Welcome, dears, to my little corner of the internet where tutus reign supreme! It’s a glorious Tuesday morning and that means it’s time to delve into the fascinating history of our beloved tutu! 🩰 Today, I’m taking a little trip back in time – not via a time-travelling carriage, no, this time, we’re journeying on the grandest, most elegant mode of transportation – the railway! 🚂
For our #TutuTuesday exploration, we’re setting our sights on January 16th, 1849. Can you imagine, dears, a world without the ballet? (Oh, don't even get me started on a world without pink!)
But before we go exploring, I do love a good tea break. Would you like to join me? Let's indulge in a nice cuppa while I share a bit about this date, shall we? 🫖
On this day in 1849, a remarkable thing occurred in the world of dance. Ahem Not to toot my own horn (though I do enjoy tootling on the horn!), but it was a pretty exciting day! Now, this may not sound terribly remarkable now, but it's pretty incredible for its time: The first recorded ballet class for little girls took place! 🩰👧 That's right, my lovelies! The seeds of a ballet revolution were sown on this very day, allowing generations of young dancers to take flight on pointe!
While I can't divulge all the juicy details of what that first class entailed, imagine: the squeak of little shoes, the fluttering of hopeful, little hands, the twinkle of wonder in little eyes as their first grand jeté, maybe a plié? Oh, to have been there, to have shared that moment of grace!
What's this got to do with tutus, you ask? Well, my sweet things, it was in that little girl’s ballet class that tutus started to take on their present-day image. A very refined one, at that. Imagine, darling, a room filled with miniature ballerina figures, all adorned in the daintiest of tutus. A truly divine sight, I daresay!
You see, in those days, ballet was just beginning its grand journey to becoming a true theatrical marvel. Tutus, still in their infancy, were gradually evolving from simple garments used for daily training into the symbols of grace, artistry and ethereal elegance we know and love today!
Speaking of elegant attire, let's get back to our own fashion journey, shall we? While I love exploring the history of ballet, there's nothing like a spot of vintage shopping and some fabulous garments to set the mood. Luckily, 1849, my lovelies, was a treasure trove of beautiful pieces. We’re talking exquisitely crafted fabrics, graceful silhouettes, and charming touches – the ultimate inspiration for my personal style!
Think long, flowing skirts with romantic flourishes, perfectly tailored corsets (always in pink, darling!) and stunning brooches to accentuate the perfect, romantic look. These fashion delights, along with my favourite tutu, of course, would be perfect for my next ballet performance! (Why don’t I schedule one of these right away?! It’s going to be a masterpiece! Imagine me twirling across the stage... Ahem! I’ll save that thought for later!)
Speaking of ballet performances, this is how I fund my adventures. This time travel isn't cheap! You have no idea the expenses, from buying fabrics for the perfect travelling tutus (always a necessity) to keeping those exquisite old Victorian train carriages clean! Thankfully, audiences always love my ballet show, it always draws in the crowds and of course, there’s a very specific reason why people come back again and again. You could call it "tutu mania"! 😜
For those of you who don't know, I hail from a charming little village in Derbyshire, England. Let me tell you, nothing beats a stroll through the Derbyshire countryside after a performance. It’s the best way to refresh after all the excitement. Especially after all the gorgeous dresses I must choose from, when deciding on a dress for the show! But there's more than the countryside I cherish, my darling. There's the ballet. I live and breathe ballet! And so, I must share that most exciting bit of news with you: My beloved tutu, which I affectionately call “Miss Fluffy,” has just been commissioned to feature in the new ballet that’s opening at Covent Garden! Squee! (Now that’s a big deal! Oh darling, let's go to Covent Garden to celebrate, shall we? We can have the grandest afternoon tea and visit the most exclusive shops, all to commemorate Miss Fluffy's glorious debut!)
To summarise today’s journey: Today was the first ballet class for girls and that’s what makes tutus special. My sweet dears, we all must appreciate those beautiful, billowing tutus, remembering those pioneering little girls and the wonderful path that they set on that day in 1849!
So my lovely readers, what do you think? Did you like this little trip to the past? As for me, I'll be making sure to add a bit of history to my dance practice today in honour of this milestone. Do remember to check in with me on next week's post for another enchanting tutu tale! And in the meantime, darling, remember to spread the tutu love!
Stay chic! Emma www.pink-tutu.com
