Hello darlings! Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday! It's Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina. This week we're going right back to the heart of tutu history – 11th July, 1848, to be precise. Hold onto your tiaras, loves, because we're about to embark on a fashion adventure, right down to the petticoats!
I’m currently waltzing my way through a gloriously Parisian café, the smell of freshly baked croissants and coffee wafting through the air like a sugary, caffeine-fuelled dream. My tulle skirt is feeling perfectly voluminous as I scribble away in my little notebook, ready to tell you all about what was going on in the world of dance and fashion back on this very day.
But before we jump into the petticoats, a quick word on today's adventure…
This week’s trip was quite the treat. Imagine, darling, the sheer luxury! My train journey took me through the stunning French countryside, whizzing past vineyards and quaint villages. I had to make sure I dressed for the occasion, naturally! A fabulous coral pink two-piece with a matching, ruffled sunhat. A lady has to look fabulous while travelling, after all!
Then there was Paris! The boutiques were absolutely bursting with Parisian chic. Such elegant blouses and jackets! And oh, the colours! Crimson red, navy blue, shimmering emeralds – oh, it was heavenly! However, what really caught my eye were the newest additions to the fashion world… the tutus!
Revolutionising the Stage, One Tulle Flounce at a Time!
You see, my dears, 1848 saw a revolution of sorts, but not a political one. This was a tutu revolution! The ballet world was moving away from the heavy, flowing skirts of earlier times, embracing something new, something breathtakingly ethereal. Enter, the shorter, lighter, more fitted tutu, and the world of dance, it would seem, never looked back.
These innovative designs, designed for the grace and athleticism of ballerinas, were all the rage in Parisian opera houses. It was a real fashion shift. You can imagine all the excitement – whispers on the boulevards, fashionable ladies swooning over the revolutionary design, and those thrilling whispers in the theatre: “Did you see the new tutus? Simply divine!”.
The star of this dance was a certain Mademoiselle Carlotta Grisi. This dazzling Italian ballerina (who could move, let me tell you!) became a true tutu icon, gracing the stage in a newly designed, form-fitting, and oh-so-lovely, tulle tutu for a famous ballet titled "La Gitana." A testament to its newness? A theatre critic declared: "it was like she was floating on air." Well, if you don’t love a good floating effect on stage, what’s the point?!
This moment was such a pivotal shift! Gone were the days of heavy fabric concealing graceful movement. Now, the ballerina became one with her movements. We were witnessing the birth of a new, almost weightless, artistry – like an exquisite dream in motion. Don’t you simply adore that!
1848: More than just the Ballet...
As we’re talking about July, we have to give a shout-out to another significant happening on the 11th, that had little to do with tutus or fashion but did shape our world in big ways.
It was the very date the French Revolution of 1848 broke out. Paris was rife with social and political upheaval, yet amidst it all, a dance of fashion and freedom took place. Perhaps a ballet can lift the spirits in the midst of tumultuous times. A simple yet bold message: beauty will find its way through any situation. The idea that fashion and movement can be intertwined even through the struggles and conflicts of a political uprising – isn’t that absolutely charming, dears! It’s a little bit romantic and revolutionary at the same time. The spirit of fashion, I tell you!
Time Travelling Through History – What I Love the Most…
I tell you, there is no more captivating and delightful experience than dressing up in my lovely pink tutu and travelling through the corridors of time. To see fashion evolve, to witness the ballet’s magnificent transformations, to be captivated by the grandeur of historic theaters – it’s just magical, and utterly heart-fluttering!
Each week, I return to our little corner of the internet, my Pink-Tutu blog, eager to share my adventures and knowledge with you, inspiring everyone to wear a tutu of their own (preferably a beautiful pink one, of course!). After all, my dearest loves, it is a sartorial choice, and a little bit of life’s magic – that reminds us to move gracefully, to express ourselves, to celebrate beauty in all its forms. And isn't that a magnificent notion to carry with us as we step out, tutus swaying in the wind!
Now, tell me, darlings – have you ever watched a ballet performance? What do you love most about it? Tell me in the comments below! I just adore hearing from you!
Until next week, keep on twirling! 💕
*Love always, Emma! *
P.S. Stay tuned for my new online dance class! Find me on www.pink-tutu.com. Let’s dance!
*P.P.S. For a little extra sparkle, don't forget to check out the pictures on the blog! *
(Remember to add pictures of ballerinas, vintage ballet costumes, Paris fashion of the 1840s and images of ballet dancers. Emma herself should be in at least one picture wearing her fabulous pink tutu! )
