Hello my darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu, your one-stop shop for all things tulle and twirling! I'm your host, Emma, and this week I'm taking you on a journey back to the year 1844! Imagine, my dears, a world without the beautiful billowing tulle we adore! 😱😱😱
But before we journey into the past, I just have to share something delightful with you! You wouldn't believe what happened to me in Paris last week. I was shopping for the most glorious pair of pink silk slippers in the Marais district when I stumbled upon the most exquisite vintage shop. Inside, I discovered a real antique – a hand-stitched, double-layered tulle tutu from the early 1900s! Oh, the delicate blush shade! I felt like I had stepped out of a Marie Antoinette portrait! It's now hanging in my living room, reminding me that some things never go out of style. 😉
Anyway, back to our history lesson! December 31st, 1844. This date is rather…lacking in any spectacular ballet world happenings! But let's be honest, my darlings, sometimes the most interesting things happen behind the scenes! 🤫
On this very date, in the bustling theatre district of London, a very famous ballerina called Fanny Elssler, she was an absolute sensation – her legwork was said to be unmatched! She was rehearsing a new piece by a young, talented composer named Johann Strauss. They say the entire company, from the principal dancers down to the corps de ballet, was excited for this new piece!
It’s a known fact, you see, that some ballerinas – even in the mid-19th century – loved a touch of colour. Pink? Absolutely! Blue? You bet! And the rumour around this time is that there was even an adventurous ballerina wearing a rather fabulous crimson tutu, but alas, no proof of such an existence. (Perhaps a good research topic for next week’s #TutuTuesday, eh?)
Think about it, dear reader! In 1844, the world of ballet was full of amazing things happening. We've still got a little while to wait for the grand ballerinas of the late 19th century to rise to stardom. But we're seeing the emergence of a world where dancers are pushing boundaries – experimenting with new styles and forms, exploring movement and expression with a freedom rarely seen before.
Of course, the fashion! Oh, the fashion! Think luxurious velvet dresses, satin slippers, and silk stockings – an explosion of femininity, quite unlike what you'll see today. A little less sparkle and a lot more grace, darling, and trust me, no less alluring.
Speaking of grace, can we talk about the movement in these pre-tutu days? Imagine long, fluid lines, a delicate use of the body, a lightness and elegance that is just utterly spellbinding.
And what’s all this about lack of tutu, you might be asking, darling? Well, here’s the fascinating thing about the 1844 ballet world. While you can see our beloved tutu silhouette in earlier theatrical performances, particularly for theatrical spectacle, the tutu we know and love wouldn’t fully emerge for another couple of decades.
Instead, the ballerinas of this era would be adorning a 'short dress' with layers of ruffles and trimmings, very romantic, almost whimsical! They even had an adorable sort of little, flat bonnet, with delicate ribbons, quite different from what we have today. Imagine dancing on pointe, but with your skirt just skimming your feet – now that’s elegance!
I think it's rather romantic to imagine ballerinas of the 19th century, swaying and flowing, a world before tutus but filled with the enchantment and magic of dance.
So, my dearest Tutu-loving darlings! This Tuesday, let's think back to those bygone eras. While the tutus may not have taken center stage yet, the love for dance, for grace, for captivating audiences, that is a timeless tale.
As for me, well, I’m off on a train journey to Edinburgh – it’s for a ballet performance. Naturally! I just had to try on my vintage find and twirl a bit, because honestly, sometimes there’s nothing more magical than slipping into something utterly enchanting, with just the right amount of tulle and the right kind of blush!
Until next Tuesday, darling! Remember:
Pink tutus make the world a prettier place!
Love,
Emma xx
