Hello my darling dancers!
It's Tuesday, and you know what that means - it's #TutuTuesday! 🎉 Today, my fabulous pink tutu and I are whisked away to a glorious 1835. Buckle up, my dears, as we travel through time to discover the wonderful world of ballet in the year our beloved tutus really took centre stage!
This week, I’ve chosen to travel back to October 27th, 1835. It’s the perfect date to celebrate the iconic Marie Taglioni! This dazzling ballerina was truly ahead of her time. She revolutionized the art of ballet, transforming it from heavy, elaborate costumes to flowing, light tutus. She wore a glorious, lightweight, white tulle tutu in La Sylphide, a romantic ballet that swept audiences off their feet.
This wasn't just a simple wardrobe shift, my loves, it was a declaration of female freedom and artistry! 🩰 With those wispy layers swirling around her, Taglioni soared through the air, creating ethereal magic. The entire theatre would gasp at her light steps, the swirling beauty of her costume amplifying her movements.
Speaking of swirling beauty, my darlings, think of how utterly captivating it is! Those billowing layers, that gentle, feathery touch – tutus embody romance, lightness, and elegance. Imagine Marie, graceful in her airy creation, captivating her audience with each pirouette and pas de deux! Oh, my!
Before I get too lost in daydreams of pirouettes and the joy of tutus, let's delve into the history a bit more. It's fascinating, truly.
While I wouldn’t be caught dead in the restrictive clothing of earlier centuries, there’s definitely something to be admired about how fashion has evolved! You know how much I love history, my dears, and you just can't appreciate the glory of tutus without knowing how we arrived at such an incredible creation!
So, before those flowing, whimsical tulle wonders graced the stage, what were ballerinas wearing? Well, let me tell you! It wasn’t pretty! Long, heavy skirts, constructed from layers of fabric, were considered the ballet outfit. They weighed these dancers down and seriously restricted their movement, a far cry from the light, airy grace we all associate with ballet today!
Thankfully, all that changed thanks to the wonderful Marie Taglioni, our very own Tutu Goddess! The impact of that white tulle masterpiece is impossible to overestimate!
In fact, Marie Taglioni wasn't just a brilliant ballerina, she was an icon! She had such influence that she launched a revolution in ballet costumes! Soon, after La Sylphide swept the nation, these gorgeous new tutus were all the rage!
Speaking of fashion, my darlings! I have simply got to gush about the vibrant fashion in 1835! Imagine ladies decked out in layers of lace and frills, bright silks and floral prints, their dresses so puffed up, they looked like walking clouds of fashion. The colours were so vivacious - deep reds, blues, greens - an explosion of elegance! It's certainly inspiring for a girl who loves fashion and colour!
Oh! Don’t even get me started on the bonnets! It seems, my lovelies, that back then, everything was bonnets! Bonnets with frills, bonnets with feathers, bonnets with bows, bonnets, bonnets, bonnets everywhere you looked! I mean, if we were to go back in time, you wouldn’t be able to walk a mile in Derbyshire without getting your bonnet tangled on a hedgerow!
The ladies loved to match their bonnets to their gowns and even went wild with the styles. Think about those tiny straw hats and big, voluminous straw creations and then the stunning, intricately designed hats in satin and velvet, festooned with flowers and feathers! And how about those gorgeous fur-trimmed hats, just begging for a twirl or two on a crisp, autumnal afternoon? It truly was a hat-tastic era!
Honestly, my lovelies, it is a time just brimming with possibilities. You see the potential for all that femininity and grace! You see, darling, tutus are an extension of that; they reflect the grace and elegance we hold within, not just on the stage, but in our daily lives!
Don’t let me forget, though! My favourite part of these time-traveling adventures, is enjoying a proper afternoon tea! It's just divine. My, my, imagine that gorgeous aroma of steaming tea, perfectly paired with delicious, dainty sandwiches and buttery scones.
You can almost taste the nostalgia, the richness of tradition, the sweet indulgence! In fact, we’ll be travelling back in time again this coming weekend, for my friend’s birthday. A classic, quintessentially English birthday celebration wouldn't be complete without a traditional tea!
But before I finish my post and start making a shopping list, my loves, do have a fabulous week!
Remember to always twirl, laugh, and sparkle! 💖
Until next Tuesday! ✨
Emma x
