Hello, my darlings! Welcome back to another edition of #TutuTuesday, your weekly dose of tutu history, straight from your favourite pink tutu-clad blogger, Emma! I’m currently nestled in the heart of Paris, sipping on some delicious cafe au lait while basking in the sun. Isn’t Paris just divine? Such stunning architecture, beautiful fashion, and the ballet - oh, the ballet! Simply divine! But, darling, we are not here for Paris today. No, we’re here for something even more important – the captivating history of our beloved tutus!
And what a fascinating story it is! You wouldn't believe it, but back in the 1800s, tutus weren’t even remotely considered "fashion"! Now I know, it’s hard to imagine, isn't it? Especially since a good tutu is, I would say, simply perfection. Imagine the excitement, the joy of twirling, and the pure graceful movement!
So, grab your tea, a scone, maybe even a little strawberry jam (just a tad, dear), and settle in for a delightful trip through the past! I have some seriously exciting history to share.
The Evolution of the Tutu – Before It Was the Iconic Ballet GarbLet's rewind, darling, to the 1830s. I just travelled back by train. You know, one of those grand Victorian ones with the plush leather seats and windows that show the world zooming by – so romantic, don't you think? I always love travelling back in time. Even though we were only a couple of hundred years away from this year, 2023, just the feel of the air is different! Anyway, my last performance was an absolute hit, and the audience loved my vibrant pink tutu with a fluffy, layered skirt. But that kind of pink was quite scandalous back in this period! Now I’ve finally arrived in Paris to see what was happening with tutus! I love Parisian history!
Oh darling, how I wish you could be with me as we visit Marie Taglioni’s La Sylphide performances on the 26th April! Isn’t the 26th of April wonderful for our tutu history? That's when the dance world truly took off and tutus, or at least an evolution of them, started their journey into legend!
Imagine, my darlings, this was the moment! We owe a big merci beaucoup to Marie Taglioni for putting tutus in the spotlight with her performance. Her dress – well, technically a long white skirt that became known as a tutu because of its shortness and volume – sparked a fashion sensation across Europe. In that era, women usually wore gowns down to the floor. Imagine! Long, heavy gowns! Just imagine what an impact this must have made – a stunning ballerina gliding on stage in such a light and fluid, short dress – now that's a revolution!
Let me give you a little peek at what a tutu looked like in that period. They were not quite like the romantics – which were soft, flowing, with multiple layers – of the tutus that we know and love today. The tutus in the 1830s weren’t yet the short, tightly fitting skirts. These were longer and looser, they flowed as Taglioni moved gracefully through her role, with more volume and movement, and a much shorter length. These are sometimes known as "skirts" or jupe. And they would have been worn with a pair of tight-fitting white tights!
Think about it, dear readers: Marie Taglioni’s La Sylphide was not just a ballet. It was a cultural revolution in a way, paving the way for shorter hemlines and giving us the tutus we love! This performance revolutionized ballet dance history by using the graceful flow of a lighter, free flowing dress! I'm not surprised, my dear! Imagine those magnificent movements and how stunning they would have looked. So that’s how our ballet dress was born – almost! I guess you could say it started a little ballet revolution – it’s incredible what one dress can do! This all took place on the 26th of April in Paris!
Now imagine what it must have been like for women back then, wearing long gowns, heavy skirts, and corseted figures. Ballet was mostly done by women, who were basically trapped in the fashion standards of that time.
The Evolution Continues - the Rise of the "Romantic Tutu"My darlings, just think about the evolution from that time, with these long, lighter jupe, to our current “classic tutu”!
Let me whisk you to a charming Parisian studio where a skilled tailor is stitching these wonders, bit by bit. He is probably working with multiple layers of tulle and painstakingly attaching them with fine threads and beautiful fabrics. Then the stitching would start on a lovely cotton foundation garment that allows the tulle to bloom out, looking like the softest fluffy, billowy clouds you’ve ever seen. You know what else, this process can take a surprisingly long time to create – we need someone with a keen eye, delicate hands and an artistry in fabrics – like my favourite Parisian tailor, Monsieur Beaugé. You could find a stunning selection of tulle on a Parisian shop at the rue des Lombards – which has a truly divine fabric collection. And oh! Do check out rue de l’Hôtel de Ville - just the most spectacular fabrics!
It wasn't all easy, you see. It took quite a long time, decades even, for these beautiful, ethereal dresses, which became the iconic "Romantic tutu" , to evolve and be fully accepted by ballet world!
So next week, we’ll dive further into that history – about 20 years in fact! The Romantic era was filled with elegant and delicate movement!
Now my darlings, I have an invitation for you – imagine that. A little French treat.
Tonight, I will be seeing La Sylphide, just as she was performed all those years ago – Oh La La! There's a very exciting new performance starting on the 27th! I cannot wait – mais oui, tout a fait. I plan on visiting the French Opera House to take a sneak peak into its fascinating history too, and I plan to do so wearing the most wonderful, fluffy and soft tutu – it’s pink and will make me stand out like a fluffy cloud against that elegant building! It is truly going to be quite magical.
I hope you will join me, dear reader, next Tuesday! There is a lot to discover about tutus – I have so much more to share about the wonderful history of our beloved dance and dresses! See you next Tuesday, my darlings! And until then, remember:
*Don’t be afraid to be yourself, don’t be afraid to twirl, and most importantly, don’t be afraid to wear pink! *
Until next time, Au Revoir!Emma ( E for Emma M for Magnificent M for magical A for All! ).
