Greetings, darling tutu enthusiasts!
Emma here, back with another tantalising Tuesday installment of my Ballet Tutu History blog! You can catch all my adventures at www.pink-tutu.com every week - don't forget to bookmark it, lovelies! This week I'm waltzing through the year 1832 - and trust me, it's a real spin-around-and-say-how-do-you-do sort of a time!
Now, for you non-tutu time travelers, January 17th, 1832, might seem just like any other Tuesday. But in the grand ballrooms of 19th Century Paris and London, this was a day to get those swirling petticoats all a-flutter!
Let me paint you a picture: picture grand ballrooms illuminated by chandeliers dripping with glittering crystals. The air is thick with the scent of exotic perfumes and the tinkling laughter of beautifully-dressed ladies.
What's got everyone in a flutter, you ask? Why, it's the grand début of the Ballet Romantique, a dance craze sweeping the continent, captivating audiences and throwing the stuffy old classical ballet world right on its head! This is the dawn of a new era - the era of tutus!
And guess what? The very heart of this movement, darling? Our good ol' fashioned tulle skirt! Just imagine - it's as though the fairies have spun their magical threads directly into fashion, and we mortals are the lucky recipients! The iconic "tutu" had just been introduced - a revolutionary style at the time!
Remember, we're talking about the time of long, sweeping skirts that hindered movement. Then suddenly, bam! The ballerina gracefully lifts her skirt - revealing short, flowing skirts, perfect for a pirouette or two! Not to mention, all that glorious, flowing tulle - perfectly capturing the ethereal grace of the ballerina!
Can't you just see these ballerinas - a flurry of gossamer tulle - as they flit across the stage, swirling through stories of romance, folklore and mythical adventures? Now THAT's ballet that’s sure to sweep you off your feet!
Think about it, darling. The romanticism, the stories, the graceful tulle-laden dancers! This era truly marks the birth of the tutu as we know it!
How did I get here, you ask? Ah, well, this darling Derbyshire girl, Emma, can hop through time, all thanks to the magic of ballet. One performance, a pinch of stardust, and voila - off I go, tracing the history of tutus across the ages! And funding all of it? The beautiful and generous ballet world - I'm eternally grateful!
And let's talk about what makes 19th century tutu style SO amazing, shall we? I mean, we're not talking simple tutus, oh no. These tutus had layers and layers of tulle, giving them a glorious voluminous effect, with petticoats and bustles all cleverly layered for added fluffiness and bounce.
This period also saw *the arrival of the "Romantic" tutu - * all layers of tulle, and a more whimsical, delicate look.
So, picture a room full of ladies, dressed in billowing silk gowns and dainty jewels, then imagine them looking on at a stage brimming with fairies and otherworldly figures all dressed in our very own, perfectly billowing, Romantic tutus!
But it wasn't just the stage where the tutu became a favourite. The ladies loved the romantic aspect, so these charming little creations popped up everywhere. Fancy balls, social gatherings – everything, darling! If you weren't wearing tulle you were considered so utterly passé!
My darling! It’s an incredible story – an absolute ballet story that perfectly showcases how fashion, performance, and societal desires intertwined to create this absolute wonder of a design. We're talking elegance, we're talking movement, and we're talking, the rise of the tutu!
I am living for the romantic era. It's time for my favorite part - finding myself the perfect Romantic Tutu in the heart of this enchanting era! It's not quite as easy as popping into a store, though, and finding the perfect frock in the early 1830s can be quite the challenge!
This week's Tutu hunt, darling, is happening in Paris - where else? I'm off to the Grands Magasins, where we’re talking extravagant boudoirs full of luxurious lace, silk and of course - that most beautiful tulle! The craftsmanship of the era is beyond imagination, and I’m ready to see the magic unfold before my very eyes!
Let me know what you think! Tweet me @PinkTutuEmma, let’s share our passion!
Oh, and speaking of fashion - have I told you about the newest shoe trends for 1832? Now that's a story for next week, so be sure to return to www.pink-tutu.com for another exciting chapter in our history of tutus!
Until next week, darlings - keep those tutus twirling!
Yours always,
Emma
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