Bonjour, mes chéries! Welcome back to my #TutuTuesday blog! It’s Emma here, your trusty guide through the wonderful world of tutus, and oh, what a world it is! Today we’re going to be taking a little trip back in time to the 3rd of November 1846.
Can you believe that this week marks the 177th anniversary of my absolute favourite piece of clothing? We've come a long way since 1846, haven't we? Imagine a world where the ballet tutu was just being born...exciting, isn’t it? Now, let's put on our ballet shoes and get ready to travel to the heart of Paris. This is where it all began!
From Bustles to Ballets:
So, you’re all thinking - ‘What on earth were ballerinas wearing before tutus?’ Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s important to understand the context. Back then, ladies wore massive, heavy skirts and bustles that weren’t conducive to much movement, let alone pirouettes! They’d have looked like fluffy, immobile clouds if they tried! Now, the main reason for these bulky outfits was societal constraints. You had to hide those curves - you know what I mean. But times were changing!
Imagine how the men, oh, the gorgeous men, must have gasped when they saw the new Parisian ballerina in the very first "tutu" - which was not really what we'd call a tutu today at all! It was actually a romantic dress, quite flowing and definitely not that frilly, just a shorter, slightly more practical style for showing off more leg. It was revolutionary and I can’t tell you how exciting this must have been for all involved. It gave women, well, us, a bit more freedom and allowed for those mesmerizing whirlwinds we know and love today!
The Magic of Marie Taglioni:
You’re probably all thinking about the graceful ballerina Marie Taglioni. That’s her. She's the absolute diva of tutus - a true inspiration. I even did her iconic choreography for “La Sylphide” at the Royal Opera House last week - it was swoon-worthy and the applause afterwards? Simply fabulous!
Now, imagine being the very first person to ever see that revolutionary choreography! The stage lighting must have been exquisite! I hear Marie herself requested specifically designed light pink tulle tutus, the perfect shade, you see, for showing off those glorious leg extensions in the best light. Pink? Now that’s my kind of tutu!
I do like a little historical accuracy when I'm dancing but I love playing around with styles - like you’d all expect! I don’t think I've ever worn anything but pink on stage. Just as Marie, the legend herself, decided to be a pioneer and ditch the huge Victorian era skirts for something that really celebrated her beauty - well, you just have to, right?
*How I Fund My Time Travels…The Show Must Go On!*
As you probably already know, I spend my days hopping through time, getting my ballet history fix and totally living out my tutu-filled dreams! So, how do I afford all these wonderful journeys, you might ask? Well, you see, this blog is my passion project (pink tutus always are!), and I finance it through the money I earn as a professional ballerina. Oh, the lovely things I get to do - travel by train all around Europe - especially Italy for opera and fashion - and then spend weeks studying in London or dancing on a famous French stage…the glamorous life, you might say, though I wouldn't be without a proper bit of tea in Derbyshire! I always bring my tutu home with me - the lovely shop in Matlock Bath is my favourite!
*Fashion in Focus: November 3rd, 1846 - *The Perfect Day for a Pink Tutu
Now, if I were in 1846, let's just say it wouldn't have been so practical to just walk down the street in my fabulous tutu like I do today. However, imagine the scene: it’s the best day to attend a ballet performance! What would be the absolute essential style for attending? Well, there are a few very special elements!
Layers - 19th Century fashion, ladies, it’s about creating the right silhouette, and layering is everything! You want to go for that hourglass shape - corsets are key! The Victorians were very focused on looking slender, even though they actually wore a whole lot of fabric. Think flowing silk fabrics with ruffles and lace... lovely I can even imagine that one of the top fashions might even include pastel pink!, just the ideal colour for my favourite tutu.
The Veil! The most important element! Now, the most elegant fashion must-have was, drumroll please, the veil! There's just something so stunning about seeing this fine mesh material, covering your face or hair. I love the dramatic affect and gorgeous movement. Just think how stunning it would look billowing as you waltz at the Royal Albert Hall in a light breeze - so elegant!
The Gloves - I think this part of dressing in a classic Victorian style is one of my absolute favourite bits. Not only is a bit of gloves so fashionable, they give you that little bit extra to pull together that gorgeous style that can totally rock the whole elegant ballroom vibe. There were some lovely ones available back then with fabulous embellishments like little silk bows, lace or delicate flower motifs. Just magnificent !
But today...I'm on the pink side of life!
And here’s a fun fact that I’ve learned from one of my historical trips: in 1846, on November 3rd, one of the biggest French railway lines was launched - the Northern Railway of France connecting Paris to Lille - wow, a big day for that company. I just have to hop on a train today!
If you’re travelling, I say ditch the luggage and bring only what you can wear like they used to in those days! How exciting - imagine just having your trusty travel wardrobe! It's about making that journey a stylish event! I love going through grand Parisian shops (especially vintage, darling), even when I just happen to pop by for an afternoon... maybe I'll take a stroll after I finish today’s ballet class.
Oh, and to wrap up my #TutuTuesday, what is your favourite shade of pink for a tutu? I love how much this color symbolizes femininity and romance...don’t you? Please write me a comment - you all know I love hearing from you! Until next week, darling tutu enthusiasts, remember, the only rule with a tutu is: there are no rules!
Allons-y, and remember, wear a pink tutu to spread joy!
Bisous!
Emma
