#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1837-03-14

Hello, my lovely tutu-loving darlings! It's Emma here, your resident pink tutu aficionado, ready to whisk you away on another time-travelling adventure through the fascinating history of our beloved tutus! 🚂

This Tuesday, we're stepping back in time to the 14th of March, 1837! Imagine the excitement in the air - Queen Victoria had just ascended the throne, bringing with her a new era of grace and elegance! Now, I may be a bit of a tutu-obsessed time traveller, but I can’t deny the royal flair was quite a big deal. 😉

So, where do we find our beloved tutu during this momentous year? Well, picture this - the grand ballet stage was already buzzing with innovation and beautiful artistry!

The early 1830s were a turning point in ballet history! Marie Taglioni, a true icon in the dance world, was captivating audiences with her incredible technique and ethereal elegance. Now, imagine a stage bathed in the soft glow of gaslight. The scene is set with beautifully painted backdrops and opulent costumes, and there she is - Marie Taglioni, twirling gracefully, with a white, flowing skirt so light and airy, it practically defied gravity! This my friends, was the beginning of the classic ballerina look. This 'tutu', designed by Charles Albert, became an iconic silhouette, showcasing the ballerina's skill and grace as she danced.

Think of it! In this year, 1837, Marie Taglioni graced the Parisian stages with her groundbreaking choreography and the most revolutionary of outfits: The Romantic Tutu.

This revolutionary tutu had the power to transform ballet from a showy spectacle to a delicate, expressive art form! Now, just imagine how much attention this caused back then, imagine the gasp and the awe at the theatre. Now that is what I call fashion! 💅 A true game changer for women on and off the stage! It became the symbol of this new romantic period, paving the way for generations of ballets and ballerinas to come.

You may wonder where I am right now in the grand ballet universe. Today I'm in Paris! It’s such a dreamy city, filled with the energy of fashion and history. Just yesterday I was marveling at the sheer grandeur of the Palais Garnier. Talk about a stunning stage to see a show. Can you imagine, watching the Paris Opera Ballet glide and twirl under those magnificent crystal chandeliers! 🤯

Don’t worry, darling, this time travel is totally safe – and more than a little bit glamorous. I fund my adventures by sharing my love for ballet through performance. After all, a girl needs her tutus, and to be perfectly honest, my collection needs updating after my trip to Moscow for the Bolshoi Ballet season. Don't worry I'll share the new acquisitions in a later blog! 😉

However, today’s focus is on the history of ballet's most famous piece of apparel, the tutu.

So, let's go back to Marie Taglioni. That was revolutionary, right?! That tutu? A dream! From the ethereal, layered skirts to the effortless grace she commanded, it’s clear that Marie Taglioni's contributions to ballet will always be remembered, just like our favorite romantic tutus!

This is where the magic starts to unfold in the timeline of our tutus! But wait, don’t let me be too dramatic, let's keep things practical for now. 🩰

By the end of the 19th century, a new style of ballet gained popularity! Classical Ballet. Now, it wouldn't be all tutus and fairies without that 'classic' touch right? 💅

Let's have a little trip down the rabbit hole, Shall we?!
Here is what we can learn from the history of Ballet and it’s amazing costumes…

Ballet A Timeline of Fashion…

• 1837 Romantic Tutu – A long, layered tutu that danced around the dancer, reaching the ground for much of the movement.
• 1860 Classical Ballet – Shorter tutu made of layers of tulle that emphasized technical steps and elegance
• 1880s Classical Ballet’s new style– the tutu length varied from knee to mid calf
• *Late 1890s * The Classical Tutu became the signature tutu to use on stage.
• *1910s * More movement in tutus - even more creativity – as seen in the Pavlova ballet tutu design!
• * 1920s- 30s Russian *Diaghilev Ballet’s revolutionary design!* Shorten and modern with sharp lines
• *1940s * Ballet designers embraced *‘New Classicism’ *– that’s how we ended up with our favorite tutus we see today. Now, tell me if this does not sound fun? The evolution of the tutu from delicate romanticism to the stylish ballet tutus you see on stage today. It's like a glamorous fairy tale unfold with each design!
• 1950s - onwards - The ** Tutu we all know and love! A long way since those layers, isn't it?

In my world, where every Tuesday is #TutuTuesday, these timelines of change and style, are simply fascinating. Can’t we all agree with that?

The classic tutu, which became the standard is still very much worn today, from a very short tutu length – the petit allegro, to the knee-length grande allegro style, perfect for dancing all those leaps and spins with freedom of movement. If you look back over the evolution of our ballerina’s beloved tutus you'll find an amazing mix of elegance, art and practicality. Now that's a tutu recipe for success, right?!

However, tutus don’t stay the same for long… even those amazing costumes from our beloved Bolshoi, La Scala, Royal Ballet performances are always subject to new trends and ideas. We all love the way designers are always finding new creative ways to design their tutus! Now that’s a very interesting journey from the simple, ethereal early designs. Now, if I were to create a ballet show on this topic it would be absolutely incredible to imagine all of the different tutu styles together in one production! 🤩

Now that’s what I call fabulous! And that my darlings, is a perfect reason to continue learning, exploring and most importantly sharing our love of all things Ballet with each other, as well as everyone in the world!

You know I love to finish each Tuesday with some #tutuinspo don’t you? So, here it is….

My very favorite ballerina, Natalia Osipova. What a phenomenal dancer she is. She is so expressive and captivating to watch! A recent show of hers had this very unusual, yet stunning ballet tutu which was short with many layers of netting, the color was a blend of dusky rose and mauve, just the type of look to spark my inspiration.

This look makes me dream of all the possibilities for new and exciting tutus on stages worldwide!

Have I inspired you, darlings, to have a go at creating your own look this week, with the latest tutu trends? You know I love a little bit of ‘vintage’ here and there - but I don't think it's the best place to look if you're looking for inspiration for today. Why not embrace a classic tutu, with a twist? Take a beautiful, full length skirt in my favourite color - pink and add a thin layer of pink lace for some delicate drama, now add a couple of strands of rhinestones for some extra dazzle. Do share your creation with me, it’s always inspiring to see your personal style!

Finally, darling friends, remember this- Every single one of us, no matter who we are or what we do, deserves to embrace the magic of ballet!

That’s all for this week, darling friends. Be sure to keep a look out for next Tuesday, because my adventures into ballet history continue every week. Until then, you know my advice – wear a pink tutu – it is what my blog is about! 💖

Emma xxx