Hello darlings! Emma here, your pink-tutu-clad time-travelling fashionista, reporting live from a Parisian theatre! Oh my, what a treat today, wouldn't you agree?
You know, sometimes even a time-travelling ballet buff needs a little escape from the stresses of...well, time travel! So today, we're stepping away from the grand opera houses and stately theatres of my Derbyshire childhood and soaking up the energy of a Paris premiere. And let me tell you, darlings, the city of love and fashion doesn't disappoint!
Today's date? 1845-11-18! A mere whisper in time compared to the fabulous, feather-boarded wonders we've explored in past #TutuTuesday posts.
Speaking of fabulous, darling, remember what I told you last week about Marius Petipa? Oh, my! This man was destined for ballet greatness, you could practically see the "danse" swirling in his future back then! He's just been appointed ballet master at the Grand Théâtre de l'Opéra - talk about your 'stepping stones' to success, right? Well, don't be fooled by his surname! He was quite the charming fella back then. Oh, and speaking of charms... the moustache... the WHISKERS! I just swoon at a man in a good pair of whiskers, don't you? The ones that peek out from beneath the top hats and say, "Darling, I may not be wearing a tutu, but I sure can hold my own on a dance floor".
Anyway, I digress. We're here for tutus, remember?
Back in 1845, my dear little ballet shoes couldn't resist tiptoeing around the theatrical districts of Paris. The air was buzzing with gossip and, dare I say, whimsy. Oh, the romance of it all!
Parisian dance was all about elegant movements, delicate gestures, and the gentle whisper of silk skirts - imagine if tutus were already the sensation they are today! The ballet Ondine by Jean Coralli is having its Paris debut today! Ondine, a mischievous and almost naughty water nymph who dances with both men and creatures of the deep, has a plot just screaming for fabulous tutus, isn't that right? The ideal material for some dazzling pas de bourrée, darling, wouldn't you say?
Although the tutu we know and adore hasn't fully blossomed into the puffy clouds of loveliness they are today, let me tell you, this was a key moment for ballerina style. The famous "La Sylphide" costume, that delicate white beauty which will inspire so much for dancers to come, was just gaining momentum at this time, making it one of the most sensational costumes in Paris. The "laminated, white tarlatan" that makes this skirt so utterly airy and whimsical - what an amazing inspiration for ballerinas like myself! I can only dream of all the twirls!
Speaking of twirls, have you seen the pointe shoes here? Now, these aren't your everyday slippers, let me tell you. pointe shoes were just beginning to be used by dancers who could manage the balance. Now, here's a fact to tuck in your head, darling: they didn't really have pointe shoes! They wore...wait for it... sewing needles in their slippers to make them pointy!! Oh, the drama! And the danger! That just goes to show how far ballerina artistry was pushing the boundaries of their bodies in the name of dance even in those early days.
So much elegance in every pose, a whirlwind of grace in every leap. Oh, that air, that artistry... It is something truly unique to see.
Of course, no visit to Paris would be complete without a trip to the grand fashion houses, would it? My favourite is the House of Worth on the Rue de la Paix - oh, they just get the colours so right. Every visit is a masterpiece of silk, velvet, and a touch of magic, darling. Just imagine the tutus we could create there, if only I were daring enough to stay put! Sigh...
Don't worry though, I wouldn't be true to myself without popping in to see Monsieur Charles Frederick Worth, who was working on some quite impressive ballgowns today, darling. Let's just say, a woman of fashion can never have enough frocks! And even better? He had these lovely women try them on in the midst of their fittings. This gives you an idea of how fashion was becoming theatre as well as art, right?
So what about our favourite shade of pink, you ask? Oh, my dearest, 1845 had not fully embraced the pink power we love so much today, but... just imagine this: A perfectly pink tutu, spun from gossamer threads, paired with a delicate white bodice, dancing on a stage adorned with shimmering white lights. A vision worthy of a dream, wouldn't you say?
Just like every era before and since, my lovelies, fashion has its own story to tell, and 1845 is no exception! The evolution of ballet, fashion and art, are a dance in themselves, and a time-travelling fashionista can only be happy to witness such wonder.
Until next Tuesday, remember to dream big, and don't be afraid to *twirl!
With much love, and a touch of pink, Emma
P.S. Did you know that on 1845-11-18, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the man behind Sherlock Holmes, was born?! Oh my! What a brilliant birthday surprise! Perhaps he will write a thriller with a ballerina as his leading lady?!
