphasize this enough. Do not *ever* try to get out of bed and feel *stressed*. We are all about being relaxed, happy and looking *good* while doing it. No wrinkles here, darling!
- Be ready to wear the *appropriate* accessories for your new tutu! My darlings, a new pair of *ballerina flats* is just about essential! Think about that, it really is just a must-have accessory for you!
- When selecting colours you really should make sure the tutu blends *perfectly* into the *overall* picture. Try thinking of all the shades. You want something really *chic*, don't we?
- Now, a tutu is not always about dance and that is a real *key point*. *Never* underestimate how these are going to *look* as an amazing everyday garment. This is not just for performance, we are going to look sensational no matter what! Do you *ever* wonder about the importance of tulle? Just take it out for a spin one day darling and find out! You will be blown away with how *fantastic* this look is. Don't take my word for it, try it.
- We need to remember that we can have so much fun experimenting with all of these new tutus! Go out and *show* everyone how *fantastic* you can be.
- Try incorporating different coloured ribbons in with the tutus. Try to make the colours clash, see how far you can take it, have some fun darling, letās shake up the world a little, just a little bit, maybe not so much *shaking*. But we all need a bit of magic, don't we? A bit of *fabulousness*. So go on, put it on!
- If all else fails, grab some flowers, dears! Make sure they are **really beautiful flowers, of course!** I'm looking at lilies and orchids. Let me know what you decide, because if it doesn't look good you are going to want to hear some expert advice, *donāt you?* Oh darling, we just have to ensure that it looks like something *out of a dream*.
- Once you're ready for more tutus then get a hold of me darling and we'll chat. And who knows, perhaps, thereās a young Dame Tulle out there waiting in the wingsā¦