#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1848-03-21

Hello my dearest Tutu Twirlers!

Welcome back to another week of #TutuTuesday, and for this week's journey back through ballet's history, we're travelling to Paris, the City of Lights, on March 21st, 1848! This year, there's been an exciting new movement stirring - both literally and politically! The French Revolution of 1848 saw Parisians take to the streets demanding change, and with their cries for revolution came a shift in the fashion world too.

Now, we all know Paris is a place synonymous with exquisite style. Imagine, just picture it, elegant women and gentlemen all swirling through cobbled streets with their latest fashions – think bonnets, crinolines, and frock coats. But here’s the thing, the tutu wasn't quite a staple in fashion back then. And yet, you'd find these incredible dancers moving with incredible grace and freedom. They are dancing on stage at the Paris Opera, their movements drawing gasps of awe from the audience. And this was a time where ballet was starting to bloom with the grace and expression that it's famous for today. It’s a perfect storm of history, revolution, and the elegance of ballet. Isn't that incredible?

It’s also so fascinating for us to understand how ballet evolved! This year marks an exciting moment where the ballet tutu begins to appear as we know it – the shorter, layered version designed to enhance movement, letting the dancers glide across the stage with incredible elegance. It's as if a spark was ignited, opening up new possibilities for what we would later consider “classical” ballet.

So, what exactly was happening in 1848? The Parisian audience would be abuzz with talk of politics and news from the revolution, but that evening, the dancers at the Paris Opera would be performing works like "La Fille du Régiment," showcasing the talents of talented dancers. Can you picture it? The twinkling stage lights, the beautiful, swirling music… what an incredible atmosphere for dancers!

The world of 1848 would have seen the ballet tutu as a relatively new phenomenon, but for me, well, it feels like the starting point for my own #PinkTutu obsession! Can you imagine all those shimmering, elegant tutus flitting across the stage? The colours and the movement… I could never tire of seeing such incredible grace on display! It's just enchanting, truly.

As I'm here in the heart of Paris, let’s chat about fashion, shall we? Parisian fashion in the mid 19th century was absolutely beautiful. The era of "romanticism" was alive and well in dress -think voluminous, flowing gowns with exquisite details. Just walking down a Parisian street was a fashion spectacle! It's just such a gorgeous juxtaposition - this movement of a nation pushing for change whilst this extraordinary beauty of fashion blossomed all around it. It is this intersection of change and elegance that makes this period so enchanting!

For our #TutuTuesday outfit inspiration this week, imagine flowing skirts of white silk and tulle, like the tutus you'd see on the ballet stage, perhaps adorned with a ribbon around the waist in your favourite hue! That's a look to impress any Parisian crowd, I promise you! I would just adore that for an afternoon out - especially with the addition of my darling pink tutu for a bit of extra sparkle. That is, after all, the only kind of sparkly any real fashionista needs!

Now, we have so much more to explore this year and I'm bursting with excitement to keep discovering more about this fascinating era and its impact on ballet! We'll also continue to take a trip down memory lane in future posts to explore how the tutu transformed from that initial 1848 spark to become the iconic garment we all know and love.

Until next week, dear friends, happy twirling and let’s keep the spirit of ballet alive! Don't forget to follow #PinkTutu and www.pink-tutu.com for more amazing explorations into ballet's fascinating history.

Yours in Tutu, Emma

P.S. Don't forget, you can join the Tutu-Revolution by sharing your favourite pink tutu pictures with the hashtag #PinkTutu. Let's spread the love of tutus and the magical world of ballet together!