Hello my darlings! It's Emma here, back from another enchanting trip through time, and this week we're waltzing back to 14th May 1850, a date brimming with historical elegance, fashion and, you guessed it, TUTUS! 🩰
As always, I donned my trusty pink tutu (pink is always the answer, my dears!), and hopped aboard the magic railway carriage. (A big shout out to the train station, the heartbeat of travelling through time – so civilised! Though, I'd be remiss if I didn't say that the hot air balloon is rather tempting!). And off I went, to soak in the grandeur of 19th century fashion!
Now, 1850! What a time to be alive. Paris is the centre of the world, you see, when it comes to the latest in fashion and dance (the Parisian ballet, you know!). This city is just buzzing with artistic flair. I took in a few fashion shows – oh, the lavishness of it all! Beautiful silk gowns, exquisitely embellished – an absolute dream.
Speaking of dreams, my first stop was The Opéra Garnier. Can you imagine my delight? To witness the breathtaking artistry of the ballerinas in their tutus! It was a grand performance with an orchestra playing the most lovely melodies, and I'm so glad I took notes. Now, my dearest readers, if you're curious, in this era the tutu is still taking shape. Think flowing white skirts, beautifully decorated and cascading to the floor. It's a sight to behold, I can assure you. A lovely blend of ethereal and graceful. I must say, I adored their designs! They evoked such passion and movement – quite inspiring for a fellow ballerina, even a time-travelling one like myself.
Then it was off to a soirée! This is where we talk fashion, dear reader! You won’t believe it, my dear readers! Crinolines are all the rage! These elegant circular frames are a truly fascinating spectacle. It must take quite the skill to dance in one, but let me tell you – the graceful movement, the billowing silhouette – it’s simply majestic. It’s definitely a trend that deserves to make a comeback. Hint hint
Later on, I indulged in some Parisian shopping. A grand fashion house caught my eye, a haven of elegance and timeless design, full of exquisite lace and luxurious fabrics, just perfect for creating beautiful tutus, or making any dress that much more special. It made me think how the art of fabric and design, and all of this history around fashion is interwoven, like the delicate ribbons on my own pink tutu! The way people adorned themselves back then, the fashion – it's all a story, my dear readers, and what a fascinating one! Every piece a unique chapter.
Now, you know I adore a little balletic history. And there's much to celebrate about the Paris Opéra. It's a place of artistic brilliance, filled with world-class ballerinas. What’s more, the ballerinas and the ballets that were happening back in 1850, have had a HUGE impact on the dance world we know today.
This era brought in romantic ballet. The style and focus shifted to emotional storytelling and delicate beauty, perfect for tutus with a whimsical touch, you know?
I have to mention a certain ballerina you simply must know about - Carlotta Grisi. Now this lady, with her elegant movements and graceful jumps, was one of the stars of the era! It was inspiring to witness the artistry of her era. Her beauty and skill in dance must have mesmerised her audiences just as much as they mesmerised me, even in the future!
And for you dancers out there - let's take a peek into what dancers are learning back in 1850! Classical ballet techniques were developing, with moves like the grand jeté taking centre stage. Ooh la la , my darlings, what beautiful dance skills are on display.
But my dear readers, it’s time to travel back to the present (much as I could stay and revel in 19th-century fashion!). And as I take one last wistful glance at the city of light, Paris, let’s look at my findings about tutus from this historical period.
Tutufacts! * 1850: Still very much in development. We’re not quite at the tutu that we think of today. It was in full flow of developing a fuller, shorter skirt, a move toward what we think of as a classical ballet tutu. * All about flow. I love this era. Tutufacts: I love a longer tutu with lots of material, just so feminine! I'm happy for the tutu to be less rigid than later, classic ones. There is plenty of space to create beautiful and delicate lines and, well, just swirl, right?
Right, time to bring my pink tutu back to modern times! Until next #TutuTuesday, keep those ballet shoes on the dancefloor! And, oh, don’t forget to add a little touch of pink to your life! 💖 #tutus #ballet #timetravel #pink #paris #fashion #history
Emma, xx
Remember to follow Emma's journey on www.pink-tutu.com for all the latest tutu inspiration! 💖
