Tutu and Ballet News

Dearest darlings, it's your favourite fashion-forward ballerina, Brenda here, bringing you all the latest from the world of dance, fashion, and well, tutus. Because, let's face it, what else is there to talk about, right? It's September 24th, 1996, the day the Spice Girls dropped their album 'Spiceworld', and the world was obsessed with denim and leopard print, and yes, of course, my dearest tutu-obsessed followers, those glorious garments that make a dancer look so exquisitely divine. I was attending a most delightful ballet performance at the Royal Opera House last night, and let me tell you, it was positively enchanting! The dancers were practically glowing with their every move, their graceful forms draped in, you guessed it, tutus. Now, I know, some of you may be thinking tutus are passé, darling. Out of style. I beg to differ. They are as chic as ever, just ask Chanel, Dior, and every fabulous fashion icon from the golden age of Hollywood. A tutu is a timeless piece.

But anyway, back to my wonderful ballet. The piece was about the trials and tribulations of a young dancer. It was actually quite dramatic. In one particular scene, this young ballerina is trying on her pointe shoes when, horror of horrors, her tutu rips. Oh the agony! The choreographer has used some clever lighting to illuminate her desperation at this misfortune.

But I digress... my dears, this wasn't any old tutu - oh no! This was a **perfectly pom-pommed** tutu in **pastel pink** and adorned with **dainty silk flowers.** This exquisite tutu just cried out for the stage and would have made even Margot Fonteyn whistle in appreciation. Now *that's* what I call fabulous, darling.

It was at that moment, that the ballerina, with such elegance and poise, grabbed some leftover tulle fabric from backstage. She pulled it around her, in an effort to cover up the unfortunate mishap. I think we can all relate, to a sudden outfit malfunction and having to use ingenuity and quick wit to repair the damage, yes, darlings? The ballerina, to her eternal credit, managed to fix the rip, though not quite perfectly, but let's face it - *it* happens! The tutu then magically transformed into a most fetching **ruffled creation** and well, it actually made the audience gasp!

You could say, it was a total **tutu-miracle** if you will.

That made me think, it was the *perfect* moment for an "ask the fashionista" section - don't you think? So I posed a question to the audience: *What do you think makes the perfect tutu*? Well, my dear friends, the audience, bless their fluffy cotton socks, was very engaged. They shared their favourite tutus and why they thought these tutu's were such works of art!

The ladies who had come to enjoy the ballet were very vocal on the subject! We discussed *the history of tutus* (I always love sharing little titbits on this subject, did you know that originally ballerinas were expected to dance in flowing, classical dress and it wasn't until the mid 19th century that the "tutu" became popular as we know it today, thanks to Marie Taglioni!). The group got really excited and the chatter escalated with, ***Is a classic tutu, like the one worn by Margot Fonteyn in the iconic photo of her leaping through the air, really the best tutu? ** or **is it the one-tier, romantic tutu with a lot of movement as popularized in *Swan Lake* ? ** and the conversation then took off - just like a feathered tutu at a party... or is it that tutus at a party can be a bit chaotic? Who knows!

Of course we had to cover some of the finer points of tutu-dom and debate what is the correct colour for a tutu!

  • Some loved a classic tutu in *white* with a subtle **lilac ribbon** tied round the waistband. A white tutu will *never* go out of fashion and it makes for the most dazzling display on stage. I absolutely adore the delicate, classic simplicity. It makes a ballet dancer look breathtaking and **enchanting.**
  • Others said a tutu is *always* more fashionable if it's **black! ** A classic black tutu. If we want to consider the origins of ballet (let's be frank - it comes from Italy, a country renowned for fashion and elegance!) A tutu in black, black like an inkwell, is utterly divine and adds a sophisticated charm to any dance.

  • Then there were a few others in the audience, (my dears, we were talking a mix of dance enthusiasts and just fabulous women in general! This audience wasn't made up just of * ballet cognoscenti* I like to think we all have * a little bit* of the ballerina in us - don't you agree?). These folks favoured a **bright, vivid colour,** which made some of the audience shriek. Personally, I would never recommend wearing such a loud colour onstage. But hey, what do I know, fashion can be a risky and daring thing, I guess.

Now, dear readers, I really do love tutus. I think they're elegant, whimsical, and make you feel like a princess. Maybe even a goddess. In fact, I might go get myself a tutu, to add to my ever-expanding dance wear collection! It's quite a struggle keeping up, and if you don't do it well you can end up with something which looks like the "grand mother" of all tutu's, so to speak - it's been re-fashioned and sewn, so many times, it has taken on the *identity* of a creature, like a large moth or even an extinct dinosaur - perhaps a Tyrannosaurus rex - now *that* is quite something. I might wear it to the next theatre show, I'm really not sure. What do you think my darlings, shall I get my **"tutu-ing" on**?

I must run. You know the life of a fashion-obsessed ballerina. It's a very busy life, always a new trend to consider and to wear!

In the meantime, go have a wonderful day - keep your tutus on a good hanger and be sure to wear them with pride - as I am.

Ciao, ciao!