Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things pink and twirly! It's me, Emma, your time-traveling fashionista and tutu enthusiast, ready to take you on another journey through the glorious history of ballet tutus!
This week, we're stepping back in time to June 9th, 1840! Fancy that, the 9th of June? My favourite day of the week is a Tuesday, so what a stroke of luck that we landed on this particular day. And yes, that's right, we're in the Victorian Era! Buckle up, loves, because things are about to get decidedly bonkers – bonkers in a beautiful, frilly, tutu-tastic way, of course.
Before we dive into the tutus, though, a little personal update from me! Now, I don't need to tell you how much I love seeing amazing ballet performances – my blog, my outfits, my life… it all revolves around that passion, doesn't it? So, when I time-traveled last week, I caught the most sensational show at the Opéra Garnier in Paris! Oh, darling, the costumes, the dancing, the energy! They had this beautiful romantic ballet with a swirling, billowing, glorious tutu on the prima ballerina – it had the most stunning tulle and delicate embellishments. Swoon! I almost forgot to snap my fab photos, I was so caught up in the moment! Thankfully, I managed to get some wonderful snaps – I'll pop them on the website later!
Speaking of outfits, I was obsessed with the fashion scene in Paris! You see, fashion in the 1840s is so intricately tied to the ballet world. Everything is about elegance, refinement, and delicate detail. So you see why I simply have to visit all those historical periods where tutu styles developed. The more I see and discover, the more inspiration I get to add those flourishes to my own modern pink tutu collection!
Now, back to our time-traveling topic: tutus! I don't know if you've noticed this, lovelies, but the tutu in the 1840s is still a long way from the iconic paquita tutu you see today! Let's get one thing clear – tutus were pretty new on the scene! You've got to imagine a different, softer shape than we see now. It's a world where a beautiful white silk or muslin petticoat with a delicate embroidered ruffle takes centre stage. Forget the fluffy cloud we have nowadays – this is about grace, fluidity, and femininity. Just picture it, darlings – soft, gentle, graceful, and absolutely perfect for romantic ballets. Think long and flowing – they really accentuated the beauty and fluidity of the ballerina’s movements. The idea is that this look creates a romantic silhouette that emphasises a ballerina's long limbs, delicate lines, and overall poise, almost like a ethereal, fairytale princess.
I know, you must be picturing tutus like we know them now: all fluff and pouf and magnificent billowingness. Well, that style wouldn't truly evolve until much later. It's really only towards the end of the Victorian era that the “Classical tutu”, as we call it today, was actually born! But, even now, my lovelies, this doesn't mean the early versions of the tutu weren't utterly magical. You can truly see the artistic intent, the commitment to beauty, and the delicate hand-stitched quality. They might be quite simple and plain in terms of today's tutus, but believe me, back then they were an absolute revelation! I’ve seen it for myself!
The interesting thing about this era, my darlings, is that ballet was taking its place at the heart of society's heart. Not only in the aristocratic circles but also with wider public acclaim. Imagine – ballets became such an exciting cultural happening that you could find people dressing up in all sorts of en vogue outfits for those theatrical events! Oh, and talk about a fashion statement!
The most popular ballet performances in London back then were mostly hosted by the esteemed theatre companies in the West End. But guess what? You could even find some exciting amateur groups performing! Now, you all know my penchant for a good tutu - I can already see the thrill in people gathering around to see those tutus, even just in an amateur setting! Just picture it, lovelies – the gas-lit theatres, the swirling silk skirts, and those magnificent embroidered tutus floating across the stage! Pure ballet bliss.
But now, lovelies, let's rewind and look back at what actually happened on this specific June 9th. Did I mention the year, lovelies? It's 1840 – a very exciting time in the world, especially in terms of tutus! It was a day that had people buzzing about dance! Now, I'm sure we can all agree that the first ballet ever performed (no, really! It's been documented!) is a big deal! It was, and it still is a milestone, so we have a very important milestone to celebrate. Just imagine the awe, the magic, and the twirly delight of watching that first ballet! It wasn't some intricate, paquita-style number, mind you. Back then, it was more about pure elegance and poise. And that is truly why I love my #TutuTuesday! It's a chance for me to appreciate the past, but more than that it's an ode to the journey of a truly wonderful fashion garment: the tutu!
It’s an amazing moment in history. If I were transported back to 1840 with my time travel gadget, you know what? I'd show them how to create a magnificent, fully-fledged pink tutu with loads of tulle. Because, you see, it's my goal in life to spread the word about this magnificent, frilly garment and show the world how amazing a pink tutu can be, in all its beauty, elegance, and style! I might just end up back here myself for a show, after all! I simply have to! Who knows, maybe I’ll see someone sporting the first tutu!
So there you have it, darlings – a whirlwind trip back in time to 1840 and the rise of the tutu, the forerunner of the glorious tutu as we know it. I’ll be back next Tuesday to tell you all about what was going on in the ballet world and more fun tutu fashion history! Now go and twirl your heart out! Keep your eyes peeled, I'll be back in my pink tutu soon! Don’t forget to tell me what you'd do if you could time travel back to 1840 and witness a ballet performance, and what would you say if you were transported back in time! You can comment below. Don’t forget to give me a shout-out on our Instagram and Facebook page! Let’s share the pink tutu love!
See you next week for more Pink-Tutu adventures!
Emma xx
Please note, that due to the nature of the prompt this content may not accurately represent ballet tutu history and some aspects of the blog are pure fiction!
