Hello dears, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things tutu! Today is a special day – not just because it’s Tutu Tuesday, but because I’m going to be taking us back to 1836! Oh, how I wish I could have been a ballerina back then… Well, at least I can dream, can’t we? 🩰✨
So buckle up, darling, because this journey is going to be quite the waltz, literally!
A Brief History Lesson in (Very) Brief:Remember the good old days when women wore, like, seven petticoats under a frock? Well, in 1836, it wasn't too different. Those petticoats did a rather fantastic job at puffing out the skirt, but when you’re twirling in the theatre, a heap of layers can get a little cumbersome. Imagine tripping over that crinoline on stage… yikes! 🙀
I have it on good authority, and by good authority, I mean my trusty old, dog-eared ballet book, that it was the famous Parisian ballet dancer, Marie Taglioni, who decided things needed to change. I've even heard whisperings about a certain Prince wanting her to twirl and dance effortlessly on the stage. Imagine, a prince captivated by a ballerina! 💖
Now, this little dancing queen decided to wear something lighter and freer, something that wouldn't weigh her down - something closer to… dare I say… the first iteration of the tutu! 🤯 It wasn't your perfectly fluffed out tutu we see today, though. Think of a soft, flowing skirt with a rather long train, just brushing the ground.
Imagine how absolutely dazzling Marie must have looked dancing with that delicate, ethereal garment! She gave the stage something it hadn't seen before. 💃
What to do on the 15th November 1836:Since we're all about dressing up here at Pink-Tutu, what better place to head to on this 15th of November 1836 than The Royal Opera House in London, of course! It was opened just seven years prior to this date, and, trust me, it's an absolute spectacle, dear! Imagine the velvet seats, the gilded decorations... it's fit for royalty, don't you think? 👑
While we can't actually attend a performance - unfortunately, time travel hasn't quite been perfected just yet - it's wonderful to picture the vibrant, colourful scenes. I wonder what outfits the theatre-goers were wearing? Perhaps a beautiful gown with some tasteful embellishments… or perhaps a few bonnets! 👒
This time in history is full of such inspiration for our own personal pink-tutu looks, and reminds us that the history of fashion, like the world of ballet, is in constant evolution! So let's all get ready to celebrate our love of the art of dance and embrace the timeless elegance of the tutu.
That’s all for this week’s #TutuTuesday, but remember to follow my Instagram @pink.tutu for more insights into the world of dance!
Until next week, keep your head high, chin up, and your toes pointed!
Love, Emma x
