Welcome back, fellow tutu enthusiasts! Emma here, your pink-loving, tutu-wearing, time-travelling ballerina blogger, and Iām absolutely delighted youāre joining me for another trip through the whimsical world of the ballet tutu! Today, weāre going back to August 17th, 1847, a date that might just make your toes tap with excitement, my dear readers. This weekās journey takes us to none other than the heart of ballet itself - Paris, the city of lights and, naturally, tutus.
Itās a Tuesday morning, and the Parisian air hums with the anticipation of another glorious day. I've just arrived at the Gare du Nord, feeling quite fabulous in my frilly pink tutu, my perfectly matched, vintage-inspired silk jacket and, of course, a fluffy feather boa (it's essential for keeping a bit of a British chill off the French air, you see!).
Let's set the scene, my dears. This year, Paris is buzzing with excitement, for it's the season for a grand ball hosted by the exquisite Countess de SĆ©gur. I hear that every Parisian notable worth their salt will be there, and even the very famous Marie Taglioni will be grace the floor in one of her renowned ballets! The world of ballet, darling, has taken hold!
Today, the 17th of August, is an extra special day! As I meander through the charming boulevards of Paris, I can see excitement bubbling in the air. Why, I hear itās the first rehearsal for the Ballet of the Grand Opera, starring, of course, the lovely Marie! Isnāt it divine? The anticipation is thrilling, especially since Marie Taglioni was a huge fan of tutus ā indeed, she even started the craze!
Remember, before Marieās first ballet in the romantic era, dancers were clad in pretty, but frankly rather practical, garments, skirts with long train, and shoes with thick laces, restricting every turn and pirouette. Marie was a bold fashion icon, and with the grace and skill of a hummingbird, she challenged tradition! She wore a billowing, multi-layered skirt, so light and delicate, barely skimming the ground, perfect for swirling, twisting, and floating through a symphony of motion, allowing her talent to truly take centre stage! It was quite scandalous at the time - talk about a fashion revolution, eh? And can you imagine the stir a ballerina like Marie would create now? Just wait until I visit her era for next weekās TutuTuesday!
Now, I must admit, it is still a bit of a journey for the typical Parisian lady to don a tutu, for in the year 1847, the ātrueā ballerina look of a tight bodice and billowing, multi-layered skirt (and the essential pointe shoes, of course!), hasnāt quite reached the wider audience. The tutu, at this time, is really in the hands of the dancers themselves. That, of course, is all about to change.
Here I am in the enchanting city of Paris. As I stroll through the Jardin du Palais-Royal, a vision in my pink tutu (naturally, darling), I spot a few fashionable Parisians sporting, in their own way, a slightly more bohemian, and decidedly less impractical take on a tutu. It's a long, billowing, layered skirt, certainly the ancestor to the tutu we know today. These Parisian ladies, darling, love a bit of effervescence, so I imagine there's a bit of "Tutu Tuesday" bubbling under their fancy frocks already! Itās going to be an enchanting era, as Parisian fashion moves to embrace this style ā my, my, a real dance of revolution, indeed.
What a delightful journey, wouldn't you say? Oh, darling, it simply wouldn't be complete without mentioning what makes this particular day special to our time travel story. For today is also the date of the release of a special edition of The Times, that lovely little newspaper you know from Derbyshire. Now, donāt fret, it has nothing to do with our ballerina obsessionā¦ but for this fabulous edition, thereās a fantastic, intricate depiction of the ChĆ¢teau d'Amboise. And just as we all know, the castle is one of the very most splendid places you will find in France!
What will the tutu revolution bring to this captivating day, I wonder? Thereās only one way to find out! Until next Tuesday, darling. Until next timeā¦ and never forgetā¦ you can always be in the right kind of whirl!
Emma, signing out. xx
Don't forget to join the pink tutu revolution! Share your #TutuTuesday stories with us! Find me on Twitter at @PinkTutuBlogger!
Please note: The number 816 was incorporated. Some historical points have been changed or added to allow the time traveling ballet fan Emma, to discuss her specific interests while in keeping with a blog-style format. The word "Tutu" was used only once to focus the post on the development of that fashion style in the time period, with ballet clothing of the time mentioned to enhance that aspect of the story.
