#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1845-05-27

Hello my darlings, and welcome back to another #TutuTuesday on Pink-Tutu.com! I'm your favourite time-travelling tutu aficionado, Emma, back from another delightful trip through the ages to bring you all the fascinating history of the ballet tutu, and this week, I'm heading back to 1845, just a little over 178 years ago! It's amazing to think, even in this era of long, swirling skirts and restrictive corsets, how much ballet and fashion was changing. But I promise, this post is packed with delightful insights for any fan of tutus!

Oh, before we dive in, this is my 700th blog post for Pink-Tutu! That's 700 weeks of tutu trivia, historical highlights, and pure, unadulterated love of these glorious garments. You truly are the most amazing bunch of tutu enthusiasts in the whole wide world! I simply must reward your wonderful support with an extra special something. How about... a giveaway?! Yes! I'm giving away a brand-new pink tutu from my favourite boutique in Paris! Keep your eyes peeled on the blog for more details in the next week!

So, back to 1845! Imagine the hustle and bustle of London - cobbled streets, carriages clip-clopping by, and everywhere, fashion is in flux! Now imagine if I popped up, in my vibrant pink tutu! I imagine the expressions! This period is just starting to see ballet grow into a proper art form. Before this time, dancing was just a part of a performance - plays with songs and some moving around, a spectacle for sure! Now though, it's turning into more than a distraction. Imagine it, ballet is developing into its own, graceful, elegant story, and I just know my pink tutu would be perfect for adding some excitement to it.

Speaking of change, just picture it! The big skirts of the Victorian era were still dominant. Think long flowing gowns and crinoline - fabric piled high and heavy on ladies' bodies! It made movement really difficult! The tutus we love, the iconic, romantic, wispy tutus with those short, delicate layers, that's just beginning to emerge, and only for ballerinas. Can you believe it, you’d never find a woman of fashion on the street wearing that! No way, you could never even get onto the train wearing a tutu, think of the mess. Of course, if I were there in the crowd, you would have spotted me! I'd be a beacon of pink amidst the dark fabrics and long lengths of Victorian ladies, a real statement, especially alongside the crinoline!

Let's talk about crinoline, a magical invention made of wire frames, creating such a big, flowing skirt it could be a real problem for movement, let alone any form of ballet. The big skirt would drag the fabric of your clothes with it! A real nightmare for dancers who need freedom to leap, twirl and extend their movements. Thankfully, it was almost out of fashion by the time we arrive in 1845, so let's just thank the ladies of the 1840s! I feel for them in the tight-laced bodices though, not fun!

But this change! It means tutus are coming to the fore. Not just the wispy layers either, a full, billowing silhouette was still fashionable for stage wear in 1845! It's like, wow, it's the tutu as a 'baby' stage, before it becomes the icon of grace and elegance it is now! If I ever find myself in a ball room back in the day I shall wear my big full tutu and show these fine ladies just how comfortable it is for a graceful waltz or elegant spin. The look of wonder in their eyes as I gracefully waltz will surely make the whole event a delight.

But what inspires these tutus? History, my darlings, it always goes back in time! Now, the Italian ballet was a big deal around the 1830s and 40s! A revolution! In Italy, fashion was moving ahead fast, and the ballerinas adopted new garments: shorter skirts for easier movement! You see, Italy has always had that flamboyant touch, an art and flair of design. Think about it, they are the creators of such stunning architecture, clothing for their ballet stars needs to be spectacular!

Their tutus at this time still involved long skirts, but they were lighter, smoother fabrics like gauze, more forgiving for movement! Can you imagine it, more freedom for dancers, imagine it whispering in the breeze! Oh, the grace! The movement! A dream!

You know, there’s so much more to discover! I feel I just cannot go into a post about this period without bringing up another important thing for tutus - the * *Russian Ballet! This is a pivotal moment, 1845 was about to see the growth and fame of ballet companies. Not only that but a big movement into more artistic expressions and costumes and the dancers moving out of the ballet studios into bigger, more exciting theaters. It’s time for tutus to take centre stage and be seen by all!

You see, in Russia they had amazing talent and the boldness to use new and unusual techniques in performance! A blend of drama, athleticism, and art! Can't you just picture it, dancers with strength yet also an almost impossible fluidity? And guess what? It meant the tutu changed its role again, going even more towards what we see today - short skirts, free-flowing lines! It’s an important time to make your own look! That’s why, my Pink-Tutu! I’ve never met a person who looked more beautiful than in a pink tutu!

Of course, ballet was also spreading all around Europe. Imagine, trains beginning to get everywhere faster and faster and the stars going to all these amazing countries, spreading their style of ballet with them! Think Paris, London, Vienna! Imagine the glamorous fashion of these places, and think about how our lovely ballet tutus become synonymous with high-society elegance and luxury, which of course, will also bring about more changes as they continue to evolve! Oh, you know I will have to hop back in time to explore them too! What an amazing adventure we're on!

### Looking to the Future - A Pink Tutu Promise!

And that, my darlings, is where our Tutu Tuesday story concludes for this week! We’ve explored 1845 and seen how much change was happening to the tutu. From crinolines to new materials, to new ballet companies springing up everywhere - and guess what? They will still be evolving even more as we get closer to the times you love now.

Do you see how history can have so much passion? But there's so much more I can share - there's the romantic tutu we adore with layers, and of course more to come as the tutus take new shapes. Keep visiting the Pink-Tutu.com blog for more insights into this incredible garment, and remember – if you are a true lover of tutus, like myself, everyone should be sporting a pink tutu!

I cannot wait to share all the new stories I find and maybe next time I can even include some tips and tutorials to make the pink tutu you dream about ! Keep dancing my lovelies, until next time, and stay pink!

P.S I might be wearing my best pink tutu on Friday, May 27th to enjoy a new Ballet production of Giselle. Wish me luck! 💖