Good morning lovelies! š©° Itās me, Emma, your favourite pink tutu-wearing time traveller! Iām thrilled to be back with another #TutuTuesday blog post from my latest jaunt through time! This week, Iāve hopped aboard the express train to ā¦ (drumroll, please!)ā¦ 1842! Can you believe it?!
Now, 1842 was a pivotal year for tutus. Just imagine! While Iām sporting my fluffy, cloud-like tulle skirt, women were still sporting crinolines and bustles ā a whole lotta fabric! It makes my petticoats look positively minimal.
I've arrived in the heart of Parisian ballet, which was truly blooming with exciting performances and stunning fashions! This era, itās where the tutus really began to transform from what youād see on a dancer back in the early 1800s to the modern day tulle confection we know and love today. Think elegant lines, more movement, and a greater focus on highlighting the dancers' artistry. Oh, and let's not forget the beauty of the colour pink! Pink was already beginning to capture hearts - a beautiful nod to the innocence and elegance of ballet! It really brought the whole romantic ballet aesthetic to life, you see?
Now, before we jump into the tutu timeline of this glorious day, let's talk about today's inspiration - I spotted the most stunning shade of pink while browsing at a fabric store just around the corner from the OpĆ©ra Garnier, which I must tell you, is positively enchanting, the best ballet house Iāve ever seen in all my travels!
My journey today, though, will take us on a very different train, a time machine ride to a little-known, but incredibly interesting, moment in history:
What's the buzz on the 11th of January, 1842?
On this very day, "Giselle," one of the most romantic ballet masterpieces ever composed, was performed for the first time! Can you imagine?! I can just picture the excited whispers amongst the audience and the applause after that spectacular final scene. Oh, my! I'd be bursting with excitement, I can tell you. Now, I may not have travelled back to see the performance myself (much to my disappointment! Perhaps a little time-bending might just be in order laterā¦ ) but Iāve devoured all the historic records and information available - I am, after all, a history nerd, and a big fan of ballet! You can just picture it; the ethereal beauty of Giselle as she takes to the stage, a true ballet icon!
Now, about those tutus, loveliesā¦
"Giselle" was revolutionary for its costumes, particularly those worn by the wilis, those mysterious ghostly women, draped in light and airy tulle. Their graceful movements in those romantic tutus took ballet costumes to another level entirely. They were elegant, flowing, and almost translucent. The soft and diaphanous nature of the fabric created a hauntingly beautiful illusion, adding an otherworldly magic to the performance, wouldn't you say?
Imagine that, my dearest tutu lovers, how different those first audiences must have been to our modern ballet experiences! I feel it, a wave of joy and excitement every time I think about how these tiny but important steps forward revolutionised the ballet costume of the time. Weāve got to thank those bold costume designers of the time, for stepping up and daring to experiment with this wonderful, light fabric - it really paved the way for today's iconic look. And I wouldnāt trade my Tulle heaven for the world, I can assure you.
Now, the āGiselleā tutu is now considered to be the forerunner of the modern Romantic Tutu, with a shorter length that highlights the graceful lines of the dancer. This is why Romantic tutus have had such an enduring appeal and are still the foundation for many ballet costumes worn on stage today. Just like the ballet traditions they are born of, these timeless, graceful garments are ever-changing, evolving, with some staying classically traditional and others, taking bolder new, contemporary shapes.
What an era, wouldnāt you say? It truly captured a love affair with ethereal beauty. As the "Giselle" performance resonated around the world, it ushered in an exciting time for dance, fashion and, most importantly, those glorious tutus, donāt you think?
A sneak peek into what I'm wearing:
For my Parisian adventures today, I am adorned in a stunning tulle confection thatās reminiscent of the original "Giselle" wilisā attire. I've even added a splash of romantic pink to the design, and let me tell you, the compliments I'm receiving are simply divine! It's all about embracing the beauty and magic of dance through fashion, wouldn't you agree?
And, because sharing is caringā¦
Letās create a bit of āGiselleā magic with your favourite tutus this week! Snap some photos of you rocking your tulle favourites (remember those fabulous #tutuselfies!). Donāt forget to share your pictures using #TutuTuesday and #GiselleTutu on Instagram and tag me @EmmaPinkTutu - I'd love to see what you're rocking, you fashionable bunch! Now go forth and let your pinkest dreams come true, my lovelies!
Stay stylish and keep twirling, Emma x
* P.S. Stay tuned for the next #TutuTuesday post, where I'll be exploring the fashion trends and styles of the āBallet Russesā, and perhaps have a little peek at a fashion secretā¦*
I'm Emma! Follow my adventures on www.pink-tutu.com ! From Paris, to London toā¦well, the world! And letās spread a little pink tulle joy wherever we go. * #pinktutulove!*
