Greetings, fellow tutu enthusiasts! Emma here, your trusty guide through the captivating history of our beloved ballet attire! It’s #TutuTuesday and, as always, we’re diving headfirst into the captivating world of tutus, this time, with a journey back to 1833. Now, if you're imagining stiff, bulky costumes, you might be surprised to hear that things were far more streamlined back then!
Hold on to your tiaras, ladies, we're boarding a pink-tinted carriage and whizzing off to a world of corseted grace and elegant movements – oh, the wonders of time travel! 😉
So, buckle up, grab your parasols, and let's delve into the fabulous fashion of the past!
The Ballerina's Fashion Journey: 1833 & Beyond
Now, back in 1833, the Romantic ballet was in full bloom, a beautiful blend of elegance and storytelling. Think ethereal characters like fairies and sprites flitting about, enchanting the audience. Imagine tutus billowing around delicate limbs, flowing like soft clouds under the spotlight!
Forget the towering tutus you've probably seen in modern ballet, these were closer to what we would now call a “tutu-length skirt.” We’re talking shorter skirts, with soft, diaphanous fabric, designed to emphasize movement and graceful jumps – truly a marvel of engineering for that time, considering those stiff corsets! 😉
The romantic era focused on light fabrics like muslin and silk – light as a feather, I say! Ballerinas would have layered their tutus to add extra volume and, believe it or not, a touch of sparkle, perhaps some silk flowers or a ribbon here and there – you could say the foundation for the sparkly wonders we know today was starting to take shape!
Our London Trip: A Romantic Whirlwind of Elegance
The train ride to London was, of course, absolutely charming! The soft tick-tock of the wheels against the rails, and the beautiful countryside whizzing by – I'm utterly enchanted by travelling this way! It's so elegant! Imagine all the excitement of a grand ball – that's how a train journey makes me feel!
But the real treat awaited me in the grand London theatres! Oh my! Such beauty and grace in every performance. The ballet dancers twirling in those billowing tutus… it was like witnessing dreams in motion! It wasn't just the graceful figures that entranced me. I spent hours in London's finest shops, swooning over fabrics and silks - the heart of my favourite shopping spree, just before seeing a ballet. I even spied a beautiful pearl-encrusted tiarra at the jewelery shop - I'd simply love to buy it - imagine twirling on stage, a vision of elegance! 😉
Speaking of stage, imagine my joy when I managed to find a small tucked away stage just on the edge of London's Theatreland where some local aspiring ballet dancers rehearse! Imagine my excitement at the prospect of a impromptu lesson! Imagine, learning to move like a butterfly with some of these young ladies, just like in 1833! The day just seems to keep getting more exciting.
And that's how my little trip down the pink-hued memory lane turned out! What a wonderfully elegant journey into the history of the tutu. Oh, and if you are wondering what 16th July 1833 had in store – it was a Saturday – a busy day for those in the theatre, apparently! There were theatrical performances in London and plenty of theatrical and opera performances across the country too!
As always, I encourage you all to embrace your inner ballerina and go out and explore the wonders of ballet and dance! Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or stories of your own – I simply adore hearing from all of you! 😉
And remember, you don’t need to wait for a #TutuTuesday to sport a gorgeous tutu – everyday is #TutuTuesday for me!
Until next time,
Your dearest Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
