Ahoy, my dears! Emma here, back again for another installment of #TutuTuesday on your favourite ballet blog, pink-tutu.com.
This week, let's travel back to 21st August 1832. It's a Tuesday, which is quite fitting as it's time for our weekly peek into the world of ballet tutus, right?
Hold onto your pointe shoes, girls! This time, we're diving into the origins of the iconic tutu, back when the Parisian stages were starting to witness the change from voluminous gowns to something, well, rather shorter.
Think of this era like your favourite historical costume drama. Think lace, bonnets, gloves, corsets, and an abundance of fabrics, darling! The ladies would wear multiple layers to create an elegant silhouette, a grand statement of fashion. Ballet, at this time, wasn't far behind! The early days of the tutu weren't exactly a single layer, airy whisper of tulle we see today. Instead, think about those glorious long dresses from your favourite Jane Austen movie. Ahem And the only reason we're talking about the ballet this week, is because it was this day, in 1832, that the French dancer Marie Taglioni took the stage in La Sylphide.
This production, dears, became legendary in the history of ballet. It's remembered for so much, but let's just focus on the fashion. Marie Taglioni changed ballet with this performance, as it was her design for La Sylphide that moved the skirt from knee-length, to, gasp!, ankle-length!
Can you believe it, ladies? That was a radical change!
This dance became an overnight sensation! The audiences adored this style, and La Sylphide began a slow, yet beautiful transformation, revolutionising the look of the ballerina. This wasn't simply about aesthetics either. As you can imagine, moving on the stage was far easier with a less restrictive skirt! We, the lucky ballerinas, now have an elegant garment designed to make our moves more effortless!
This day was huge, not just for the advancement of dance fashion, but also because it helped spark a growing focus on the movement and artistry of the dance itself, beyond the elaborate spectacle of the early years.
Isn't it lovely that our lovely pink tutus were born from the passion for freedom in ballet?
Speaking of lovely pink tutus…
My travel adventures this week were incredible, dears! I decided to stay in a wonderful boutique hotel in London with a charming, little Parisian tea salon attached. They had the most delicate little cakes and some fabulous fashion shops. I absolutely fell in love with a gorgeous shade of pink dress that I couldn’t resist adding to my collection! I might have purchased a stunning, oversized hat, with a huge plume of feathers in the most beautiful pale pink hue – the colour of my tutu!
I simply love to see how fashions evolve across the years, don’t you, dears? I saw this adorable, bright yellow, cotton day dress with an intricate lace neckline. They have such adorable little collars these days! My goodness, even with my pink tulle tutus, this entire trip has got me feeling like an exquisite Parisian doll!
It’s truly wonderful how we can connect with fashion through the eras. From the glamorous days of lace, to today’s vibrant contemporary trends, our sense of style can weave together stories from every corner of history. And I certainly want to wear a *pink tutu as I travel through all of them! *
Let me know your thoughts, dears! Where do you like to go when travelling back in time? Have you seen any fabulous outfits?
As always, thank you so much for joining me. If you like, follow me on @Pink_Tutu on all your favourite platforms! Until next #TutuTuesday, don’t forget: a pink tutu can transport you to any era!
