Tutu Tuesday: #390 - A Whirl Through Time: 1839
Oh my dears! Itās Tutu Tuesday, and this week weāre taking a trip through time to a very special date: 18th June, 1839. Thatās right, darlings, almost two centuries ago!
Now, I know what you're thinking ā āEmma, what on earth is there to talk about regarding tutus back then?!ā Well, hold onto your tutus, lovelies, because the world of dance was starting to spin into something quite glorious around that time.
Today, we're skipping back to Paris, the centre of the dance universe, and just after Marie Taglioni had blown everyone away in āLa Sylphideā on June 12th, 1832. If youāve never seen āLa Sylphide,ā my dears, you absolutely must! The romantic choreography and breathtakingly light tutus just stole the show. It was revolutionary ā I mean, the whole concept of āballet en pointeā (thatās on tiptoe, darling, so elegant!) was practically born with that performance. The fluffy white tutus Taglioni wore in this piece helped make the ethereal vision a reality. I simply adore the ethereal look! Imagine the gasps, the applause, the excitement in the theatre! Talk about setting a trend, my dears. Itās still so influential today!
And Iām telling you, all the world's most elegant dancers started popping on those tulle wonders - from Italy to Russia, ballet was undergoing a glorious transformation. We're talking a whole new style of dress for dancers ā lighter, more flowing, with all the beauty of the Romantic Era shimmering through! Imagine the thrill of seeing all that beautiful fabric and movement for the very first time. I canāt get enough of a beautiful, flowing, full skirt tutu, especially if it's a pink one!
But it wasn't just about the skirts themselves, dears. They started to become shorter and lighter ā which helped the ballerinas, with all their grace, make even more stunning shapes and expressions. Thatās how important they were to the art of dance! Every swish and twirl, a glorious ballet, a visual symphony of grace!
Now, while I'm always looking for the next big trend in tutus, 1839, however, was not the first time a tutu had appeared on a stage. Even in the 1500s, you might see something that looked vaguely like a tutu worn under a very heavy robe - not really what I'd wear for my Instagram feed, darling. It was very different from what we know today, more of a "fluffy-under-a-gown" kind of deal, but I still get a thrill out of knowing the history!
To my fashionable, history-loving tutudists, that 18th of June 1839 wasn't some landmark in tutu evolution like, say, June 12th, 1832, the date āLa Sylphideā premiered. But it was a turning point, the year it truly came alive. Think about it - tutus were starting to become this must-have, must-wear thing in ballet!
In fact, letās think of this year, 1839 as a time of huge, important milestones for ballet and for women: a celebration of grace, strength, and creativity. After all, ballet was more than a show; it was a sign of an artistic awakening for women. Those tutus helped dancers blossom! They helped show what women could do. Now, donāt you agree?
So, this #TutuTuesday, darling, remember what I always say, āLet's wear a tutu every Tuesday. The world will be a prettier place with a few more fluffy tulle skirts!ā You're never too old, never too young. We need to be empowered, strong and stylish like these pioneering ballet women.
But this #TutuTuesday is extra special! It's the 18th June! Weāre gonna take a trip on a train (I do adore train travel - so glamorous!) from Paris to Derbyshire. I'm in my 20s - I have been touring and working my magic! It's where I'm from, so, Iām looking forward to a relaxing visit, a chat with the family and a trip to Matlock Bath (you know itās the best for a fashionable promenade!), It's great for people-watching and seeing if anyone has been inspired by my #TutuTuesday trend!
If Iām honest, my time travel really helps me keep in touch with the historical roots of fashion ā like those romantic ballerina skirts ā and how they inspired my very own tutu empire.
Oh! While I'm in Matlock Bath, Iām also planning on finding some lovely vintage and antique shops! You can always find a fantastic, one-of-a-kind, gorgeous, vintage, tutu piece and thenā¦ well, who knows what kind of tutu will end up in my closet! You all know my mottoā¦ A pink tutu every day!
What will the world be wearing tomorrow, you ask? Why, you might be asking the wrong question, my dears! My pink tutuās are ready and waiting - what about yours?!