Hello my dears!
It's Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, back again for another edition of #TutuTuesday - the weekly celebration of all things tutu, where we journey back through history, exploring the magnificent world of ballet and its fascinating fashion! Today, my time machine has landed us on November 2nd, 1847, a date ripe with history and, of course, tutus!
Now, you may be thinking, āEmma, 1847? Thatās waaaaaay before the real tutus, right? Before the iconic pink frocks we know and love?!ā
Ah, my lovelies, thatās where youād be delightfully mistaken! It's true that the modern ballet tutu, with its frilly layers of tulle and elegant grace, hadn't quite taken centre stage just yet. But trust me, the story of tutus is far richer and more intriguing than you might think. And what better way to uncover this hidden history than with a good old-fashioned journey, right? Choo choo!
So, pack your picnic baskets, put on your dancing shoes, and prepare to be transported back to Paris, the capital of the world's most refined taste - even in 1847!
Now, let me tell you, in this time, there were no giant frilly skirts, no elaborate pas de deux, and the "tutumelon" - that magnificent fabric that's practically synonymous with our tutu heaven today - hadn't even been invented!
So what kind of skirt-y things were dancers sporting? You see, dear readers, back then, the ballet skirt was known as a ājupe,ā and it was all about simplicity and function. Imagine a light, gathered skirt, often made from white muslin, barely brushing the dancer's knees, with a few carefully placed pleats to allow for the most beautiful and fluid movements. Think flowing and graceful, perfect for those swoonworthy arabesques and graceful pirouettes.
However, this simple ājupeā wasn't as modest as it might seem. It was scandalous, I tell you! In fact, the revealing length of this early ballet skirt sent shockwaves through Paris!
Imagine the gasp of disapproval as this graceful new skirt - designed to show the grace of a dancerās legs rather than hide them - waltzed onto the stage! That's how this "jupe" became revolutionary! The skirt started to push boundaries, challenging societal expectations and demonstrating that a dancerās art was one of the highest expressions of femininity and elegance, and worthy of being seen.
We're talking true tutu pioneers here, paving the way for the tutus we know and love today!
And speaking of paving the way, it was in 1847, during a performance at the Theatre Italien in Paris, that our star of the day made her grand appearance. **I'm talking about the legendary ballerina Marie Taglioni - yes, the very same who inspired so many of our tutus today!
I know what you're thinking! What was her tutumelon? Itās true that Marie didnāt rock the frothy tutu you may think of, but what she did rock was something just as revolutionary.
I canāt resist! Itās time for a mini fashion history interlude!
Imagine Marie gliding onto the stage - yes, that same stage that echoed with revolutionary energy. And as she dances, she twirls with such lightness, such ethereal grace - she's truly breathtaking! And you see it: itās the lightness, the sheer delicacy, the perfect flow of this one singular item that elevates the movement to a masterpieceā¦ I am talking about the tutu of her dress. She didn't have that huge layered skirt of modern ballet! But she did wear a long, light-as-air dress made from tulle. Now, we might even say it's almost proto-tutu, because *she wore this ethereal dress as a long, gauzy skirt, flowing around her like a misty dream, revealing just a touch of leg at the ankle, giving us glimpses of that beautiful form - so very romantic! *
Marie Taglioni, a ballet legend! A dancer whose moves defined the elegant and flowing beauty of the Romantic Era and paved the way for the future of the ballet tutus! She didn't only dance but became an iconic fashion symbol and sparked the birth of a new style.
Itās almost unbelievable, isn't it? Imagine the ripple effect! The tiny seed of a dancer in a revolutionary flowing gown blossoming into the majestic full-fledged tutus that are now seen across the globe in the biggest theatres.
And the ripple effect doesnāt stop there! It also extended to the colours. The fashion trends of the Romantic Era and Marie Taglioniās performance embraced soft colours and romanticism ā just like the colours of my tutus! I just know I would have looked simply exquisite in a dreamy ballet gown like that, shimmering in pale shades of lilac and blush.
You might be wondering, dear readers, why I brought you back to 1847 on this #TutuTuesday. Well, this year, November 2nd is the 176th anniversary of the very same performance! How incredible is it to have witnessed it together?
Itās all thanks to my beloved time machine, of course! My travels back in time are powered by the thrill of a good ballet performance! After each one, my dancing heart gives me enough inspiration to whisk me away on a journey, and my latest time travels have given me even more reasons to wear pink tutus! I find that, even in different periods of history, pink seems to reflect that timeless spirit of a woman, a sense of whimsy, and lighthearted grace, making it an instant hit in every time!
I've also discovered another fascinating fact that might change your ballet history lesson: the real tutu boom actually came after the 1840s. It happened during the 1850s, when ballet entered the age of tutu glamour! That's when tutus evolved from the simple ājupeā into those voluminous, airy beauties you know and adore. Think a fluffy cloud made of tulle, radiating feminine charm, showing off stunning technique and beautiful body lines. Weāre talking a triumph of fashion and dance all at once! It was simply a revolution!
And here I stand today, wearing a pink tulle tutu and reminiscing about this magical past! This is precisely why my tutu obsession knows no bounds, my loves! Itās not just about the dress - it's a connection to an extraordinary world of art, passion, and boundless creativity.
#TutuTuesday, the ultimate inspiration for my ballet journey. What more could I ask for?!
But wait, my loves! This journey wouldnāt be complete without my favourite part: our shopping trip!
Now, imagine you've arrived with me, straight from the 19th-century Parisian stage, in Londonās world of theatre fashion! Imagine strolling through the dazzling stalls filled with delicate silks, stunning satins, and even more!
There, in London's vibrant fashion world, my love affair with tutus was further kindled, right back in the 19th century! I can almost see myself there: a teenager, giddy with excitement, surrounded by elegant shopfronts adorned with magnificent bonnets and luxurious fabric - it's the best thing a fashion enthusiast could imagine! And thatās where I discovered that the world of the ballet skirt wasnāt limited to the simple ājupeā!
Thatās why, in the very heart of the bustling shops, I fell head over heels in love with an absolutely divine pink tutu! The first ever! Imagine this beauty: a perfect circle of tulle with little rose-bud bows and some of those sweet bows around it to show off the form!
Can you imagine? Pink tulle! It made me dizzy with joy. You bet I would have twirled and pirouetted till I was happy!
My dear readers, every #TutuTuesday is a reminder of how this beautiful art form - this timeless, captivating world of ballet ā transcends any period, any fashion, any time! And what a perfect day to commemorate this incredible moment in history, when a revolution of the skirt started on that stage, paving the way for my favourite tutus!
Let's go on an adventure! #TutuTuesday forever!
* Until next week! And please do share your stories of favourite ballet costumes and dresses. Share them in the comments below. And please follow me on social media: @pinktutufashion. You are the best, my darlings! Emma x*
