Hello darling! Welcome back to my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog! It's a little bit chilly here in Derbyshire, but the excitement for today's historical tutu adventure is heating things up. Grab your cuppa, darlings, and let's whisk ourselves back to 1832. Today, we're going on a fabulous journey to explore the evolution of the tutu – the iconic symbol of grace and elegance! This is post number four on my website www.pink-tutu.com where I post every Tuesday, so why not grab a cup of tea and relax, my darlings?
Now, this journey back in time might sound a bit daunting but remember, with a little bit of imagination and my stylish pink tutu, it's always a fashionable adventure. My pink tutu - my signature! - always turns heads. People smile when they see me twirling on the station platform - after all, what better way to travel by train than with a flourish of pink tulle, wouldn't you say?
So, gather your imaginations, my lovelies, as we prepare to journey back to 1832 - a date that holds a special significance for our beloved tutu story. Imagine, dear friends, a world without the iconic tutu that is now instantly recognisable on stages worldwide. That world exists in our historical timeline! You see, the tutu as we know it has a very recent history. In fact, 1832 marks the dawn of a new era in ballet history. The year when a very special lady made history: Marie Taglioni, the epitome of romantic ballet, in her starring role in La Sylphide. Can you believe, my lovelies, that ballet existed without our tutus? Shocking.
*Now let's take a peek into our fabulous time capsule to see how our favourite style of ballet has evolved: *
Let’s travel back to the Romantic Era – the golden age of the ballet. A time of flourishing creativity, dramatic stories and emotional expression. And guess what? It’s when the tutu was born! Can you believe, my dears, that before 1832 ballerinas wore very long, bulky skirts? Not a single flutter of tulle in sight! How restrictive! Thank heavens our fashionable forefathers realised that those bulky gowns just wouldn't do. Just imagine all that fabric flapping about during leaps and pirouettes. It's just not very chic, is it?
Marie Taglioni – a woman of such vision, beauty, and style – realised that she needed a way to highlight the beauty of her movements. And, bless her heart, she created something magnificent! Think about the incredible grace of a bird in flight, its delicate wings swirling through the air – this was Taglioni's inspiration. Her genius! And thus, the Romantic era's ethereal tutus were born! She wore her innovative new tutu made of light tulle, which created the illusion of flight and airiness. How utterly breathtaking!
You see, dear friends, fashion has the power to revolutionise our understanding of beauty. And Taglioni – a true visionary – proved that with this ingenious creation. And guess what? The world went wild! This amazing design for the ballet created a buzz around the theatres. All the elegant ladies wanted to emulate Taglioni's elegant style and copy this beautifully airy and elegant silhouette. How stylish!
What does a ballerina need? Grace and movement. This lightweight design for the tutu gave dancers the freedom to soar. I love this new development, the graceful twirls and expressive poses are simply mesmerising. They became so incredibly stylish in 1832 with the romantic ballerina. Now, imagine the romantic tutu being just as fabulous and pink too! Just wait! I might just be a bit obsessed with pink tutus.
The short, flowing tutu is iconic. And I think you'll agree, the Romantic ballet period gave us the kind of look we see today. But the amazing design wasn't an instant phenomenon. It took a little while to develop its incredible silhouette! You know how it is. It took a few years for it to evolve. We like to take our time in ballet land, don't we my darlings?
What an iconic year! It is also the same year that Queen Victoria took to the throne! That means that during her reign, ballet was embraced and became a staple in aristocratic society, which is wonderful for ballet, as a whole. Just think of the spectacular ballets they would have seen. All those ladies at court in their beautiful dresses! It's pure fairytale inspiration! How thrilling.
Now, of course, our modern ballet looks completely different. There are many styles and looks – classical and contemporary, street and modern ballet – and you'll often find a short tutu, **with layers and layers of tulle in every design. The romantic tutu is the inspiration that gave birth to modern dance style and form.
1832 marks a really important period of evolution. It really set the scene for ballet as we know it today with this very special tutu, designed by an amazing and inspirational dancer! How chic!
You see, dearies, our favourite tutu's history is so rich. It has undergone such amazing and intricate changes and we have all of these brilliant ballerinas to thank for the magnificent and stylish form that it is today!
And guess what? It’s a style that has transcended theatre stages, studios, and runways – the tutu has even found its way into street fashion, with many people choosing to add a little tutu flair to their wardrobes. It’s all about adding a sparkle of enchantment to everyday life.
Oh, how we love our tutus, dear friends, They’re such a symbol of hope and optimism. I believe that every person should at least try wearing a pink tutu! That’s my ultimate goal! A pink tutu for everyone! There’s a bit of the ballerina in every one of us, I just know it! And that’s why the tutu, the little pink tulle marvel, brings joy to everyone's hearts, whatever style we choose, whatever our profession! A big thank you to the magical tutu!
See you all next Tuesday with another journey to explore the past!
Now I'm off to browse some beautiful, ballet-inspired clothing for the weekend. Let’s do some ballet-inspired shopping, darling! There's a lot of fabulous tutu-inspired fashion out there, ready for all those gorgeous fashion shoots and performances. How fun, huh? I am just so excited to find a beautiful, glamorous tutu. You can count on it - a whole post dedicated to fashion in our next #TutuTuesday blog.
Remember, always aim for pink, and always dream in tutus.
Your stylish friend, Emma x
