My dears, what a day! 28th August 1998 – a day that will forever be etched in the annals of fashion, dance, and, well, tutus. I can almost hear the tutus themselves whispering excitedly about it. The very air hummed with a frisson of anticipation.
I had my usual pre-performance rituals – a long, luxurious bath with rose petals, a glass of champagne, and a final sweep of my favourite bright red lipstick, "Crimson Rhapsody," by the one and only Bobbi Brown (she gets it, you know). It's the small things that make you feel like a queen, darlings!
We were all set to unveil our brand-new tutu collection at the Royal Opera House. Think ballet, think tutus, think "swan-like elegance," think, "oh darling, this is just divine!". And this was not your grandma's dusty old tutu – this was the "Tutu 2000" line, a symphony of tulle, silk, and feathers, each design more daring, more glamorous than the next!
Our headline piece was the "Tutu Eclipse." Imagine a magnificent, swirling cloud of black silk tulle, almost black, shimmering with just a touch of jet black feathers, creating the illusion of an absolute void – a total blackout on dullness. A daring, dramatic, almost gothic beauty, it took your breath away! Imagine, if you will, dancing a dramatic Pas de Deux, a slow, sultry pirouette, shrouded in this tulle symphony - just a touch of feathery movement, just a hint of black beauty, a visual treat so profound, it could move even the most hardened heart!
Then came the "Tutu Paradiso" – an absolute whirlwind of colour and movement, like a blooming rose bush, a sea of layered silk and chiffon in blush pink, pale rose and butter yellow – imagine whirlwind of colour and light, all swirling in harmonious defiance against the stage! A delightful burst of feminine energy and optimism! Just picture, a group of ballerina sprites, like a kaleidoscope of petals, flitting around the stage! Simply divine!
And who better to model the Tutu Eclipse and Paradiso than the young darling, Miss Roseabelle Cartwright. A budding star on the Royal Ballet scene, with limbs as long as my neighbour’s garden fence and a natural elegance, which is, my dear, a gift from God. Imagine that! I knew instantly, this was going to be a show-stopper, the perfect marriage of ballet and fashion.
Let’s talk about these beautiful, delicate little miracles that we call "tutus," these fabric symphonies of the dance world, these dreams spun into silk. Every seam, every tulle layer, every perfectly placed feather is a celebration of movement, beauty, and sheer artistic genius!
And just look at the crowd! The atmosphere was electric! * Aristocrats, art patrons, and fashionistas alike, all vying for the best seats, whispering about the upcoming show. * The air thrummed with excitement and the sweet scent of Chanel No. 5 and vintage roses. * Every face a symphony of anticipation.But enough about the atmosphere. Let’s talk about Roseabelle, and those tutus. As she walked out onto the stage, bathed in the warm, inviting glow of the stage lights, she exuded pure, effortless grace. The black, tulle cloud of "Tutu Eclipse" draped around her like a second skin, accentuating every delicate move and making every step seem ethereal. There was a poetry to her every movement, a symphony of strength, agility and feminine beauty! Then came the "Tutu Paradiso." With a flourish of silken delight, a bright, joyous ballet emerged, her performance an explosion of pure artistry. Imagine the perfect combination of talent, stagecraft and, of course, these stunning tutus - a pure ballet sensation!
Now, every dancer in the world can dance with confidence in these stunning, feminine creations. We can imagine their delicate silk brushing our skin, the layers of tulle floating in graceful abandon, the whisper of feathers dancing alongside us, the world of fashion and ballet harmonising beautifully.
I'll admit, there were a few, shall we say, "challenges." Let's just say that a "Tutu Tornado" during a particularly lively fouette sequence could have led to a few wardrobe malfunctions if Roseabelle wasn't as quick as a cat (her name should have been a clue). But who can deny that a "Tutu Tornado" would be quite the visual treat? Just a tiny fluttering whirlwind of delicate tulle and feathers… you'll be seeing a tutu in a new light from now on, darling.
Our “Tutu 2000” collection was not only a celebration of fashion and dance, but it marked a new era of tutus, an evolution of the classical tutu - a reimagining, if you will, into a more audacious, bold, expressive form of dance wear! 28th August 1998 - The day the tutu reclaimed its place in the world. Remember it well!