Bonjour, chérie! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood pink-tutu-wearing, time-traveling ballerina blogger, back with another installment of #TutuTuesday and a trip back in time!
This week, I’ve journeyed to Paris, the fashion capital of the world, for a peek at ballet circa 1839 – a very important year in the history of the tutu! I just adore Paris – it's so utterly chic, and everyone seems to appreciate a good tutu.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves – first things first: let's talk about the tutu itself.
The Story of the Tutu: A Quick Recap
Now, before I spill the tea on 1839, we need a little rewind to the early 1800s, the Victorian era when ballet was beginning its big rise to fame! The outfits then were far from what we see in the ballet world today. Think of a ballerina as being basically a long, flowing, billowy dress with maybe some layers of tulle around the skirt. But it wasn't exactly conducive to fancy footwork. And certainly wouldn't let the ladies leap and twirl!
Now imagine what happened when Marie Taglioni – the legendary ballerina of her day – strutted her stuff in a revolutionary tutu made almost entirely of tulle. The impact was absolutely staggering! For the first time, you could actually see a dancer's legs and their graceful, graceful movements. It was pure ballet magic!
This iconic shift in fashion helped catapult ballet to new heights, opening up exciting opportunities for women who dreamed of leaping, swirling, and spinning their way to stardom. Talk about a breakthrough!
1839: The Year It All Began to Blossom!
Well, 1839, was another year in that magical Parisian world where ballet really came into its own, becoming the dance form we know and love today. This was a golden age for tutus! The big ballet houses started using them, and these revolutionary tutus quickly became the go-to garment for any serious ballerina. The designs kept evolving, adding more layers of tulle, a touch more fluff here, a little more glitter there, until the tutus reached peak spectacular, much like our contemporary tutus, and I'm thrilled to say this beautiful evolution all started back in the glorious 1830s.
You know, I can just picture a room bursting with talented seamstresses working hard in Paris, painstakingly crafting the perfect tutus to showcase the dazzling performances of these gifted dancers. The very thought is so thrilling!
Why the Tutu Is More Than Just a Fancy Garment:
To me, the tutu is a symbol of empowerment, freedom, and creativity. It's the ultimate form of expression. It allows ballerinas to reach heights beyond the imagination, challenging them to soar through the air with grace and elegance, transforming them into living sculptures on the stage. They are absolutely incredible! The tutu is not just an outfit. It is an instrument of pure, elegant movement.
This is what I love so much about ballet - its combination of art and athleticism, where dancers effortlessly defy gravity, bringing dreams to life through beautiful storytelling in the dance of life itself.
Tutu Tips for Every Lady!
This trip has inspired me to come back to the future with some amazing ideas for adding tutu-inspired glamour to everyday life. So if you're wanting a hint of that ballet magic, why not try some tutu tips to feel your most fabulous, elegant self?
- A pink tutu? Why not? Let's unleash our inner ballerina and show the world that we have an abundance of Tutu-tude! You can do it! And trust me – it is surprisingly comfortable!
- Embrace ruffles! They’re just so much fun! Add a few layers of tulle, a ribbon or two and you’ll have a real princess moment. I just adore a little bit of ruffle magic. And a hint of pink, of course, to complete the look!
- Channel that ballet spirit - go for those elegant, graceful movements, feel like you're floating through your daily routine, twirling your troubles away! (Make sure it’s safe to do so. Nobody wants to get knocked over with a magnificent tutu moment, darlings!)
- If you don't want to go full on tutu – you can add little touches like tutu ribbons, some ballet shoes – or even ballet jewelry.
I'll be adding lots of tutorials and ideas to my website (www.pink-tutu.com) and also some Tutu inspiration photos for you. Be sure to keep an eye out for some extra tutu loveliness this week!
And don't forget to share your own #TutuTuesday moments with me. It really brightens my day to see your fun, exciting and unique takes on the Tutu!
Until next time, lovelies! Keep twirling and keep shining!
Emma, x
