Hello, darling! Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com! 🩰 It's your favourite Tutu-loving blogger, Emma, here with a brand new post on the glorious history of tutus! Today, dear readers, we're whisking you away on a time-travelling adventure to October 5th, 1841 - a rather special day, as you'll see!
Now, I just have to tell you about my train journey - nothing beats a train trip in a pink tutu, darling! You know how much I adore a train journey. The chugging rhythm, the elegant carriages, and the views whizzing by... It's a fabulous way to travel! I even had the chance to wear a lovely pastel pink hat to go with my tutu, a beautiful lace creation that truly captured the spirit of the Victorian era. Oh, how I adore these delicate lace details - so elegant and feminine!
This week's time travel destination took me to Paris, the capital of fashion! How exciting is that? Now, as you're well aware, dear readers, I just love the Parisian ballet scene. So, imagine my delight when I learned that October 5th, 1841 was the day that a stunning young ballerina named Carlotta Grisi graced the stage of the Salle Le Peletier, the iconic opera house in Paris.
Carlotta, the ultimate star of her day, was a renowned Italian ballerina who revolutionized the art of dancing. She brought such beauty and artistry to every performance! As a ballerina who herself loves to perform, I can only imagine the excitement she would have created!
Carlotta wasn't just known for her exquisite skills. Oh no, she was also the pioneer of the now-iconic tulle tutu. Now, imagine a dancer swirling and pirouetting in a cloud of tulle, like an ethereal dream in motion! Imagine how graceful she must have looked, how mesmerising she must have been! It was truly the birth of the tutu we know and love today, and it was thanks to Carlotta Grisi!
I can't resist going to see Carlotta perform tonight, and, naturally, I've made sure to select the perfect outfit to go with the occasion! I'm planning to wear a stunning ballet-inspired frock with layers of ruffled tulle, similar to Carlotta's original design, but of course, mine will be a vibrant, glorious shade of pink! Nothing is more flattering than a perfect shade of pink, especially when watching ballet! You see, it's my goal to spread the love of the pink tutu far and wide! I'm so excited to witness how this amazing dancer moved and mesmerized audiences back then!
Speaking of mesmerising, imagine being at the Salle Le Peletier watching Carlotta, and seeing how her skirt danced with each move. That cloud of tulle, that swish of fabric, it would have been truly magical! I'm sure I would have been swept away just as audiences in the 1840s must have been.
Now, even though the tutu has evolved throughout the years, let's face it - it’s been a staple of ballet for generations!
Oh, but this is just the beginning! You know I'm a sucker for ballet history, and for fashion, darling! I can't wait to explore the evolution of the tutu through the years! Just imagine, a pink tulle masterpiece that whispers "dance" and "romance" in equal measure, what a fantastic adventure that is!
Of course, every good #TutuTuesday blog post requires me to share a few fun facts about tutus.
- Did you know that the word "tutu" actually came from the French slang term "toute toute" meaning "all all"? Well, this refers to the style that the ballerina Maria Taglioni popularized for the first time! It included a fitted bodice and a skirt of multiple layers of tulle with the very, very minimum of embellishment.
- Another fascinating detail, the earliest ballet tutus were very long, resembling bell-shaped skirts! This evolved, darling, into the romantic tutu, as it was known by 1840, with a knee-length skirt, just as seen with the great Carlotta. The tutu then evolved into what we know today, the “Classical” tutu, popular in the late nineteenth century, the tutu became even shorter with a shorter skirt.
Isn’t that simply fascinating? I can't wait to explore the ever-evolving tutu through my travels. Just imagine the beautiful history unfolding before my eyes!
And there you have it! Today's journey through the amazing world of tutus. What an adventure it is to see the development of the iconic ballerina tutu, especially on such a special day in history! I can't wait to go on more incredible adventures like this with you! Be sure to catch me here next Tuesday for another dose of tutu history, darling! #TutuTuesday!
And remember, never be afraid to add a touch of pink to your life! After all, who doesn’t love a good dose of feminine energy and glamour? Go on, embrace your inner ballerina, and spread some pink love!
Your loving ballerina blogger,
Emma
