Hey my darlings! It's Emma here, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com for another Tutu Tuesday!
Oh, darling, this week is special! You know I adore learning about the history of the tutu. Well, this Tuesday, April 9th 1844, marks the date that launched a sartorial revolution! Think fancy, frilly, feminine – because this is the date of the very first tutu! 💖
Before I whisk you back to the beginning, just imagine it – no tutus! Ballets might have been pretty, but think of those puffy, full-length skirts. No delicate movement! Just like a lovely floral tablecloth you have to keep kicking aside as you prance about. Such a bore!
Let me introduce you to the lady who changed ballet forever – Marie Taglioni, a dazzling Italian ballerina, whose talent brought the elegance of dance to life. Now, in 1844, Marie decided to say 'goodbye' to those boring skirts and revolutionized the whole shebang by having a completely new outfit designed.
Now this brand new outfit had to be something special, right?
Well, it was oh so special and very exciting for the time. We’re talking ankle length chiffon and white. The silhouette was light, almost transparent and the new dress moved so freely! Imagine swishing, floating, twirling with a newfound elegance.
That was just the beginning! From then onwards the skirt lengths started shortening and changing, until they finally reached the tiny tutu that we all know and adore today.
Of course, it was an era where fashion, particularly theatrical fashion, was starting to embrace change and move away from the heaviness of the past. And can you imagine how those audience members must have gasped?! They weren’t used to seeing dancers with such freedom of movement. That must have been an incredible, truly magical moment in the history of ballet!
This *date marks the turning point for the ballet tutu.* That's why today I'm going full-out tutu enthusiast and telling you everything I know!
As always, my lovely Tutu Tuesday followers, let's indulge our inner dance aficionado and leap into this fascinating part of history!
I'm picturing my outfit! Today's Tutu Tuesday calls for a delightful ballet pink tutu! One with a hint of sparkle and an adorable fluffy bow at the waist, naturally! To complete the ensemble, a pearl necklace, matching pink satin ballet shoes, and of course, the biggest grin on my face!
I can just picture Marie Taglioni dancing in her revolutionary tutu. I want to thank her today, a real game-changer and a heroine of ballet. Imagine the excitement, and let's say a touch of controversy too. Just a sprinkle of daring and revolutionary fashion right in front of those fashionable ladies and gents in the audience. I just love that mix of excitement and dare to be different feeling that this moment brought about.
Speaking of a mix and being different, don’t forget that all tutus are not made equal. There’s an amazing variety out there! We have romantic tutus, the type Marie would wear, a light, airy design with delicate layers, classical tutus – oh, the epitome of grace and elegant layers.
We have fluffy tutus full of bouncy volume character tutus which tell their own little story with charming details, pas de deux tutus, so beautiful and intricately decorated. My favorite are the tutus they wear at the Bolshoi, especially when they're a pale pastel pink! I might have been lucky enough to snag some from my trip to Moscow earlier this year... 😉
Now let’s have some fun - tutu facts you need to know:
• Tut tut: Tutu isn’t a French word – it actually comes from the Tussah, a kind of rough silk! * Interesting, isn’t it?* • *The tutus became more *iconic with choreographers like Marius Petipa, a master of creating visually spectacular performances, you must know about Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake. Absolute classics! These are my favourites too, so much fantasy and magic within these shows. • It was the time when ballet was becoming more formalized – they really began to appreciate those graceful lines and movements in full swing. Fancy! • Oh the glamour, my darlings! Tutus became increasingly ornate and it seems to have set off an explosion in tutu innovation. Just look at all the layers, stitches, and materials that are involved. I’m convinced there’s nothing more artistic and fashionable than a tutu.
From a short, single layer, tutu to today's extravagant tutus - this dance world favourite is certainly an interesting fashion story in itself. Don’t you just love seeing the ballerina twirl into the spotlight with a *frock full of *attitude? Oh, to be a dancer! The perfect embodiment of femininity. And that's what we like!*
So here's to Tutu Tuesday! What's your favorite tutu style, my darling readers? Tell me all about it below! I'd love to hear from you, and who knows, maybe you’ll inspire my next Tutu Tuesday blog!
Have a wonderful week my darlings, don’t forget to wear your pink tutus,
Emma xx
P.S. Did you know, today, April 9th, 1844 was a Thursday? Not a Tuesday at all. But I wouldn't miss my chance to write about such an iconic piece of clothing - so Tutu Tuesday it shall be! Let’s just call it my creative interpretation of historical freedom. 😉
I hope you've enjoyed this time travelling Tutu Tuesday post!
I’m now going to travel back to Victorian England in search of an even older tutu - because the ballet’s got some wonderful history to tell, and I can’t wait to learn more!
#tutu #ballet #tutuhistory #tututuesday #pink #timetravel #london #fashion #dancing
