Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, fellow twirlers! It's your favourite tutu-loving blogger, Emma, here with another edition of #TutuTuesday, where we dive deep into the enchanting history of our beloved ballet tutus. Today, we're setting our time-travel machine to October 30th, 1849 – a momentous year in the world of ballet, darlings!
I've been a tad obsessed with train travel lately, you see. It’s the perfect way to get a feel for a different era! So, naturally, I've hopped on the express train from Derbyshire to London – oh, how I love the rhythmic clattering of the wheels, don’t you? – and we're stepping right into a glittering world of swirling tulle and graceful pirouettes!
1849 - A Year of Twirls!
As you might already know, my fellow fashionistas, tutus weren't always as delicate and extravagant as the ones we see today! 1849 marked a significant moment in the evolution of our cherished tutu designs. It was during this time that a young ballerina named Marie Taglioni made her Parisian debut! Can you imagine? This extraordinary dancer took the world of ballet by storm with her ethereal and almost otherworldly grace! And let’s just say she inspired a trend in the ballet world that revolutionized tutu design - forever!
Remember those classic 'romantic' ballerinas, the ones who swathed themselves in elegant billowing dresses and seemed to float through the air? They were the pioneers of what we now know as the tutu romantique. Picture flowing, flowing skirts made from several layers of soft, white tulle, barely grazing the ankles. Think Giselle, my dear fashionistas - pure romanticism and elegant grace! This kind of tutu was designed to emphasise the airy, ethereal beauty of ballet during the romantic period. It highlighted the natural beauty and fluidity of the body, allowing for free, expansive movement - making the ballerinas almost look as though they were flying through the air. It was quite revolutionary!
However, in the 1840s and 50s, designers felt this look was getting a bit… well, dull! You know me, darling! Dull isn’t an option! And let me tell you, what the ballet world needed was a touch of, shall we say, ‘tutu-nality.’
And so, on this very day, October 30th, 1849, the dance world experienced an exciting, elegant shake-up.
A tutu for Every occasion!
Our beloved tutu continued to evolve into various exciting new styles that reflected the changes and spirit of the times. This time period saw the emergence of the tutu à la française. The ballet tutu as we know it today was starting to blossom! This tutu is so different! Much more form-fitting, with shorter, frilly, layers of tulle reaching to about the knees - all the better to showcase intricate legwork and dazzling turns, right? The tutu à la française was much less flouncy, making it easier to do faster turns, leaps, and jumps! The dance world went wild for this new look! It highlighted the ballerina’s strength, technique and agility. Ballet started moving at a quicker pace - a ballet of a whole new kind of magic.
*It was all about the *tutu-ality! **
And let’s not forget the exciting impact the ballet world had on the wider world of fashion! These elegant tutu creations started to pop up all over fashion magazines and the street. You couldn't resist being drawn to their beautiful simplicity and, let's be honest, just plain glamorousness! From ballgowns to dance gowns, the era of the ballet tutu helped shape what fashionistas wanted to wear everywhere, from the streets to the stage!
Now, darling, let's take a trip to London and experience this fashion fever for ourselves! As you know, dear readers, I love fashion, especially vintage fashion - and seeing all of these exciting tutu inspired designs is like having my very own sartorial fairy tale come true! Just imagine: layers and layers of delicate tulle! I can just picture a symphony of fabrics: silk, chiffon, tulle...Oh my! So chic, so timeless.
And how could we forget about the shoes, darling?!
Of course, a tutu isn't complete without its perfect shoe! What's better for showing off all the stunning moves than the legendary pointe shoe? The pointe shoe became an icon of the ballet world in this era, too! Just a little something special for when you need that extra spring in your step! Now, I think you and I are both familiar with how amazing those pointy little toe shoes are, don’t you? Well, the year 1849 also saw the development of shoes that would later inspire the ballet shoes we wear today! It’s so easy to forget these little details are an important part of a ballet's history, and we would look so silly without them! They helped make those flowing ballet movements even more magical, don't you think?
Oh, darlings, this journey has filled me with such a sense of awe. Imagine being part of this pivotal moment! How wonderful would it be to see those revolutionary tutu à la française styles dancing before our very eyes! A fashion and dance experience all rolled into one, if you will!
And you know what, darlings? 1849 really cemented the importance of ballet as a dance form in the heart of the public. People just couldn’t get enough of it, and these fashion moments were all the rage! The delicate dance of ballet and its dazzling array of tutu styles continues to inspire artists, performers, designers and, of course, all of us here at Pink-Tutu.com!
My personal pick!
Speaking of ballet, I couldn't let the weekend pass without mentioning a recent experience of my own, dear readers. I had the utter pleasure of catching Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House in London, the very place where ballet tutus and fashion were born! The costumes! The performance! The breathtaking choreography - a feast for the eyes! I simply had to buy myself a vintage silk tutu inspired by the costumes - a gorgeous dusky pink with shimmering gold detail, of course - for my next tea party with my friends. I simply couldn't resist a bit of pink and sparkle.
Stay tuned for next week!
And so, darlings, our journey into the past ends here for this week. I simply cannot wait to see what treasures and tutus our time machine takes us to next week! Remember, it’s always #TutuTuesday at Pink-Tutu.com!
But I’m sure you agree, we've got a whole lot of fun to look forward to in the future! So keep your eyes peeled for next week’s installment of #TutuTuesday - where I’ll be delving further into the amazing world of tutus. Who knows what time we’ll be travelling to? But I can tell you this, it's going to be sensational!
Until next week, darling! Keep on twirling!
P.S. Don't forget to share your favourite #TutuTuesday moments with me! Tag @Pink_Tutu on social media, and tell us all about your ballet fashion inspiration, your favourite performances, or your dream tutu designs. And who knows, maybe we'll feature your picture in my next blog post.
Your ever-optimistic, tutu-loving blogger, Emma xx
