Welcome back, my lovely Tutu Twirlers! It's Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast and time-traveling ballet buff. Today, for our #TutuTuesday journey, we're stepping back in time to September 18th, 1849. This is no ordinary date, my darlings, it's a landmark day in ballet history! You might be wondering why... well, it's the very day the ballet tutu as we know it was born!
You see, before 1849, ballerinas were swathed in yards and yards of fabric, looking more like billowing clouds than graceful dancers. Now, don't get me wrong, there was a certain ethereal charm to it, but imagine the restrictions! Just picturing those petticoats and heavy fabrics makes my toes ache. Then came the legendary Marie Taglioni, a ballet sensation who literally changed the face of dance. She was tired of being weighed down, and demanded something new, something freeing! And she got it.
Now, let's get into the fascinating history. On this very date in 1849, Marie stepped onto the stage in a shockingly short, billowing skirt. It was so short that it revealed her ankles! For those days, this was absolutely scandalous, my darlings! People were stunned. Critics gasped. Audiences whispered.
But there was more to it than just being short. Marie's skirt was a beautiful, perfectly designed garment made from layers and layers of fine tulle. The design allowed the skirt to billow out, making it look like a cloud as she moved. Her movements were lighter, more flowing, and truly magical.
This revolutionary tutu allowed her to fly across the stage. Her famous 'la Sylphide' was a triumph and she was immediately dubbed 'the Sylph' - an ethereal, almost spirit-like creature. You can practically imagine it now, she must have looked like an enchanted fairy, so light and delicate!
That little skirt, my darlings, changed EVERYTHING. It completely transformed how we see ballet. Suddenly, ballerinas were able to show off their amazing, graceful skills and captivating the audiences with each delicate gesture.
The Ballet Tutu's Journey from Scandal to Staple:
Let's not forget, back then, people were shocked. It wasn't exactly accepted practice for ballerinas to show off their legs and ankles. In fact, it was almost unheard of!
Think about it. A shorter skirt - scandal! Imagine what a longer tutu might be like? Well, longer tutus are exactly what Marie Taglioni wore just a couple of years earlier for La Bayadère - they were still much more dramatic than the later, shorter styles - and not quite the 'iconic tutu' that came into fashion later!
*But, this *shortness wasn't about shocking. It was all about the movement! **And what beautiful movement it was.
Thankfully, audiences quickly came around to see the beauty in this innovative design. Within a couple of years, the short, tutu-like skirts were standard in ballet companies all across Europe. This design paved the way for more complex footwork, elegant jumps, and truly awe-inspiring performances that continue to amaze us today.
Now, my darlings, I have a little secret: there are lots of different tutu types, which are even MORE fascinating! Just like different types of floral headbands can bring a touch of flair to a basic ballerina look, different styles of tutu bring character to the ballet! From the classical tutu (so gracefully gathered) to the romantic tutu (so ethereal!), there are so many varieties that it's quite mind-boggling to imagine. I love the romantic style personally; the layers just melt on the stage!
The Tutu Today:
You see, the ballet tutu has become a symbol of elegance, beauty, and artistry. But more than that, it stands for female empowerment and artistic freedom. Just like Marie, we should all be aiming to break the rules, challenge traditions, and create our own artistic expression! Now, what about the rest of us, not blessed with ballet skills, you might say? Well, we can do what we do best - Embrace the magic of the tutu for our own personal styles! That's right, whether it's on the stage, in your dance classes, or just for a bit of fun, every occasion is the perfect reason to channel that inner ballerina spirit. Just like how you accessorize with your favourite jewellery and matching purses, there are no limits to how you wear a tutu, darling. It’s like the pink bow in my hair - an added flourish of magic that everyone adores!
Today, there's no better day than #TutuTuesday to wear your best pink tutu and channel your inner dancing queen. Embrace the power, the beauty, and the whimsy that a tutu can bring to your life, my darlings. Go forth, twirl, and spread the joy of ballet, everywhere and every time.
I have more exciting tutu news in our next blog.
Remember, don't forget to follow www.pink-tutu.com to see all my latest adventures and blog posts!
Yours in tutus,
Emma 💖🩰
P.S: Did you know this 18th September, 1849 also falls during a very exciting season in 19th century England, darlings? You know I love shopping - but how wonderful that the very same year as this significant event, there were some incredibly amazing pieces of new clothing design popping up. I mean, ladies with long gowns weren’t simply wearing the traditional corsets all day any more, imagine. The year before we see ladies embracing more exciting looks with corsets that came with straps to hold them up. We even have the famous invention of ‘crinoline’ which would completely revolutionise skirts a few years later, too!
For my journey this time, I chose to hop over to Paris for the day to try and find the exact Parisian gown made by Madame Caprice, that my friend Sarah mentions in her letter as being an ‘unforgettable, magical dream’. She mentioned how she was seeing one at a shop near her home and it made me instantly curious about what might have been new at the time in Parisian fashion. She does like a great fashion and that's what this travel adventure was all about. A fashion treat in France! I travelled by train with my fellow blogger friend Charlotte - you may know her from my other travel posts! My adventure to France was all thanks to a fabulous performance in Paris, at a great little Theatre. You have to take a look at my ‘Emma’s French Fashion Find’ posts on www.pink-tutu.com – and of course, I bought myself a gorgeous silk rose for the occasion to make it extra special!
And this is why we are so incredibly lucky today, my darlings, to live in an era where we can experiment, celebrate and make every day a tutu-filled joy! Just like my Parisian travels to meet my fashion muse – the most special element about my pink tutu, and any tutu for that matter, is just how they make me feel: It’s that magical twirling freedom. I hope you enjoy all this little blog post about our journey on #TutuTuesday - do come back next week for more, darling. It’s fun to look back and think about what made fashion so magical - don’t you think?
