Hello, my darling darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things twirling and delightful! Today, on this glorious #TutuTuesday, we're taking a little trip through time to 1850-04-23! This is post number 956, just to keep track of our journey through ballet's enchanting history!
Now, I’ve been zipping about through the ages for quite a while now, my dear readers, but trust me, it never ceases to amaze me how much fashion changes! This time, I found myself whisked away to a bustling Paris, the beating heart of fashion, and you'll never believe what I stumbled upon…
A Dance of Change
1850 was a truly exciting time in ballet! You see, the tutus we adore today – the airy, floaty wisps of tulle that let a ballerina truly take flight – well, they were still in their infancy. In fact, a mere four years prior, Marie Taglioni had taken to the stage in a revolutionary new style: the tutu! It was a shocking departure from the long, trailing skirts that dancers wore in the past, revealing their limbs and emphasising every delicate movement.
Can you imagine the shock and awe? It was as if a butterfly had escaped its chrysalis and taken to the air, its wings swirling with light and grace! The stage, quite frankly, never looked the same.
A Stroll Down the Boulevard des Italiens
To my immense delight, I arrived in Paris right during the Paris Opera's performance of Giselle – a true ballet classic. And you just know a proper fashionista would head straight to La Rue de la Paix, the hub of Parisian haute couture. Imagine the delicate silks, the crisp chiffons, the ribbons and laces! It was like a symphony of colours and textures – just what inspires those intricate embroidery designs for my own, custom-made tutus, darling!
But don't worry, even with such elegant attire in full bloom, there were still some remnants of the past to be seen! The men’s fashion, my dears, was still very much attached to knee-length trousers, waistcoat, and top hats – hardly as glamorous as my little ballet skirts, eh?
Oh, the excitement! What would life be without fashion and style, you say? I agree!
Onward to London, and a Little Mystery
The train journey back from Paris was a pleasant affair – it always is! Now, I simply couldn't resist a pit stop at a fabulous theatre in London before my time travel adventure was complete!
You see, there’s always an exciting element to discovering history – something a little unexpected! It turned out 1850-04-23 marked the opening of the Sadlers Wells Theatre! That is a famous name, now isn’t it, dearies?
But here’s where it gets even more interesting – I saw the same play “The Queen of Spades” being performed then as when I popped into 1850! Can you imagine – 170 years ago and it was still the flavour of the month! Who would have thunk it? It's an enduring testament to the brilliance of storytelling through dance, isn’t it?
But Back to Our Tutus!
I think it’s simply delightful that so many styles of tutu exist now – some longer, some shorter, some more flamboyant, some more refined.
Let’s all be grateful for the evolution of ballet! From those grand romantic tutus in 1850 to the contemporary style, they have brought a sprinkle of magic to the world.
So my sweet lovelies, as you wear your tutus this week – for a stroll in the park, a day at the ballet, or even just a twirl in your living room – let your mind dance with this amazing history! You're wearing a piece of that history on your own adorable little legs! 🩰
*Until next time, darlings! And please remember: * #TutuTuesday is every Tuesday! Keep your eyes peeled for new adventures in ballet history on www.pink-tutu.com! **
*P.S. * I'm absolutely in love with all shades of pink, but my new, most special custom-made tutu arrived today – a delicate blush with the most intricate sequin details – a dream come true! What would you dream up for your own custom tutu?
