#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1842-01-25

Hello lovelies! It's Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-wearing time traveller! Welcome back to another edition of #TutuTuesday, where we delve into the captivating history of the iconic ballet tutu. Today, we're whisking ourselves back to January 25th, 1842. Can you believe it? I can practically feel the Victorian air already!

Now, for the period we're visiting, London is the hub for all things fabulous! It’s a whirlwind of fashion, entertainment, and yes, you guessed it… ballet!

Before we embark on our sartorial journey, let me quickly tell you about how I got here! You see, a little secret: I travel through time thanks to the magical power of… ballet performances! Every grand pirouette, every graceful plié, spins me across the decades. A bit of a trade, but I wouldn't have it any other way! My recent gig at the Covent Garden was particularly dreamy. It seems the audience adored my graceful moves and rosy, frilled costume.

Speaking of costumes, our journey takes us to the era of Marie Taglioni, the very image of delicate elegance. In 1842, the grand ballerinas wore billowing, gauzy skirts with tight bodices - think of the very first ballerinas in your favourite Disney stories! Their airy grace seemed to float on the stage, leaving a trail of delicate, diaphanous magic. This style was quite different to the short, puffy tutu of today - more about delicate wispy elegance than revealing, athletic style. It was revolutionary, it was exciting, and the women in those big, billowing skirts absolutely shone.

But here’s the catch: while Marie Taglioni’s style was truly beautiful, it didn’t always stay perfectly on during pirouettes and grand jetés! The wind would catch the layers, creating a graceful (but not planned) “twirl”. I’m guessing some dancers might have ended up with a little extra “twirl” they hadn’t expected! Imagine if a dancer was getting ready to do a high jump during an athletic competition… if they were wearing the 1842 style!

Let's talk about fabric for a minute, shall we? Back then, ballerinas embraced the luxury of silks and velvets, fabrics that moved like whispers and dripped with an ethereal beauty. Think of that shimmering satin feeling… I'm practically reaching out for it across time! But… can you imagine washing all that silk?! I'm grateful for modern synthetics and that amazing feeling of fresh, new tutus ready to be danced in. A quick whirl in the machine… done!

Even though my Victorian counterparts weren't waltzing around in the pink, frothy tutus we love today, the excitement surrounding the evolution of the ballet skirt was incredible. It truly shaped how we dance and view ballet today. It’s hard to believe that it’s all come from this elegant but slightly more unwieldy time.

Of course, with this #TutuTuesday post being a quick time travel jaunt back to January 25th, 1842, it's not only about ballet! I always do a little fashion-shopping while I'm travelling. Here in 1842, the London fashion scene is as enchanting as the dance performances themselves!

Imagine yourself stepping into the luxurious shops of Bond Street, a haven for elegant frocks, lace shawls, and bonnets with their little feather decorations. It’s an absolute delight!

So, lovelies, that wraps up our historical fashion jaunt to 1842! Remember to grab your fanciest tutus, add a touch of lace and sparkle, and dream of those billowing skirts!

But, like I always say, we all should be aiming to dance a little brighter! Do your hair in a beautiful twist, embrace your style and let's take the pink-tutu movement to the world! I'll be travelling to another fun-filled fashion historical destination for next Tuesday's post! I am always keeping a sharp eye on the fashion scene to keep you up-to-date with #TutuTuesday! And be sure to join the fabulous #pinktutu movement on www.pink-tutu.com ! See you all there. Until then, go out and dance!