Post #814
Greetings, my darlings! It's Emma, your favourite tutu-loving time traveller, back again with another slice of #TutuTuesday history! As always, grab a cuppa (or a glass of something bubbly, depending on your fancy), and let's journey through the fascinating world of ballet's most delightful garment: the tutu!
This week, we're heading to the oh-so-sophisticated world of August 3rd, 1847. Picture a Parisian salon filled with exquisite chatter, flowing gowns, and perhaps a delightful flute playing softly in the background. Today's focus isn't just on the gorgeousness of the fashion - oh no! Today, we're delving into the tutu's early days, how they transformed the look of dance, and, most importantly, what kind of a fabulous impact this lovely piece of clothing was having on fashion in general!
Now, if you’re new to my little blog (and let me tell you, you’re missing out on a plethora of tutu-tastic stories!), a brief bit of background. Tutus, as we know them, evolved quite slowly. The concept of a ballerina’s costume changing over the centuries was quite fascinating. It wasn’t just about making them more ‘whimsical’, but how to allow them greater freedom of movement on the stage, while maintaining their feminine elegance. In the late 1800s, with the popularity of the romantic ballet, we began to see the beginnings of the iconic ‘tutu’ design, made from multiple layers of delicate tulle or netting, creating that glorious airy silhouette.
Of course, fashion wasn’t a stagnant thing in 1847. So, you might be wondering: how did those adorable, layered tutus fit into the larger world of fashion? Well, darlings, imagine this!
Tutus, in their delicate form, began inspiring fashion designers to play around with lighter fabrics, and that's how these pieces began seeping into the world of everyday clothes! And guess what? People absolutely loved it.
Just think, back in those days, outfits were very formal! But the way the tutu created this breezy, yet still elegant look, started a shift towards clothing that had some "oomph". Think of those beautiful empire waist gowns, which had a much more flattering shape - think of it as an early, stylish form of corsetry! Now that was definitely an influential style to borrow from the theatre.
This influence wasn't limited to just dress designs; colours became important too! Ballet brought out this whole beautiful world of romantic and playful tones; we're talking a lot of pale pinks, lavenders, blues – all colours which we continue to see being incorporated in ballet designs to this day!
So, if you were stepping out on the streets of Paris in August 1847, you might have noticed these delightful trends appearing in fashion. What were the latest trends in ladies' dresses, you ask? I'm here to tell you!
You might be seeing ladies dressed in outfits with: * Ruffled Hemlines - imagine dainty ruffles making the hems of the dresses just flutter in the breeze - like a tutu in itself! * Pale Pastel Shades - Think those dreamy tones, soft pink and blues – they were big! * Tulle Details – those gossamer, airy fabrics - just a small touch was enough to create a ballet-like quality to their everyday fashion.
It was a beautiful way to embrace a bit of theatrical flair! And with everyone loving those graceful, delicate movements in ballets, it was hardly surprising that fashion took this lead from the stage and spun it into an incredible fashion evolution.
As for my dear fellow dancers, while our August 3rd, 1847 selves would be mesmerised by the sheer joy of performance and the intricate detail of our costumes, today’s tutus are even more beautiful and dynamic!
There’s so much detail that goes into the modern tutus! With their light, ethereal designs, their impact on fashion goes beyond what we could have possibly imagined in the past! I, for one, will always be eternally grateful for the evolution of our stage outfits; because we have truly transformed the way women dance, the way they perform, and we’ve inspired some pretty incredible looks that last throughout time.
And you know, my little tutu lovers, that's what I love most about this journey - not only learning about the history of tutus, but seeing how the ballet, and everything that surrounds it, truly inspired such gorgeous changes in the world.
Remember to subscribe for my next week's journey on www.pink-tutu.com!
Happy dancing and happy twirling, darlings!
Your pink tutu-loving, time travelling friend,
Emma
