#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1842-05-10

Bonjour, mes chéries! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! It's your favourite Tutu Tuesday, the day we celebrate the gloriously feminine history of the ballet tutu! And today, we're taking a trip back to 10th May, 1842 – the very heart of Victorian England! Oh, how I love the extravagance of that era, the swirling skirts, the corsets, the lace, the dresses. Just imagine a pink tutu nestled amongst all those billowing silks! Sighs dreamily.

But hold your horses! Before we jump onto the stage, a little update for my dear readers! Did you know that my adventures in time travel have taken me to some truly enchanting places recently? Last week, I had the absolute joy of catching a performance of Giselle at the Opéra Garnier in Paris. Paris! Oh, my darlings, it is just divine – all those ornate buildings, cobbled streets and gorgeous Parisian men! And of course, I made sure to stop by a charming little boutique in the Latin Quarter to treat myself to a hand-painted silk fan with a pink, feathered trim - absolutely delightful.

But let’s get back to our history lesson, shall we? Today, we're focusing on the early days of the ballet tutu. Think full, flowing, romantic skirts. Imagine the silhouettes of the legendary Marie Taglioni, she of the delicate pas de bourrée and that exquisite à la pointe execution! The tutus of her day, my darlings, were designed to be light and flowing, giving the ballerinas an ethereal, otherworldly air.

But 1842! The world of dance was changing, darling. A new era of ballet was just beginning, and the tutu was evolving right alongside it! What’s truly exciting about this era is the move away from the Romantic period and its big, dramatic “romantic” tutus. Imagine long layers of soft tulle – perfect for swirling and twirling, a cloud of silk against the stage lighting.

But you know me, my dear readers, I like to get down to the nitty gritty, and what does a ballerina really care about? The fabric! That’s where this story gets truly exciting! You see, this time, it was a different kind of fabric - not silk, oh no! The new “tulle” that was arriving in the factories around this time! This was a different, lighter, more flexible material that allowed for an explosive expression of movement and flow, all without looking fussy! You can see why this shift made a difference to the tutus themselves, as the dancers sought a lighter, more graceful, almost transparent look. Think gauze, think sheer, imagine the impact on the design. This "gauze-like" fabric allowed for an ever-so-slightly transparent quality to the tulle, and the tutus themselves took on a new shape with increased freedom of movement. And let’s be honest, darling – those legs!

Imagine the beauty of this on stage! Ballerinas floating like nymphs in soft, sheer fabrics, their movements quick and delicate. It’s truly divine, don't you agree? Swoons.

Oh, and don’t get me started on the colours! Pastel shades were big in the 1840s. Pink, of course, always holds a special place in my heart - how perfectly feminine, but so were blues and violets – and the sheer fabric could have divine embroideries, sequins or even delicate jewels to accentuate that feminine feel. It was a truly magical era!

Now, here’s the real excitement, my dears – 10th May, 1842 was a Tuesday, just like today! Fancy that. But did you know what was going on that Tuesday way back when? It was actually a relatively ordinary Tuesday in the history of the UK. It was a time of rapid change though, from a more romantic age to a much faster and exciting one, a little more industrial. What would be extraordinary for the dance world at the time would be seeing what the tutu would look like over the decades that would follow – all because of those new types of materials – like silk, gauze and a new lightweight “tulle.” I, myself, have a whole host of pink tulle tutus that would’ve turned heads during this era – just saying.

Let me know what your favourite eras of ballet tutu history are! Drop me a message and tell me which ones take your fancy! I’m excited to chat all about our favourite subject - tutus - and to delve deeper into history together. Until next time, my lovely lot, stay fashionable and wear pink tutus always!

And that’s a wrap! Emma will be back next week for another exciting edition of Tutu Tuesday! Remember, visit pink-tutu.com to stay updated with all the latest tutu history and insights, and don’t forget to subscribe!

Bisous, Emma x