Hello my darling Tutu-ettes!
Welcome back to another exciting edition of #TutuTuesday: Ballet Tutu History on www.pink-tutu.com.
I'm Emma, your resident tutu enthusiast, and I'm so excited to whisk you all back in time again. This week, we're stepping back to the 13th of March, 1849! My, how time flies when you're wearing a pink tutu, doesn't it? 😉
Today, we're in the heart of Paris, where the whispers of fashion trends swirl through the boulevards, and the rhythmic clicks of dainty heels echo off the elegant walls of the Grand Opera. As the first rays of the sun kiss the rooftops, the air crackles with anticipation, because it’s ballet time!
And oh my goodness, what a time it was to be a ballet fan!
While I am incredibly grateful for the exquisite tutus we enjoy today, this period was one of truly ground-breaking change for ballet costumes, especially those worn by the ballerinas. Think of it this way: a major revolution in tutu history was about to unfold.
We know it's March 1849, but before we delve into the exciting world of ballet fashion in Paris at this time, we simply must remember where this historical point stands within the big picture. This era marks a transition phase in ballet history. The tutus we've grown to love – those magnificent works of layered, airy fabric – are still taking shape.
Gone were the heavy, restrictive corseted garments that bound dancers for generations. Enter, the tutus – gradually emerging as these airy marvels that freed ballerinas’ movements and made dancing, well, just a little bit more fun! They started becoming shorter and, dare I say, more revealing! 😉
In 1849, dancers are experimenting with new lengths, finding ways to bring in the airy, whimsical flair that we know and adore today. Think of it as the exciting point when tutus begin to become a true work of art, not just a necessity. The 'romantic period' in ballet, with its flowing romantic stories on stage, was starting to transform how dancers wanted to look - romanticism being, after all, what ballerinas do best!
The beauty of ballet – not only the grace and the art form – but the visual beauty was in full force during this period! There’s nothing like watching a delicate ballerina gracefully move across the stage. In this period, even the costumes themselves were, for the first time, truly inspiring! Just a little bit like my wonderful pink tutu inspires me, every day! 💕
Today on March 13th, 1849, I’d like to be back in Paris! And where else would I be other than the opera! And with so many options for performances on this exciting day in history, I’d probably pop into a ballet matinee. Just think, I might even have witnessed Giselle or a performance by Carlotta Grisi – a ballerina who pushed the boundaries of dance in those very romantic days.
Carlotta, a legendary dancer with a breathtaking stage presence, became a symbol of change during this era. The woman in question - she who wore the first of our beloved tulle tutus. You've simply got to be swept away by the graceful story of these magnificent dance creations – which is, of course, the story that my blog, and indeed the very concept of TutuTuesday, aims to tell!
Back in 1849, Carlotta embodied the revolutionary spirit of ballet – dancing on pointe for the very first time in a daring, daring, and, of course, delightful tutu – a tulle delight of layers, bringing the ultimate feminine and enchanting spirit of a ballet tutu.
But we can't simply stop at the tulle tutu here in 1849. This was the era in ballet that gave rise to an entire galaxy of the ballerina look, where the details are, if we're being completely honest, totally divine:
- The graceful 'bun: ' Remember how we said the ‘look’ was evolving at this time? This era is a bit of a ballet-hairstyle game changer, too! The dancers ditched the heavy, bouffant curls for simpler updos, and began styling their hair in delicate buns. I tell you what, a perfect bun for a ballerina is everything! And, what’s even better, it works with a simple ballerina outfit – and an absolutely fabulous pink tutu, of course! 😉
- Silk dance shoes - With a sleek simplicity and perfect shine, dance shoes are not just a vital tool for dancing – they also give the ballerinas, in the true definition of a ballerina’s elegant outfit, a ‘show stopping’ detail to add to their amazing tutu and delicate hairstyle!
- The ‘romantic' palette of colours – and the new concept of color contrast! If there's anything to make a tutu look a little bit extra fabulous, a touch of beautiful colour contrast in the bodice makes it look like the best kind of delicate and elegant creation in a dancer’s outfit! Think the ‘romanticist’ pale pastels that blend into delicate shades, and, if we're feeling especially creative and bold - that glorious pink, of course! It adds a touch of enchantment. I feel very strongly about that! Pink truly is magical, my dearest Tutu-ettes, isn’t it? It’s not a color - it’s a magical tutu-enchantment! And this new love of color – from softest white through to a wonderful dash of colour contrast – was all the rage in 1849.
And don't forget - our beloved tulle tutu was finally coming into its own in this very era! You see, 1849 - an unforgettable year for the development of ballet’s fashion! Tulle tutus have a way of capturing that enchanting spirit in the air around ballet performances - that essence of romanticism, you know!
In fact, I daresay these elegant dance creations - and the new colour palette for tutus - actually transformed what ‘dancing’ became for the public too. Think of all the iconic designs - Marie Taglioni, whose ethereal tulle designs stole the show on stage; they are some of the earliest examples of the tutus that we cherish and are a true sign of where ballet fashion has led us!
It wasn't simply that the new tutu design look beautiful, either! The light, ethereal tulle, with a whole lot more freedom of movement, added so much energy and expression to the very form of dance! What better way to express that delicate ‘swirl of grace’, a quintessential ballerina expression, on stage! 😉
You’ve just gotta admit that tulle truly added something extraordinary – the sparkle, the beauty, the way it catches the light, the layers of this new ‘ethereal’ dance fashion. Oh, I could rave on forever about this tulle – this iconic fabric – that makes a true ‘tutu’ so perfect, so enchanting! This is why I want every one of you, dear readers, to be in a pink tutu! It’s my absolute goal! 😉 Of course, today - back in our lovely year 2023 – we have so much more tulle to explore. Today, a tutu - oh, we take it for granted now - is simply so many layers of tulle and layers and layers of artistry!
To think, just over 170 years ago in 1849 – they were at the very beginnings of these designs. They are just the starting point for everything beautiful about tutus we enjoy today – but even then – the design made the difference in the entire look and in all that beautiful ‘Romantic' art.
To think of this period, how the ballerina would take centre stage, just because of that little bit of tulle, or just one magical color of fabric...It all began in those years when those delicate first tutu designs - they started that great ballet fashion journey that has led to us all tutu - lovers!
Don’t you just feel so excited - to know that the beautiful ballerina’s tutu - we have the beautiful romantic tutus - of 1849 to thank! 😉
I love Paris. It truly is the fashion capital of the world – always pushing the boundaries of the world’s sartorial boundaries – just like our tutu design fashion of the early 1840’s. I’ll admit - I just had to take my most glorious tutu with me when I time travelled, this time, to France. I couldn't resist, I couldn’t resist that touch of ‘Parisian Pink!’ – it had to make the trip, with me, in my wardrobe. It is, as we all know, a classic ballet outfit choice – my choice, the most ‘fashionable’ option – and for 1849 - my time-traveling wardrobe couldn’t possibly leave that at home, it just wouldn’t do.
Next week on #TutuTuesday: Ballet Tutu History, I'm off to an entirely different adventure! You'll have to pop by www.pink-tutu.com next week, at the same time, on Tuesday. It’ll be a very different time period - and very different part of the world!
I have such a fun ballet history in store for you! Let’s keep exploring the magnificent history of the tutu. I hope you love ballet and all the amazing tutus that came before!
Until next week my darling tutu-lovers! Keep your pink tutu-dreams big!
