Bonjour mes amies! Welcome back to another whirlwind journey through the glorious history of the tutu, the star of every ballerina's heart! This Tuesday I’m bringing you all the way back to a day in 1840, just as a certain fluffy-skirted icon was coming into its own – right here in lovely Paris! 🩰
Now, darling, let’s grab some tea and biscuits (oh, my darling Marie, they have added such delicious almond slices this week!) and set the scene for our fabulous trip. It's May 12th, 1840. A gentle breeze flits through the leaves of the Champs-Élysées, and the air is thick with the scent of jasmine and croissants. The city's a-buzz with life - aristocrats stroll in their finest silks, children chase each other in the park, and somewhere in a grand theatre, a dancer is taking her final bow to rapturous applause.
But wait a minute, what's this? The "ballet tutu" as we know it is still being shaped - gasp! Right now, it’s not the beautifully billowing tulle we are so familiar with in today's ballets. The ballerinas in those early days were rocking what we now call the "Romantic Tutu," which was still pretty short and made from more layers of silk than the ethereal tulle that we love so much today.
Can you picture it? Imagine a dress, cinched in at the waist with a bodice that accentuates the dancers' slender forms, then – imagine layers upon layers of silk fabric billowing out, a swirling flurry of luxurious softness! It gave a glimpse of the dancer's graceful legs and oohed and aahed the audiences, even then, because the look was truly a sign of the times: freedom. We are talking freedom from constricting clothes! Can you imagine dancing in the corsetted gowns of those days? I wouldn't be able to even point my toes. Thankfully, they took that fashion out of the ballet studio, a good move indeed! The dancers of the day must have had a grand old time swirling around in their graceful billows of silk!
Speaking of fashion, darling, how about our own look? Since I'm a Derbyshire girl born and bred, I like my look with a bit of quaintness, a hint of vintage and just a splash of the modern to make it my own! Today, I'm channeling Marie Antoinette vibes, just a little, mind you, nothing too ostentatious, darling, I'm still a Derbyshire girl at heart. My dress, it is the colour of rosewater – lovely and a light shade of pink, which I've tucked over a skirt with tiers of soft pink tulle to give a hint of the romantic era.
And for shoes? Why, my ballet flats are in a glorious blush pink, they’ve just arrived from my favourite shop in Nottinghamshire, darling, with a matching pink silk ribbon! You simply have to feel as fabulous as the stars on stage!
After all, we all want to look good, wouldn't you say? Now, with our tea, let’s journey back to Paris! Oh my, I am just in love with the fashion here! Paris is a sight to behold with its grand squares and cafes overflowing with artists and the chatter of locals, its exquisite shops filled with tempting silks and lace, and oh the tea and the cakes. Paris in May is divine!
As for the theatres – let’s have a word! They were quite something in 1840. The Opéra Garnier wasn't yet finished - and I do so adore that place, though in truth, they say its opera house has much more grand architecture! We can take a grand carriage there at some point, then take the train over to see that one!
But back to May the 12th. My, the dance at the Palais Garnier must be quite grand on this day, with the ballerinas looking their absolute best. I’m itching to put on my pointe shoes, so want to pirouette along with them! That, though, is my fantasy. In reality, I’m taking in all this beauty as my favourite time traveller. The tutu and its evolution? A perfect excuse to indulge in Parisian style!
The best part of all? There's something about this whole travelling thing! From London, to Paris, to the Grand Palais! Each location has its own story, its own unique energy and even it's own style! It’s why I just have to keep this blog up and running. Who else would dare to take their own little pink tutu all the way through time for a peek at how this gorgeous symbol of ballet was born?
I have to be honest, my biggest problem is trying to convince other ladies in my time to embrace a little pink tutu magic! I'm pretty sure I saw my neighbour's niece give me a weird look the other day as I passed by her house in my gorgeous, bright pink tutu, dressed up to dance in my bedroom and go for a coffee in a Paris style cafe! But I'm so confident I'll win them all over someday.
For now, until we meet again next Tuesday! I'll be on the look out for some fantastic ballet and some fabulous tutu styles to inspire you.
Au revoir, and Happy Tutu Tuesday! 🩰 💕
