Hello my darlings, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com for another #TutuTuesday! I'm Emma, your time-travelling fashionista, and this week we're waltzing our way back to the glorious 1830s.
As ever, Iām feeling oh-so-very pink and ridiculously giddy after a splendid performance at the OpĆ©ra Garnier in Paris last night. The costumes were divine - so much lace and ruffles - and the ballerinas danced like angels on pointe. Speaking of ballerinas, I just adore tutus. I believe in their power to uplift and inspire, to bring a touch of whimsy and magic into our everyday lives. My personal mission in life, you see, is to get every single person in the world to wear a pink tutu. It's a big dream, but hey, a girl's gotta dream, right?
Todayās date is particularly important because it marks a day of huge excitement: 18th July 1837! Why is this so special? Because itās the day our beloved Queen Victoria ascended to the throne! Oh, what a grand occasion! Victoria was known for her impeccable sense of style - a true fashion icon of her time! And this day is absolutely brimming with delightful ballet history too!
Now, you may be thinking: "Emma, we haven't even gotten to tutus yet! What's the deal with this history?" Well, patience, darling. You know me, I can't help but sprinkle a little bit of royal glamour into my blog. It's a little something to brighten up our Tuesday!
Victoria's reign would come to be known as the āVictorian Eraā, and it was a time of immense cultural change, where dance and ballet, especially in France and Italy, flourished in breathtaking new ways. This was also a period of incredible innovations and, you guessed it, changes in the fashion scene! Itās what makes it so fascinating for us to explore!
It was at this time, in the heart of this royal era, that tutus truly started coming into their own. You see, back in the early 1800s, ballerina outfits werenāt really what we think of as tutus today. The skirts were longer, less billowing, and not nearly as fluffy as those delightful clouds of tulle we swoon over now. Think more like a full skirt of layered white silk, very beautiful, but much less dynamic and light for dancing.
Then, BAM! Maria Taglioni came onto the scene! This fabulous dancer revolutionized ballet, with her elegance and, importantly, her incredible artistry. Oh, to have seen her dance, I can only imagine! Imagine twirling and leaping in a billowing gown - impossible! So, for her revolutionary choreography, especially the iconic La Sylphide of 1832, the longer skirt became an ethereal tutu with an open, shorter design! This revolutionary design allowed dancers more movement and grace, highlighting their jumps and extensions like never before.
Mariaās choreography and the shorter, tighter tulle tutu design led to a huge shift in fashion that would ultimately culminate in what we now see on stages all over the world! And don't you think it's utterly divine how this new style of dancing, in beautiful new outfits, influenced fashion across the globe? Victoria, with her keen interest in fashion, would definitely have taken notice! Imagine this wonderful new, beautiful, form of dance arriving at court...and her reaction! How exciting for her!
Imagine, ladies and gents, stepping into the bustling theaters and grand balls of Paris, London, Vienna! So many fashionable people - what an exhilarating experience. Iām certain that, within a couple of decades, the new tutu design would be considered a must-have piece in any stylish woman's wardrobe!
This transformation was just the start, my dear readers! And what about the color, you may ask? As I am so very keen on pink myself, letās just say the history of tutus is brimming with wonderful colours. We havenāt got to pink yet but let me assure you, in the late 19th century, youāll find me flitting about in a vibrant pink tutu, all over the globe, for my Ballet Tutu History! Just think of all the places weāll be able to see!
Speaking of seeing things, I absolutely adore seeing ballet performances. I mean, itās one thing to read about them and their history - but to see them in action? Simply glorious! I recently took the train over to Edinburgh and watched a spectacular rendition of Swan Lake. Oh, the costumes were absolutely to die for, especially the swan's costumes, so intricately feathered. I mean, wouldn't you love to twirl about in a stunning white feathered costume? Talk about elegance and grace.
Oh, donāt forget to check out my other recent blogs too - itās never too early to start thinking about Christmas, darling! In this weekās Christmas Fashion Fun I give some fab ideas for festive frocks and, just in case you've missed it, you must check out last week's post about vintage ballet dresses from the early 20th century. A real delight!
And of course, I'm always up for a good fashion trip! My next big escapade is a journey to Florence - I just love Italian fashion, don't you? All those glorious fabrics and patterns. I hear their museums have some spectacular clothing exhibits, and I must make sure I find the prettiest cafe for a post-museum tea! Donāt you agree, darling, thereās just something enchanting about afternoon tea in a charming cafĆ© after a day of cultural inspiration? Oh, how delightful!
Itās important, of course, that you are fashionable everywhere you go - the train, ballet, shopping - anywhere and everywhere, my darlings! So, until next Tuesday, wear a smile as bright as your future. Remember, everyone has the potential to dance through life in a glorious pink tutu. We must inspire each other to find our inner ballerina and embrace the world in all its magical and wonderful moments. And while youāre at it, check out the latest blog on Pink-Tutu.com this Tuesday! Iāve got a lovely, exciting, pink tutu outfit to share with you - you won't want to miss it! Bye-bye for now!
Lots of love,
Emma
P.S. Don't forget to follow my #TutuTuesday adventures and leave a comment below - let me know which outfit youāre rocking! I simply adore reading about your adventures in pink. Until next week, remember, a tutu a day keeps the blues away! š š
