Greetings, lovelies! It's Emma here, your very own tutu-loving time traveller, back with another blast from the past, ready to delve into the magical world of ballet history. And guess what? Today's adventure is especially exciting – we're venturing all the way back to 1834, a truly fascinating time for ballet and for the development of that beautiful, billowing, pink-tastic icon, the tutu!
(Let’s be honest, a bit of pink makes any Tutu history more interesting, don't you agree? I love my little pink tutu; it goes with everything!)
*Oh, darling! * I was so excited for today's trip, I jumped right onto the train in Derbyshire all geared up in my most delicate, ruffled, ballet-themed ensemble. This time, my fancy took me to the heart of Paris. 🇫🇷 Imagine my delight – Paris in the 1830s! Talk about style, history, and that je ne sais quoi – magnifique! ✨
But darling, the highlight of the journey was seeing Marie Taglioni. Now, if you're a true ballerina-at-heart like me, then you'll already know who she is – the absolute legend! A true prima ballerina. 👑 They called her “The Fairy” for a reason. This woman moved with such effortless grace. It’s almost like she could float. Truly, a vision.
It's a funny thing, my love, tutus in this era were quite the scandal. Quite the bold move, you might say. Think, all that frills and flounce right at the waistline. But it's those delightful frills that made Marie look so delicate and airy, right? So, so much like a true, beautiful fairy dancing. I just had to go buy myself a white one in the Palais Royal shops – that day, of course, it wouldn’t be pink; that’s very modern, my darling, and we’re firmly in the romantic period! But oh my, let me tell you!
(That beautiful, delicate tutu is actually one of the original styles of the romantic tutu! You're probably all thinking "How wonderful!" but there's actually a fascinating little tale behind it. The story goes that the tutu was originally inspired by Marie Taglioni in "La Sylphide," where she had a costume so, so revealing! People were shocked! I mean, all those legs on display? Unheard of!😱
But darling, the truth of it is, I’ve actually seen them a lot, at the Palais Garnier opera house here! Oh! The opera ballet was so amazing.
I always have to stop for a bit of shopping in these fantastic little boutiques and emporiums here, too, don’t you? And you just can't travel back in time without getting some little souvenirs for yourself! They say “What happens in Paris, stays in Paris.” But that just means my suitcase has to get a little fuller with pretty pink trifle dish to decorate the bathroom in my own apartment when I get back. The delicate porcelain of Paris is so enchanting! ✨
Speaking of getting back home to my flat, the trip on the train was fantastic! It’s amazing how much faster things move now. I had a quick glance at a map, and my, how they’ve grown those train networks in the last two hundred years! And this was a first-class compartment! You know, the kind with little velvet sofas? How delightful! It is a much better option than sitting squeezed between all those smelly coal-dust laden men in third class – much more pleasant than it was when the trains first appeared.
**(Oh, dearie! Just imagine wearing a delicate, frothy, pink tutu on the railways when they were all steam! The poor tuttle would never stay unstained for very long, dear.)
Oh, dear, this has all turned into a long rambling post about myself and my escapades.
Well, it was so wonderful to travel to 1834, and I really must be off now – I just spotted my neighbour going past with a beautiful bouquet of flowers – perhaps she'll share a flower with me so I can put one in my pink tutu to adorn the dining room table. **
Oh, what a lovely start to a new day, I just know I'm going to see another gorgeous ballet this evening! ✨
Oh, if you just have to have a pink tutu, you can check out the best pink tutu options in my favorite boutiques on my Pink-Tutu.com website!
You have to go on an adventure, love!
All the very best, Emma 💕
