Hello, darling Tutu-lovers!
It’s Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, bringing you another dose of ballet tutu history for this week’s #TutuTuesday! Today we’re heading back to a sweltering 16th of July in 1839 – hold onto your tiaras, darlings, we’re going on a sartorial journey!
Paris – The City of Light… and Tutus!
Now, I’ve mentioned it before – but the world of tutus really began in Paris, that chic and sophisticated city, darling! Today, as we journey back in time, Paris is truly buzzing with the excitement of theatre and opera, where all the glamorous folk are showing off the latest fashion. It’s such a delight! I do adore Paris; I just feel a little more... glamorous, don’t you think? Imagine a sea of fluttering petticoats, velvet coats and silk dresses all gathered for the latest show, and in the midst of this beautiful flurry, the ballerina takes centre stage.
Marie Taglioni - The Ballerina Who Started It All
Our story starts with Marie Taglioni – oh, darling, I must admit I find her completely divine. Not just for her artistry and poise – but her stunningly elegant dance style – which changed the course of ballet forever. It’s thanks to Marie, my fellow Tutu-loving muse, that we’ve got these gorgeous tutu creations. They allow her to twirl, leap and pirouette with such ease, and they look oh-so-graceful! Her influence in the world of dance – truly immense!
A Tutu Revolution!
Now, back then, ballet dresses were, shall we say, a tad heavy! Think layers of silk, satins and lots of fabric. And while the ballerina in this 1839 era may not have been donning what we might call a 'true' tutu in the way we know it, it was definitely moving towards that beautiful silhouette we cherish so much!
They called it "la danse des Sylphides", or the "Dance of the Sylphs", and it's this 'Syphid' style dress (not quite a tutu yet but, believe me, it’s coming!) that started the trend toward lighter, flowier dance wear! It's basically a single, layered, tulle skirt reaching the ballerina’s knees – quite short, actually – much more like what we see now! It allows Marie, with her incredible agility, to spin and jump without the bulkiness of the previous attire, and makes her appear lighter than air.
But how do these beautiful tutus get their shape?
This is where we get into a little tutu-ific trivia – tutus don’t magically fluff up, darling! It's actually all in the design! Marie's tutus weren't the pouffy, tiered kind you see today, they were designed to hug her body – but there’s a magic ingredient – and it’s called a ‘cage.’
This ingenious, invisible (or near invisible) creation, held her skirt out from her body, allowing that stunning, wide shape. Imagine – it’s just hoops of wire – genius, I tell you! You know how we are all about getting the most stylish silhouette! It’s almost like fashion for dancers. A dance wardrobe – the very definition of style! It really makes me excited for the ballet fashion history to come – it’s about to take off in an elegant swirl of tulles and silk!
Tutu Tip: When next you’re at a show or a ballet class, just think about these wire ‘cages’ working away beneath all those gorgeous skirts – and thank Marie for these amazing dance inventions!
My 1839 Day Trip Diary
So, I travelled here today for this gorgeous little Parisian sojourn - just to soak up some tutu-inspired fashion - and oh, it's truly divine, my lovelies. Let's see... the journey was beautiful! We travelled by train, the views – lush and green! It feels very much like those dreamy English landscapes.
My first stop – Le Palais Garnier. I've been so looking forward to seeing the architecture of this majestic theatre – they say it’s truly a spectacle! Now, you can imagine my excitement when I found out that a ballerina named Marie Taglioni was in the midst of rehearsals for her upcoming performance. Just to glimpse such talent was a moment for the books – such beautiful choreography and the grace of this divine ballerina! I know I will cherish this memory for a lifetime.
It’s a shame, really, that we’re back on 16th of July 1839 – but that just means a few more centuries until this enchanting, chic ballet fashion will truly evolve to its glory! But let's take this moment, all of us, to thank Marie for kickstarting our ballet history, for giving us those incredible tutu looks – it is just all so elegant. I'm certainly thinking of heading back here once the tutus get a bit puffier – maybe about 20 years down the line... (I shall update you all when I do!)
And that’s all for #TutuTuesday, darlings! Don’t forget to join me again next week as we embark on a thrilling trip to another moment in ballet tutu history. Don't forget – if you have a little twirl in your step, share your photos and stories on the #pinktutu hashtag – let’s celebrate the wonderful world of tutus together!
See you all next week! Remember to have a little twirl – it makes everything brighter!
Yours truly,
Emma xx
