Bonjour, darlings! Emma here, your #TutuTuesday blogger, reporting live from the dazzling heart of Paris! It’s such a joy to be here again, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere and reveling in the fashion! Paris is undoubtedly the epicentre of style and, of course, ballet. Oh, it’s a dream!
And today's #TutuTuesday is particularly exciting, as we delve into a year that brought about a significant change in the world of ballet fashion – 1842!
Hold onto your tulle, sweeties, because it's a big one!
Today marks the anniversary of Marie Taglioni's triumphant debut as La Sylphide! Think of it, darling - it's almost a hundred years ago! * I'm sure some of you have seen pictures of her legendary, billowing *white tutu, a testament to the dramatic shift in ballet attire. This was no ordinary dress! This was revolutionary! This was, let's face it, utterly breathtaking. Imagine it: a soft, wispy cloud of white fabric, barely skimming the floor as Marie floated through the dance, a perfect ballerina-swan! Talk about dramatic impact! It transformed not only the way ballerinas danced, but how the entire audience envisioned ballet itself. It was revolutionary! The lightness, the freedom of movement, the airiness, the absolute romanticism of it! Oh, to have witnessed this moment! Just as Marie was transforming ballet with her movements, her white tutu revolutionized how the entire world saw dance! What a day! And such an era of elegant revolution. It’s easy to understand why this was such a defining moment in the history of ballet!
I just love seeing the echoes of this incredible change in how ballerinas dress today, and I can see how it has evolved to become the inspiration behind so many designs we wear on stage and off, and of course - the beautiful, whimsical pink tutus we are loving today! We still feel that elegance, the grace, the pure poetry of the movement in this evolution, but it’s so fascinating to see how it has continued to change and develop!
Now, what did the world look like around this pivotal date in ballet history? Let’s take a little tour together through some interesting tidbits…
Fashion Scene in 1842:
1842, darlings, was the age of crinolines! We all remember the enormous skirts worn by fashionable ladies, which allowed them to move about with elegance. They were also an opportunity for the expression of intricate designs and stunning fabric choices! I’m obsessed with the details from this era! They are SO sophisticated. And remember, that while our world is becoming much more egalitarian - that wasn't the reality in 1842, darling! We had layers of petticoats (often in cotton or linen), then those luxurious silks, satins, or wools layered on top - sometimes in two layers, sometimes four layers, oh, the dramatics! We've been inspired by them! It makes me yearn for the grand ballrooms of that era, surrounded by those beautiful shapes and those incredible fabrics!
Imagine the fabrics – brocades, velvet, lace, silks in every conceivable shade! There are vintage shops to find all of these amazing items all over London, don't you know, and we try to visit as often as we can to take inspiration! It’s hard to resist! And of course, every time I’m in Paris, I get lost in the amazing shops near the Louvre – so many exquisite treasures from a beautiful time!
The year 1842 saw the fashionable waistline move to a much higher level on the bodice. These gorgeous hourglass silhouettes created by these higher waists have certainly returned to the world of fashion in recent years! The crinolines, of course, created voluminous shapes, all made possible through careful, elegant crafting techniques! We owe so much of modern day haute couture to the ingenious minds behind this historical fashion! Oh, darling, it’s fashion heaven!
Oh, the fashion accessories that went along with this amazing period! I think this was the age that the “perfect outfit” began. No mere throw-on here! No, every element was considered, every stitch a work of art! Every fabric, every seam was part of a design and was as essential as every pearl in a necklace, every button, every shoe, and every piece of jewelry! They’ve had a definite influence on today’s modern runway fashions – especially that “more is more” ethos when it comes to jewelry! A truly dramatic look that never goes out of style! Imagine our fabulous hair styles, oh the wonderful curls, those dramatic pins! Everything carefully placed – oh! the effort and beauty it takes to put these incredible creations together – you have to admire the artistry.
I find it’s always such a wonderful feeling when a modern fashion design pays homage to its elegant historical inspirations.
What did our ballerinas do during this period?
Now, you wouldn’t be caught dead in your ordinary clothes when going to see a performance of La Sylphide. It was such a time when theater and music held such important places in our cultural lives! Everyone loved a little show, and especially ballet! Going to see a performance was not simply about entertainment, it was an event! *It was an experience to share, and something to dress up for! Ballet became, darling, something like a religion! There’s nothing better than the way it makes me feel to get lost in the emotion and artistry of a show! And then – what better than to sit with some champagne and chat with friends afterward? Oh darling! Don't you know? I dream of those golden days! *That's the true glamour of it, darling. It makes me want to time travel! So I'm trying to capture those incredible moments with my #TutuTuesday blogs, of course.
*But back to those wonderful dancers in 1842 - and the revolution they caused... *
That little bit of fabric, that white tutu, meant that women were beginning to enjoy a freedom of movement that was entirely new and wonderful. I can see it as a sign that women were about to have an enormous influence on our world, beginning, perhaps, with their dancing! And now it's inspiring my beautiful pink tutus! Just as revolutionary! And in these early days of ballet as a profession for women, it made a statement - they had become artists who influenced fashion and the art world in ways no one could have imagined back then. It was just the beginning. And I think, my lovelies, there is always, always something more. What will this next generation create? What revolutionary change is happening right now that we don't yet understand, but we know, somehow, in our souls, it's coming!
As I look at the history of ballet, I see the story of our ancestors’ desires for beautiful things - their love of fabric, their fascination with dance, the power of movement, and, dare I say it, a hint of their dreams! And oh how this desire continues to flourish through the years – right through to today’s fashion world, the exciting choreography of new ballerinas, and all of our lovely pink tutus! It’s a wonderful, powerful thing, and I can’t wait to share more about it with all of you on next week’s #TutuTuesday! Until then – keep dreaming! Keep dancing! And, of course – Keep your love for ballet pink alive!
With love,
Emma x
Emma's Tutu Shop. You can find Emma's favorite tutus at www.pink-tutu.com . Be sure to check out our entire collection! And stay up-to-date by signing up for Emma’s monthly newsletter and exclusive updates on ballet-inspired fashions! You can sign up by sending a letter to our headquarters in London – address to follow soon on this website!
