Hello darlings! It's Emma here, back from another jaunt through time, and oh my goodness, do I have a treat for you this #TutuTuesday! As you know, I'm obsessed with the history of the tutu, and today we're stepping back to 1843. Buckle up your petticoats, grab a cuppa, and get ready to be transported to the world of Parisian fashion!
This week, we're celebrating 5th December 1843, which was a rather special day for the world of dance. You see, it's the birthday of Carlotta Grisi, a ballerina who is famous for more than just her exceptional talent. Grisi was, drumroll please, the first to grace the stage in a tutu, as we know it today! That's right, the iconic shorter, layered, tulle confection was actually born in this year!
I know, you're probably thinking, "But Emma, what about all those Romantic ballet costumes from the 1830s? Surely those were tutus!" Well, yes and no. The skirts worn by ballerinas in those days were certainly voluminous, but they were more like long, full skirts, with intricate embroidery and decorative embellishments, hiding layers of stiff crinoline. They certainly didn't allow for the airy grace and free movement we associate with the tutu today.
So what changed in 1843? The shift in costume design came hand in hand with a revolution in dance style. Romantic ballet, with its focus on ethereal beauty and emotional storytelling, demanded more fluidity and expressiveness from its dancers. Enter Grisi and her groundbreaking innovation: The Romantic Tutu!
Imagine a skirt made entirely of soft, gauzy tulle instead of stiff, cumbersome fabrics. Imagine a skirt cropped just above the knee, allowing the dancer's legs to move freely. Imagine layers upon layers of tulle, forming a billowing cloud that seemed to defy gravity! That was the revolutionary Romantic tutu.
The Romantic tutu gave birth to a whole new way of dancing! Suddenly, ballerinas could leap, pirouette, and soar with unprecedented agility. It allowed their every movement to be showcased with ethereal lightness and elegance. And for a young Emma, well, it’s a sheer delight! (Pun absolutely intended!)
It wasn't just the Romantic tutu itself that was revolutionary, but also the way it was worn. Imagine layers and layers of fluffy, dreamy, pale pink tulle - just like I wear on my own adventures! - forming the shape of a perfect little bell. And imagine how they embellished it! Delicate flowers, twinkling jewels, sparkling sequins – you can just picture them taking the stage in a flurry of glittering fabric! Oh, if only we could see them now. Sigh.
Just imagine the spectacle! The audience would be breathless, captivated by the sight of these beautiful dancers twirling and leaping in their airy, billowing tutus. They must have felt transported to another world! I know I'm utterly enthralled by the very idea!
Now, on this very date - 5th December - I decided to pop down to the beautiful Palais Garnier Opera House in Paris. (That's just a hop and a skip away, literally just hop onto the next train and you're there!). Even back then, they loved a bit of extravagance and a fabulous show, but what surprised me, dear reader, is the sheer number of tutus I saw on the street! Not in performances, on the street!
I've told you about those beautiful tulle balls we all know and love - well, they’re definitely catching on. Apparently, fashion has borrowed an idea from the ballet world! And do you know what’s the most popular colour for the fashion folk on this street today? You guessed it - pink!
The streets were a vision in shades of rose, crimson and peach! My eyes absolutely sparkled – the inspiration is bubbling over! The Parisians, they have such wonderful style, always so very on trend. sigh Maybe we can set up a shop for gorgeous pink tutus! My business is calling!
To this day, the Romantic tutu continues to inspire. It's the foundation for the tutus we see in every ballet performance. Every twirl, every leap, every gesture in a ballerina's performance tells a story, a story woven from the legacy of this incredible innovation. And isn’t it time we embraced the power of the tutu, my dearest? Maybe it's time to take a bold step into our own little fairytale!
As always, I'm off on another time-hopping adventure. Let me know what you've learnt about the Romantic tutu and where you can spot some pretty tutus! Remember to visit the website, www.pink-tutu.com for my regular blog posts and exciting events – a world of fashion and dance awaits.
Until next #TutuTuesday, keep it sparkly and pink, darlings!
Love, Emma
