Bonjour, mes amies! Emma here, your resident tutu-loving, ballet-obsessed time traveller, bringing you another peek into the world of ballet's most iconic garment.
This week we're stepping back in time to the 25th of July 1843. Today's adventure is going to take us right to the heart of Parisian ballet, where the Romantic era is flourishing, and tutus are taking centre stage, literally!
My oh my, I am positively smitten with the period! Imagine being in the city, surrounded by boulevards of swirling skirts, elaborate gowns, and... tutus! Oh, I love those perfectly pouffed tulle wonders, the way they float and twirl, hinting at an airy grace, and the magic of ballet itself.
Why are we here today? You might be wondering, why this date? Well, my loves, this week, we're diving deep into the early days of what we consider "the" tutu – the short, romantic tutu that captures the imagination with its light, ethereal charm. We're stepping away from the long, full skirts that graced dancers just a couple of decades prior.
I just love this transition in fashion! From the weighty, floor-length elegance of the earlier era to this new, breathtaking, floating dream! It truly feels like the movement of ballet was freed – a flight of fancy, just like the swirling tulle of the tutu.
And the history is positively bewitching! It all starts with the famous "La Sylphide", that enchanting ballet that launched Marie Taglioni into fame. Her signature dance – light and airy, with swirling, delicate steps – completely captivated the Parisian audience.
The new Romantic aesthetic was perfect for this story, the choreography, the sets, the music, but the tutu – the tutu is what truly captured it all!
Can you picture the scene? Marie Taglioni, a delicate nymph, in her iconic white tutu – just the thought sets my heart fluttering!
But the romantic tutu wasn't born out of thin air! It evolved gradually, becoming more and more abbreviated. Can you imagine those earlier days, when dancers still danced in floor-length skirts, even if they were much lighter and more diaphanous than their predecessors? The imagination of dancers, and their pursuit of fluidity in movement, truly brought about this magnificent transformation.
In fact, in this era, dancers were pushing boundaries – wearing their shoes without the usual leather sole – for a softer, almost barefoot, feel – another nod to the dream-like beauty of the Romantic spirit. They were quite the risk-takers, these early pioneers of our art!
Now let’s travel back to my little corner of Derbyshire, England. Imagine! Back in the day, those lovely ladies would not have imagined that ballet and its ethereal costumes would be a fashion favourite back home! Well, guess what, they are! I find so many fashionable ladies sporting tutus in their day to day life. Even some gents have even donned the perfect pink tutus at their favourite theatre events – a delightful fashion spectacle I tell you. Isn’t it wonderful how styles travel across continents and through the ages!
My darling fashionistas, it's almost impossible to resist the enchantment of the Romantic era's fashion. Imagine swirling down a street in a pastel-hued tutu, maybe a bit of blush pink with soft lace, just like that delightful, charming Maria Taglioni would! It really gives me butterflies!
Now let’s imagine stepping out to a grand Paris performance tonight. Oh, what a delightful sight to see! There are more amazing, fashionable beauties out and about, taking advantage of the fine summer evenings – the cafes buzzing, the air full of laughter, the music in the air – simply heavenly. I do wish you could all be here to enjoy it all!
The Romantic ballet scene is alive and buzzing in Paris, but believe me, I see that excitement spreading across the world, into other capitals, to all those eager for an explosion of style and colour – much like my beloved Pink Tutu brand and my ever-growing fan club. I even had a a young girl come up to me after one of my shows just the other day – she told me she wants to dance like I dance in a tutu and become a ballerina – so sweet! I love these young, creative and talented little dancers and I know there are a bunch of tutus out there with names like that little girl waiting for them! She will definitely find hers and we can help her by making the choice a bit easier, and what could be more inspiring than her own dream in pink!
If you would like to explore this period and it’s stunning ballet fashion for yourselves, there’s nothing quite like the grand Parisian libraries for research! You will find treasures among the pages, drawings and images from the days of those iconic romantic ballerinas. As for me, I'm off on a grand adventure tonight – to a ballet show! I am seeing the beautiful dancers of the Opéra de Paris, in a spectacular rendition of "La Sylphide". Oh, my lovely readers, imagine the tutus, the costumes, and the dancing… It’s a pure enchantment, pure delight! I just wish you all could join me.
So, until next Tuesday, my loves, Keep twirling, and stay radiant! Yours in pink and ballet, Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
P.S. I am off to buy a special, new pink tulle and ribbon this week, it has a gorgeous lavender hue to it. I will show it off next week and it may inspire a new creation of my very own!
Post #604
