Greetings, darling dears! Emma here, your ever-so-slightly-obsessed-with-tutus time-traveling blogger, bringing you another exciting dose of ballet history!
This Tuesday, my little lovelies, I've journeyed back to a pivotal moment in tutu evolution, the year 1847! As we all know, the tutu is the epitome of feminine grace and elegance, and believe it or not, back then, tutus were evolving too! Think romantic swirls, flowing layers, and just the slightest hint of what our modern tutus would become.
Before I get to the exciting bits, let's settle down with a spot of tea and a delicious pastry, shall we? (Just like a proper English afternoon, wink wink). I know I love a good train journey – something about those luxurious velvet seats and the chugging of the engine that always puts me in the mood for historical musings! Speaking of historical musings, this week's blog post will be about how 1847 paved the way for our beautiful, fluffy tutus.
You might think, "But Emma, wasn't ballet all about long, flowing skirts back then?" You'd be surprised, my dears! The story of the tutu isn't a sudden "boom", but a charming evolution. In 1847, it was still quite common to see ballerinas dancing in full-length, floor-length gowns. It's not quite Tutu Tuesday yet, you see.
But Hold On to Your Tiaras, There's a Twist!
Around 1847, we see some really exciting things starting to happen in ballet! It's like someone decided that maybe the time had come for some airy, graceful steps! And that’s just what happened. Let's delve into what was going on. It is truly exciting and all connected to ballet and beautiful dancing in flowing, romantic, gowns!
The Rise of the Romantic Ballet This time period, my loves, was all about romanticism! You're looking at poetry in motion, dramatic storylines, and a shift away from the classical "strict" ballets of old. This led to, wait for it...a desire for costumes that embodied all this romantic beauty and movement! Squeal with me!
Enter Marie Taglioni Oh, the name sends shivers down my spine! She's known as the Prima Ballerina of the era and was famous for her ethereal style. Now, listen closely, dears! She began wearing shorter, more fitted gowns that revealed more leg - scandalous for the time! The movement? Breathtaking! Imagine a dress just slightly longer than our modern-day tutu. Just the perfect length to highlight those graceful leg extensions and allow for much freer movement. The romanticism of it all, right?
The Tutus That Inspired It All! These dresses, my darlings, were like a first taste of our beloved tutus! This sparked a real desire to move, to dance, and to express this "Romantic" style through movements! And thus, we are well on our way to those perfectly-pink tutus, aren't we?
The Fashion-Forward Trends of 1847
Let's be honest, my little fashion-loving butterflies, it’s always been a bit about the clothes, hasn't it? So here's a look at what the Parisian ladies were sporting during this magical year:
- Off-the-shoulder Necklines: They just oozed femininity, don’t you think?
- Empire Waists: A timeless elegance that we're seeing resurface today. So very dreamy and flowy.
- Prints and Pastels: Remember my favourite colour? Oh yes, think of dainty florals and dreamy, romantic hues that echoed the essence of the romantic ballet!
- Bows and Lace: Because a dash of delicate embellishments always completes the look. Just picture a sea of bows and lace ribbons swaying in the ballet theatre!
The trends of the 1840s and '50s really were about grace, fluidity, and celebrating feminine beauty.
Our Ballet History Spotlight for 1847
- On 9th February 1847, we can find ballerinas like Marie Taglioni setting a powerful example for all those that came after. They took the first revolutionary steps towards the modern-day tutu.
- Now imagine a Parisian theater – perhaps it’s the Opera, *the whole of Paris gathered, eagerly awaiting the spectacle, awaiting ballet! * It’s an era full of dramatic, inspiring and, dare I say, fashionable trends! **We must not forget how they are influencing what comes after. *
I am ever-so-thrilled, my darlings, to be taking you back to these momentous occasions! Each time we take a step back into the world of ballet, we find another inspiration! Another time to cherish. Just imagine, the tutues, the fashion....the dancing!
And what a week to be in 1847. I could already feel the sparkle, and excitement of a world that is embracing romance in its dance, it’s fashion and it’s music.
But now, I must be on my way to the ballet this evening - after a lovely tea at a French cafe, naturally. I wonder what I will be wearing today to honour our lovely ballet history!
Till next Tuesday, my dears, and remember, *always embrace the pink tutus! *
Much Love, Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
