#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1847-09-07

Oh darling, do settle in, grab your favourite cup of tea and prepare for a fabulously flamboyant journey back in time! Today, we're taking a trip to the year 1847, and let me tell you, fashion was simply divine. Think billowing gowns, elaborate bonnets, and a whiff of romanticism.

This week's #TutuTuesday blog is going to be so much fun! Not only will we delve into the intriguing origins of the balletic ballet tutu, we'll also see if fashion has already caught up with my personal quest - to get everyone, absolutely everyone, wearing a pink tutu!

But first, darling, imagine this: I'm seated on the train (first class, of course, for a fashionable gal like me) whizzing across the European countryside, my eyes drinking in the passing scenery. A delicious scent of honeysuckle hangs in the air. It’s so very romantic. And of course, no trip would be complete without my splendid pink tutu!

You see, as you may know, I love to travel (especially by train) and I do enjoy an excellent ballet performance. And believe me, travelling by train is simply the most elegant way to go when you're a fashionable gal like me!

This, my lovely readers, is why I'm currently in Paris, a city brimming with life and sophistication. Oh la la, this city never fails to inspire! The Ballet de l’Opéra National de Paris is performing “Giselle”, the iconic story of a young woman transformed into a wispy spirit by love and heartbreak. A truly bewitching tale, if you ask me! And just like I told you, Paris always seems to be right at the forefront of the very latest fashion trends!

Today, however, our attention must be drawn to the ballet tutu itself. Think for a moment, how dramatic it is, all swirling tulle, with its airy silhouette, the quintessential expression of lightness and movement. Its elegance, its romance, perfectly captures the essence of ballet.

In the early days of ballet, it wasn’t like that at all! In fact, ballet dancers actually wore something completely different - a rather heavy-looking, *full-skirted, floor-length gown, that barely allowed them to move! It wouldn't look out of place in an elegant historical film now. Imagine *all those petticoats, layers of fabric and endless corsets! It's no wonder those poor ballerinas would tire themselves out *before even getting onto the stage!

So how did the tutu emerge as we know it today? The shift began in the late 18th century. Ballet was evolving as a dramatic art form. The emphasis was shifting away from traditional formal attire, toward more fluid movements and a more dynamic visual expression. It’s amazing how one fashion trend can change so much!

The romantic era of ballet, my dears, perfectly embodies this transition! Enter the remarkable Marie Taglioni who captivated the audience with her* light and graceful movements, showcasing an agility that was quite *revolutionary. And she achieved it thanks to a rather innovative piece of attire: the tutu, or “tutu” if you want to be chic, darling.

What we see in the 1840s, around the time we’re talking about, is the classic romantic tutu. Very little fabric, shorter lengths - a shorter, fitted bodice to showcase her physique - and most importantly: airy tulle and netting.

Now that is a game-changer! Ballet has entered a new era of beauty and fluidity! It made everything so much more beautiful and enchanting! Oh, how I wish I could see Taglioni myself, dancing with that delightful, beautiful romantic tutu! But then, I might be able to bring back one of her iconic designs, wouldn't that be exciting!

As we travel further back in time to this early stage of the tutu’s evolution, I can’t help but ponder this: could we ever have predicted the impact the tutu would make? And wouldn't it be fabulously fun to consider, how much this simple little skirt changed the dance world. This is really something to get inspired by!

However, dear readers, our tale doesn’t stop here. The tutu kept on evolving. The early Romantic tutus were typically quite long, touching the ground to show elegance and femininity. As we move forward, they begin to take a shape closer to what we see on stage today. They’re lighter, more elaborate in their construction. We see this evolution most especially in the French Romantic period, a era truly overflowing with romanticism. They created such a dramatic and moving impression! Think: ballet dancing to the beautiful romantic musical score. So utterly delightful!

A big part of that movement was creating a feeling of weightlessness and beauty! They started creating beautiful tulle designs. I even heard that it is believed that Charles Worth (yes, that Charles Worth!), the man considered to be the father of haute couture, designed a tutu for Madame la Grande, the ballerina who reigned supreme on the Paris stage in the late 1850s. The sheer beauty and finesse is simply incredible, don’t you think! And we’re not just talking about ballet either! If we are going to delve into true fashion history, we'll be able to spot that iconic tutu silhouette, floating around the very best social gatherings! Can you even imagine the glamour!

By the early 1900s, it's a well established part of ballet performance, my dears. I love the classic Romantic and Russian style tutus. It seems to me ballet is at its most elegant when wearing this style of tutu - my heart does go pitter patter when I think of the stunning visual imagery. But other styles begin to emerge - the Classical tutu, the tutu with panniers, and don’t get me started on the tutu of the ‘30s when the ‘fishtail’ was all the rage!

Don’t worry, my dears. We will be discussing all of those designs in our coming weeks. There is so much more fashion history to get lost in! Just keep checking back on this space, and you will be fabulously informed on all those wonderful fashion developments that took centre stage in the world of dance and on the catwalk beyond!

Talking of which: we must talk about the impact of fashion. Fashion often takes inspiration from ballet! Do you remember that utterly fabulous Vivienne Westwood’s spring collection back in the ‘90s, it was all heavily influenced by classic ballerina outfits! Oh, and Jean Paul Gaultier’s iconic ‘couture for the people – his iconic ballet-inspired design featuring a black tutu, worn by the gorgeous Madonna – completely changed the game, if you ask me!

But you know me, darlings, I’m a big fan of colour! So let’s go for something utterly flamboyant! It is truly important to me that we make ballet fashion even more accessible! How wonderful would it be to see tutus being *worn in everyday life? Yes, you’ve read that right – I would love everyone to wear a *pink tutu!! And wouldn’t it be just absolutely fantastic to see everyone rocking a pink tutu? Just imagine the joy it would *bring to the world. A world filled with the joy of a fabulous pink tutu!

My dearest readers, if I were to get a million new readers all wearing pink tutus, and if they shared it on social media, well, maybe just maybe then, we might just change the world! Don't let the joy of the tutu be just a figment of the ballet world or of your imagination. Let's show everyone the beauty and joy of this fantastic item!

And speaking of joy, you'll definitely want to check out the Ballet de l’Opéra National de Paris' performance of “Giselle”. It's simply exquisite * You'll see ballerinas with such elegant movement! And it’s all down to *the exquisite, flowing lines of the tutu.

For now, though, let me get back to my fashion finds and adventures in Paris!

Until next time, dear readers. Remember: Wear it with confidence, and let the pink tutu flow!

Yours in pink, Emma

Don't forget to visit us at www.pink-tutu.com every Tuesday for the latest ballet tutu history post.