"Hello my dearest readers! Emma here, writing to you from a lovely little Parisian café. As always, it's #TutuTuesday, and this week we're taking a trip back in time to the 10th November 1840! The year 1840 was a really exciting time for ballet, and I've got lots to tell you about today.
You can imagine, darling, that in those days, the tutus weren't the flamboyant frothy confections we see on stage today. They were a lot simpler, and for a long time, not even called tutus at all. I mean, let's face it, who wouldn't have fallen for this idea? A dance costume made of tulle! Can you even imagine a dance costume without tulle? What else could you use? Velvet? Linen? The idea was truly revolutionary!
I do wish I could share a picture with you of myself standing here today wearing a true 1840's-style ballet costume, but my time travelling gear does get in the way of posing in some outfits. I'd be the talk of the town, my dears, in such a design. Such style, and it would make the biggest splash for my Pink Tutu blog! This wouldn't be the right blog for me to do a post with me wearing a Victorian undergarment and nothing else - just wouldn't do for Pink Tutu readers! I don't fancy getting into trouble in the past, though!
The costumes in the 1840s were far more modest than today. They usually involved layers of white fabric - linen, cotton or silk - gathered at the waist and reaching a little below the knees. There were often floral decorations sewn on the skirts to make them prettier. These outfits were designed for comfort, and movement rather than to create any kind of visual spectacle. That, darling, would all change very shortly.
I have the best time in the past, my dears! Travelling to Paris to get my ballet on for the sake of fashion and ballet research is very necessary for a time traveller and fashion blogger!
This week's journey, 1840, the fashion wasn't very extravagant but it was an exciting year for ballet in Paris! In this beautiful city, a very special ballerina was causing quite a stir: Carlotta Grisi! A truly iconic performer, with an incredibly glamorous and elegant presence on the stage! This week I'll focus on Carlotta.
The very lovely Carlotta was considered one of the greatest ballerinas of her era. She was not just a beautiful, strong dancer with an ability to express the art of ballet, but she also pushed boundaries with her unique sense of style. This is when fashion and ballet began to merge in the early days of ballet as a recognisable art form in its own right, and so did the development of ballet shoes, and the shape of the tutu, for better movement on the stage! There is much to write about in ballet, but right now I want to focus on Carlotta!
This year Carlotta captivated Parisian audiences with her role as Giselle - a dance I must see - one day soon! This ballet by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot (such dashing men!) had a huge impact, a bit like The Nutcracker - you'll just have to see it for yourself. A beautiful tale of love and sacrifice, it's a story that will always resonate.
To prepare for Giselle Carlotta wore a tutu that was a revolutionary concept - short, for one, and revealing more of the leg and thigh. Not just that, it was designed to allow freedom of movement. You see, this costume revolution would soon explode. The new, shorter tulle design had a romantic element and would help develop new movement and expression on the stage for ballerinas like Carlotta. A lot of other performers didn't like this short new look at all, but it had to be done, don't you think, dears? Change is necessary and exciting and beautiful. It just works, the short tutu does.
In the late 1830's, ballerinas had their long, graceful steps confined by their costumes. The new, romantic approach with shorter skirts allowed the women's legs and arms to really take center stage. It helped give them the freedom of movement they craved to express the artistry that was ballet in a far more artistic way. And the results of this shorter tutu would set the foundations for the more intricate tutus of later years - tutus that had huge, flouncy tulle layers! Imagine!
To help create an aura of light, weightlessness and beauty in the show Giselle , the color of this shorter tutu for Carlotta was, you guessed it, pink, dear! Such a feminine colour and how appropriate - such a daring move for Carlotta - the colour was so different to what other ballerinas were wearing at this time.
The public was mesmerized! Can you believe it, my dears! I imagine it must have been magical to see it! They even gave Carlotta special attention for the design of this costume that truly took ballet to a new and glamorous level - the look of romance and artistry, as well as lightness.
Oh, and how it would impact ballet and the art of dancing. This one tutu design is an important part of history, my dears. This new design by Charles-Albert Besche had layers of delicate pale pink tulle - the effect would soon change the art of ballet altogether! A short dress, it was designed in 1841 for the show Giselle, making Carlotta's tutu revolutionary and truly unique! The new look really set the tone for future tutu fashion - they would change and adapt to be so different as time passed, so we now have all these diverse styles. But we can see how all these different forms, all started with the romantic look and soft pale pink design for the famous Giselle costume by Charles-Albert Besche!
Let's rewind the tape, though - I do hope I didn't jump the gun - back to 1840. Even though that little bit of innovation wouldn't appear until the next year, Carlotta did a wonderful performance as Giselle!
You see, in 1840 she performed in an unusual opera house called the Salle Ventadour, which stood on the Rue de Richelieu and later was demolished to create the building that now stands where The Comédie-Française sits. It is so amazing what has happened in this lovely city over time. The show Giselle would run for several months, so there was a real buzz around her! Can you imagine? So exciting for Carlotta - for a real taste of what was going to happen next! She was certainly leading the way, dear readers! She set a really big stage for what would happen later with her beautiful tutu!
Speaking of my blog, Pink Tutu... there are quite a lot of shops in Paris, dear readers, and so I have discovered some truly beautiful tulle fabrics this week in my research for this post, so you must see what they have available for sale this Christmas! This will help you put your own special pink spin on a very beautiful tulle creation! There's nothing more chic, really, when done in a chic and elegant way!
Right, I have to sign off. There's lots of exploring to do and time-travelling to get back to Derbyshire to have a nice cup of tea! Do you know, one thing I find completely strange, my dears, in my trips through time? I just can't find the best cup of tea anywhere in the world except the one back in England. It's truly shocking. Even the very best café in Paris has a terrible tea!
Anyway, until next Tuesday, my dears, be bold and wear pink, and take inspiration from a true trailblazer! Do take my pink advice on how to make tutus of the future. Until next week, when we explore more of the history of ballet fashion. If you would like to comment, or have any ballet history you would like me to write about in this blog, just let me know. And let's hear it for Carlotta Grisi.
A bientôt mes chéries! Emma xxx
[IMAGE] : A picture of Emma holding a beautiful pink ballet tutu. The pink is pale, like Carlotta's famous tutu, and she has her arm around the waist of a Parisian gentleman with a mustache who is dressed in a tuxedo and cravat.
[IMAGE] An artistic illustration showing a ballerina wearing Carlotta's first famous Giselle pale pink tutu.
