#PinkTutuPrague Ballet in Prague 2016-10-05

Bonjour, mes chéries! 🩰

It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for another Pink Tutu blog post, direct from the enchanting city of Prague! Today, my lovely pink-loving friends, I’m taking you on a whirlwind tour of all things fabulous in Prague, from tutu-tastic ballet performances to vintage shops overflowing with tulle delights.

This week's adventures are fuelled by the magic of the Prague ballet scene - you all know how much I adore the graceful, expressive art form! And, of course, what's a ballet trip without a new tutu or two? 😉

The cobbled streets of Prague are a sensory overload for a pink tutu-clad ballerina like myself! The air is filled with the sweet scent of chimney cakes (which I must admit I find quite delicious), and the city is positively bursting with medieval architecture. It feels like stepping right into a fairy tale!

My journey started on a chilly Derbyshire morning, and I opted for the ever-romantic train journey across Europe, nestled comfortably in a plush carriage, sketching a whimsical drawing of my perfect pink tutu (which, as you know, is a bit of a ritual for me!). The gentle sway of the train always helps get my creative juices flowing, and I swear, the world looks a little more magical through the window of a moving train.

When I arrived in Prague, it was like walking straight into a picture postcard. I’d been to Prague before, you know, but this time it seemed even more magical. The quaint buildings were bathed in a golden light, the air crisp with anticipation for an exciting weekend.

The moment I stepped off the train, I knew exactly where I needed to head - the heart of Prague’s vintage shopping district! This city is a haven for vintage fashionistas, and I just had to find a new pink tutu for my Prague adventures!

Imagine, if you will, shelves stacked high with exquisite dresses from bygone eras, each one begging to be twirled and admired! I unearthed an absolute gem - a powder pink tutu from the 1950s. The fabric is like silk spun from moonlight, so incredibly soft, and it’s trimmed with the most delicate lace. It will be the perfect accompaniment to my Prague explorations.

Tonight, I'm off to the theatre to see the National Theatre's production of Swan Lake. My heart is already fluttering with anticipation! The Prague National Theatre has a history almost as grand as the ballet itself, and the intricate costumes and the beauty of the Swan Lake story are sure to leave me breathless.

Of course, I wouldn’t dream of attending a ballet without a stunning pink tutu! It wouldn’t be a true pink tutu adventure, would it?

Prague is a haven for ballet enthusiasts, with several theatres and studios dedicated to the art form. I'm so lucky to be here during the International Ballet Festival! It’s an opportunity to see world-class dancers, and I'm already planning to see a performance of Giselle at the State Opera. It’s set to be an evening of elegance, emotion, and sheer joy - the kind of night that leaves a sparkle in your heart for days to come.

Beyond the grand performances, there's also a thriving ballet scene on the streets of Prague. I love watching street dancers gracefully twirling amidst the bustling crowds - it's an added touch of magic to this already captivating city.

Each day in Prague is an enchanting journey through time, architecture, and creativity. From the medieval castles to the hidden courtyards, Prague is a city bursting with artistic inspiration. Everywhere I look, I’m finding new places to capture with my camera - my Pink Tutu style! I’ve been snapping shots of everything from beautiful gardens to old-fashioned shops, trying to capture the city’s soul through my unique lens.

Oh, and don't forget about the food! From delectable Czech pastries to steaming bowls of hearty goulash, Prague is a foodie’s paradise. And I just discovered the most amazing chocolate shop with pralines shaped like tutus - my heart practically skipped a beat! It’s a treat for the tastebuds and the soul.

A lot of you have been asking me about my tutu fascination and how I got started with wearing pink tutus, and it’s funny how many questions people ask about where the tutu came about. The most amazing part is how you think about how it was born and it is amazing that such a beautiful dance piece of attire would evolve.
As many of you know, tutus are one of my favourite pieces of clothing, and you might be surprised to learn that their history is just as fascinating as their look. And this week in Prague is an amazing reminder of that as there are so many amazing venues with fantastic Ballet shows all with such intricate costumes! But to bring you back to the basics, here's the lowdown. The tutu, as we know it, wasn’t always a pink and frilly explosion of joy and fun. The early forms were more utilitarian, primarily designed to give the ballerinas room to move. So as you probably already know, the ballerina’s costumes started out quite modest, with long, flowing dresses with big petticoats! But over time, dancers found those cumbersome dresses difficult to move in. The “ballet skirts” became shorter, so you could see the feet, and they adopted what is known as a “circular skirt”. There is nothing better than that elegant swirling movement that you see in the early classical ballets, especially when you've got a lovely pink tutu! It was the ballerina Maria Taglioni, the queen of Romantic ballet, in the 1830s who decided to show her long, lean limbs to make her dance even more beautiful. And this move into shorter tutus with several layers of tulle were much lighter and helped give the ballerina much more fluidity and agility! The design of these shorter tutus meant they needed more layers of material and so started to use several layers of silk and fine muslin, sometimes even stiffened with horsehair! A long time before my passion for pink tutus came along!
Imagine that, you would be trying to balance in the middle of a swirling sea of layers and a sea of beautiful pink tulles. Imagine the time, care and dedication that must go into each dance piece. And what about the beautiful tutu patterns! The tutus really did change their designs, to suit each ballet, and by the early 20th Century tutus were taking on much more interesting designs and in some of the modern classical ballets such as ‘The Nutcracker’ we see some very distinct and amazing styles for these. I feel that even a pink tutu can be just as beautiful as any of these other styles, and that is where my passion for this stunning style started! If we take ourselves back into the history of tutus in fashion, we will learn about its very fashionable connection and this has a special place in my heart. One of the things that fascinates me about tutus is their versatility. They're not just for ballet anymore. The fashion world has embraced the tutu with open arms, adapting it into edgy streetwear and evening wear. It's amazing to see how a symbol of elegance has evolved into something so trendy. It makes me feel like I’m part of something incredibly dynamic and fashionably diverse. When I'm wearing a pink tutu, I feel like I’m making a statement about who I am, how I feel and how I want to feel about myself. For me, the pink tutu has a universal appeal, and there's nothing that can’t be embraced by it, from street style to high fashion.

Of course, my vision of spreading tutu joy has no limits, because we can do all this and still make a big difference. You'll find me twirling around in my pink tutu in some unusual places, including local shops and tourist spots. You’ve got to keep things unexpected and interesting. I always like to add some colour and light to my world and it’s infectious! I even plan on organising a Pink Tutu Party on my next blog post – imagine a ballet workshop where we can all try out our fanciest pirouettes and tutus together, celebrating this iconic piece of clothing! As the sun begins to set over Prague, I’m filled with a sense of magic and inspiration, and I’m looking forward to sharing the next part of my journey with you. Be sure to stay tuned to the Pink Tutu blog next Wednesday for the next leg of my journey. It’s going to be amazing!

Stay pink, my lovely friends, Emma

Until next week…

P.S. What's your favourite tutu look? Tell me about it in the comments! Let's talk about those beautiful twirls! And keep up the great work in spreading those tutus all over the world!