Hello my darlings! It's Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, ready to whisk you away on a whirlwind journey through ballet history. This week, we're stepping back in time to the 18th of August, 1840, and trust me, we're going to have a right old time!
Now, I know you all adore a bit of historical gossip as much as I do, and today's date marks a particularly exciting event: the opening night of "La Sylphide," a groundbreaking ballet that was a massive sensation in Paris.
I can practically hear the rustling of silk and velvet, the excited murmurs, the clatter of carriages outside the grand Opera House! Think opulent theatres with swirling chandeliers, fluttering fans, and the intoxicating anticipation in the air as the curtain rises. This is a ballet unlike any before. No heavy, cumbersome court dresses for our lovely ladies here!
Instead, our captivating ballerina, Marie Taglioni, graces the stage in a new kind of costume, one that embodies ethereal beauty and a sense of liberation: the tutu.
Now, let's dive deeper into this revolutionary garment. Before 1840, ballerinas were weighed down by layers upon layers of skirts, petticoats, and fussy, floor-length garments. Imagine waltzing around like that! Imagine the struggle just to lift your legs! Ballet costumes were akin to grand ball gowns. But Marie Taglioni and her designer, Eugène Lami, decided to take things a little lighter... shall we say, 'more airborne'!
Enter the Tutu. This revolutionary costume embraced the graceful and airy movements of ballet. Imagine soft layers of fabric swirling around your legs as you pirouette. No longer encumbered by a sea of silk, the dancers were finally able to leap, bound, and soar across the stage.
This is what I call progress!
But let's not just be fashion-obsessed. "La Sylphide," was revolutionary for its choreography, too. Taglioni brought a new kind of ethereal grace to ballet, and the music, oh my, the music! You simply can't imagine how spellbinding the whole experience would be. It was a celebration of the body and its ethereal lightness, a departure from the rigid elegance of traditional court ballets.
Now, this was an incredibly popular ballet, darling. And like all trends, people started imitating its unique style.
Just as my mission is to have everyone in a pink tutu, everyone back then wanted to look like a 'Sylphide.' You can even find examples of fashion illustrations of fashionable women sporting tutus - they were worn everywhere, even as street wear! We love a bit of cross-pollination of fashion, don't we? A bit of *high-fashion, everyday fashion, whatever fits! It's the ballet tutus that really caught the eye - imagine them in pink! I simply can't help myself. 😉
Did you know that "La Sylphide" even had a special 'tutu' in its own pink hue?
Now, picture yourself transported to Paris, on August 18, 1840. The lights are dim, the theatre hums with excitement, and on the stage, a delicate, dreamy creature with flowing white gauze and twinkling shoes dances for you, inspiring everyone watching to twirl, to move freely, and most importantly, to express themselves in an entirely new way.
And you know what, darlings? That's my wish for you all, to dance freely, to express yourselves, and to wear those lovely, airy tutus, all while looking perfectly chic and sophisticated!
Until next Tuesday, I shall leave you with my love, some tutus and perhaps a sprinkle of magic!
Much love,
Emma 💕
Oh, before you go, let me know what you would wear as your 'everyday tutu' style!
I must tell you that my last trip in the time machine took me to 1950's England! (For some reason I adore going back to that time period for the styles!). Imagine all of those delicious tulle dresses! They are my most favorite! I am also smitten with Audrey Hepburn's dancing styles in movies!
For you, I will tell you all about my next #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History in the time machine! And until then, enjoy twirling about and looking amazing. I can't wait to see what you all wear. 😉
Let's chat! What's your favorite historical ballet period, and tell me what colours you want to see those beautiful, free flowing tutus in!
See you next week!
Please leave your thoughts in the comments below! And remember to join the conversation! Use #PinkTutu on Instagram to share your outfits! I love seeing them. ❤️
www.pink-tutu.com
