#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1850-06-04

Hello my darlings! It's your favourite pink tutu-wearing blogger, Emma, back again with another captivating #TutuTuesday blog post. As usual, I'm thrilled to be here, and even more so to be sharing a journey through time with all of you!

This week, we're taking a little trip back to the 19th century, specifically to 4th June, 1850, and I must say, the fashion is divine. I just popped into a vintage costume shop earlier today and was practically drowning in tulle, ruffles, and the most exquisite bodices.

You see, this is where our beloved tutu truly began to take centre stage, much like yours truly, Emma!

But hold onto your feather boas, my dears, because today's blog post is more than just about the iconic tutu. It's about the grand artistry and dramatic movement that brought this enchanting garment to life. And I can’t leave out my favourite subject – fashion!

Picture a scene bursting with elegance and finesse. We are in Paris, darling, the city that effortlessly embraces art and elegance with open arms. This is the very city where the ballerina's costume transformed from cumbersome gowns into something truly breathtaking. The en pointe movement of the ballet, coupled with the dramatic dance moves, begged for something light, something that could float and move freely, creating an enchanting illusion.

The tutu, with its short, flared shape and intricate detailing, was the perfect answer. It enabled ballerinas to truly soar and dance effortlessly, with each movement becoming a beautiful dance of grace. This is where I first came across the stunning, en pointe ballerina. There she was, gracefully performing in a short tutu that shimmered like a rainbow under the theatre's light. She was a vision of delicate elegance and poise, each movement speaking to her spirit.

Imagine the sheer joy and passion in her eyes as she gracefully danced. That passion inspired me. I took to ballet straight away and became a regular attendee of the Paris ballet – as it was (and is) the undisputed global heart of ballet, and for tutus too. This is what my other dream is: to dance on the Paris stage – but for now, time-traveling and the pink tutu will have to do!

This, my darlings, was the moment when the tutu became an emblem of ballet and transformed itself from just another dance costume to a celebrated icon. It was also a time when ballerinas were increasingly adored – just as dancers are today.

And this week’s birthday, the 4th of June, also marks the opening of the stunning Palais Garnier in 1875.

A must-visit for all my fellow fashionistas – the Palais Garnier, or “Opera Garnier,” was designed by the acclaimed Charles Garnier, and it is truly breathtaking! Not just a stage, it's a palace of opera and ballet, complete with stunning gold decorations, plush velvet seating and a mesmerizing ceiling by Marc Chagall.

To get there? You can do it in true Emma style, my darlings! My train journey last week, by train, was fabulous. The journey is a perfect chance to wear a different kind of outfit, of course: it's got to be comfy, but equally glam. Luckily, with a comfy ballet flat, it's easier to choose what looks great on the train. That's because the fashion can be even more important than at a ballet performance. It’s about expressing your sense of style, and showing everyone how fabulously dressed you are. And what is more stylish than an outfit where you have coordinated the entire design around a gorgeous pink tutu?!

Now, imagine, if you will, the Palais Garnier ablaze with lights and music, ballerinas in their flowing tutus pirouetting and soaring across the stage, the exquisite music swelling to a crescendo, and the audience captivated by the magic of the ballet.

Here is an interesting piece I unearthed for today's #TutuTuesday. In my quest to see if anything happened on June 4th, 1850 that is particularly ballet- or tutu- related – well, my searches revealed nothing! However, there was news of the invention of an "anesthetic vapor", which is, apparently, meant to prevent people feeling pain during operations. You've got to admire progress, darlings! But in this particular case, I'm quite pleased to think that dancers, like me, can go about our day wearing lovely tutus – no anaesthetics needed – though you never know – I wouldn’t mind feeling slightly numb during my performances, wouldn't you agree? The thrill of performing, my dears, it's a magical feeling and if anything could make it even better, it's this "anesthetic vapour" you've told me about!

My other favourite discovery this week is what to call this type of tutu, which I’ve described already! Apparently, I've been calling it ‘Romantic Tutu’, or ‘Romantic’ or ‘Romantics’. This sort of style dominated in the time-period I've been studying this week and has all those frills and tiers – I just adore them – but who knew we had a specific name for the style. What other little fashion tidbits await me in the future, I wonder?

So, what's on my list today? Well, to stay en pointe with my #TutuTuesday mission, I'm off to the Royal Opera House for the night. They’re putting on ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ - a ballet classic that is known for it’s utterly charming performance - especially in London, of course! As it was a particularly famous performance when I travelled here earlier this century, I expect the theatre will be bursting at the seams with stylish Parisians and Londoners - the height of fashion!
After the performance, I am going shopping for an even more stunning pink tutu!

As for you my darlings, why not grab a few layers of tulle and embrace the ‘Romantic Tutu’, or the ‘Romantic’, or the ‘Romantics’? And join me as I explore more fabulous historical fashion adventures in the weeks to come. Remember: If you like, get involved in the #TutuTuesday social media posts - I love getting your responses and it gives me ideas too.

Stay stylish and dance with me next Tuesday!

Yours in Tutu Love, Emma

www.pink-tutu.com