#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1845-10-07

Hello, my darling dears, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet, www.pink-tutu.com! It’s #TutuTuesday, and I’m back, bursting with all sorts of tutus-y talk – a bit of history, a pinch of pink, and a dash of my favourite: romance!

As always, I've been zipping around on my favourite time travelling machine (the train! whispers it’s such a fabulous secret…don’t tell anyone!🤫). This week I landed right smack bang in the middle of Paris, oh-la-la, back in 1845! It’s so easy to get swept away by the energy and glamour of this city - especially during the Romantic era. Think fluttering lace, flowing silks, and a yearning for the past, my loves.

So, darling, what’s the story for today? Well, I'm lovingly weaving through the history of the tutu! 💖💖

You know, my lovelies, those fluffy, beautiful, pink, ballet-ready skirts didn’t just appear like magic - oh no! There’s a fascinating story to unpack!

Imagine the theatre back then - no, no, not the sterile, modern buildings we see today! Think elegant opera houses, all plush velvet and twinkling lights.

You wouldn’t have spotted those rigid, pointed tutus of the late 19th century yet - the tutu has a *history my lovelies - quite a journey, actually.*

Let me paint a picture…it’s a lovely warm October night, with the promise of a glorious Autumn around the corner, and the smell of chestnuts roasting in the street - oh how it sends me into a dreamy swoon! You can almost hear the swish of silken skirts on cobblestone, and the clatter of carriage hooves against the street!

On this date, October 7th 1845, something utterly divine happened - something which gave rise to what we know and love as a ‘tutu’! (That little ballerina-loving heart of mine is bursting, just imagining it all!)

This, darling dears, was the first time we saw those adorable knee-length ballet skirts, all airy and fluttery. Imagine long, graceful limbs moving in perfect unison underneath, creating this magical spectacle that, of course, everyone fell in love with. And I mean everyone.

I bet even the most austere, old-fashioned Duchess at the opera house (if you know what I mean! wink wink) was mesmerized! She simply couldn’t *help herself from getting a little swept away by that ballet magic!*

And here’s the delicious irony of it all – it wasn’t so much the “professional dancers” who ushered in the age of the knee-length skirt (I’ll get to that word ‘tutu’ in a jiffy!), but those lovely little cherubs called “ballerini” - a delightful word for the small children who performed at the Paris Opera! They are the original little ballet darlings.

Imagine, my lovelies: these tiny, adorable ballet-ing angel beauties on stage in those first “tutus”. You simply had to melt at that - the sweetest, most captivating performance - that’s where the tutus’ popularity started. I bet those young girls never thought their cute little knee-length ballet skirt would create such a buzz! Oh how history has a sense of humor!

And what about ‘tutu’ itself? Where did that wonderful, magical word originate? Hmm...a delicious mystery! 🍲🤫

We have to dive a little deeper, explore the French influence, my lovelies. We have to journey a bit, but the truth always lurks in the folds of time… You ready?

So...let's unravel the ‘tutu’ story! 🧵

Imagine those lovely ladies, waltzing through those first ballet tutus... but how do we connect them to that glorious, airy skirt? We need to dig deeper - explore its etymology, discover that fascinating root.

There’s a word you need to understand, my lovelies, a very fashionable one. This word is essential, a bit like “chignon” or “chiffon” - “tulle”. Oh, my dears, how elegant, how graceful, and utterly divine! “Tulle”, that wonderful, delicate fabric, was born, so to speak, right smack-dab in the Romantic era…it’s no coincidence! The story weaves itself around fabric.

The fabric is the foundation - without “tulle” you don't get those elegant tutus - that wonderful airy swish and sway. I wouldn’t even attempt a pirouette or fouetté without that exquisite lightness.

This lovely, soft material, was initially, you see, named “net,” a rather basic word, but what did the Parisians (I can practically hear the sound of croissants and “bonjour!” and elegant ladies chatting…) what did those stylish French do with this fabric?* Oh my, the creativity! They found new, glamorous ways to transform the “net”, make it even more beautiful and evocative!

Imagine the delicate beauty of “tulle” swirling with every graceful dance step. This exquisite fabric transformed what could have been a rather dull, plain dance outfit into something…oh, my dears, absolutely divine, magical, utterly romantic!

The Parisian word "tulle" took root. Why? Well, it originated in the town of Tulle - that beautiful spot in the heart of France, known for the fine craftsmanship of silk and lace. So imagine, delicate silks transformed into “tulle” - how absolutely gorgeous. They gave that town, and its fabric, a legacy forever!

I must pause here to celebrate the word “tulle” - oh how elegant and how graceful! This, my loves, is a testament to real magic, to a process, and an alchemy of skills and knowledge - they wove a real-life wonder, like something straight out of an enchanted fairy tale This little word reminds us all of this extraordinary, fascinating evolution of dance fashion.

And so, the term “tulle” spread like wild fire…oh, those Parisians! Their penchant for the beautiful swept the globe, bringing the name with them everywhere they went. They introduced it to other words... the same lovely, romantic feeling, like whispering silks and soft laughter, danced with elegance onto the fashion vocabulary of the world!

So now you understand, dears. It wasn’t the tutu that was new. It was the tulle! A small but vital detail that changed everything. This light, soft material, is the foundation of the story.

It’s not just an elegant word that feels like swirling gowns and laughter in Parisian cafes. It’s the magic that elevates our beloved ballet skirt to become a symbol, an idea that's *beyond fabric! It becomes, for us, the heart of all things elegant, enchanting, graceful - a beautiful embodiment of everything a dancer holds within their heart, within every delicate dance movement. 💖

And it’s no coincidence that tulle emerged during the Romantic Era - just like the tutus of today - its appearance marks the time for a deep dive into the beauty of emotions… a sense of passion, intense emotion, and, dare I say, almost a wistfulness, a tender longing, a journey into an unknown world. *

Just imagine - these qualities have been forever woven into those magnificent, fluttering, twirling tulle tutus. And, oh my dears, aren't we grateful?! 💖

The time travelling ballerina *takes a final bow.

My loves, I hope you enjoyed our little trip back to 1845! Remember, my darling dears, I'll be back here next Tuesday, with another dose of #TutuTuesday and more exciting stories about this iconic, absolutely glorious garment, this iconic symbol of dance, elegance, and magic.

Let’s keep sharing this tutu love all week - let's talk tulle, embrace the fashion, celebrate ballet's rich history and graceful elegance.

Oh, and don’t forget to follow www.pink-tutu.com for daily updates, exclusive features, a sprinkle of tutu history, and loads more inspiration!

And…don't you dare forget your pink tutu, my darlings! Because it's a celebration of life, it's about believing in magic, and feeling like a queen, all rolled up in one absolutely gorgeous, sparkling skirt!

💖🩰✨ Until next time… Keep the tutu spirit alive! 💖✨

Your Time-Travelling Ballerina Emma, Derbyshire, England

P.S: Remember: www.pink-tutu.com is your place for all things tutus! And don’t forget - the most beautiful fashion choices don’t cost a fortune, darlings. Get ready for your ballet life - from London’s Covent Garden to New York's Metropolitan Opera House - you will shine with the most elegant grace of your dreams! 💖

(Let’s keep those pink tutus, those tulle delights, floating! 💖✨)