Hello darlings, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet, Pink-Tutu.com! It’s Tutu Tuesday, so put on your favourite pink tulle and settle in for a history lesson with a twirl!
This week, we're whisking ourselves back to 15th October 1850 – just a touch before the Romantic Ballet era reached its peak. Ooh, la la! This was a time of extravagant tutus, yes, but also an era where the ladies had to work a little harder for their sartorial glory. No sequins and sparkle in a bag! (though, darling, if you know any good vintage lace dealers, please let me know!).
Now, I popped out of my time machine in… let’s see… was it Vienna? Or Paris? Oh, that's right, Milan. I think. Don't worry, lovelies, I’ll sort out my compass setting in a bit - a touch of ballet and shopping always helps my spatial awareness.
The first thing that struck me about this period? Imagine - no real tutus yet! Instead of a wispy, bouncy cloud of tulle, dancers were sporting… gasp… layered petticoats. That’s right, the only frills on show were those that a seamstress could painstakingly whip up from white cotton or silk, layer upon layer.
Think of all those layers - a bit like a meringue cake! (Oh, I'd be happy to wear that any day!), but it’s definitely not as easy as throwing on a single tutu, is it, darlings? Imagine the heat! And let's not even think about the logistics of getting on stage with those massive things! (Honestly, they probably used a crane, just to make a dramatic entrance!)
The dance form was still taking shape back in 1850 - think expressive gestures and poetic movements, not a triple pirouette in sight! They were a bit more on the whimsical side, don't you know? The fashion trends in 1850 weren't just about petticoat-stacking either, they were all about romanticism and grace. Imagine those cascading skirts flowing gracefully as a dancer performs, looking like a dreamy vision.
Now, darling, you know I am obsessed with pink. Sadly, pink wasn’t quite the favourite colour of the 1850s. The big shade back then was a vibrant, vibrant white, reminiscent of that pristine snowflake that graces a festive scene. So, if I wanted to look the part, I’d have had to abandon my darling pink palette and dive into the white ensemble – I mean, we all love a classic, right?
As for this special 15th October? Well, sadly, there's nothing big in the ballet calendar that we can mark our pink calendars for. It's a day for pondering those early petticoat tutus, dreaming of the delicate, airy tulle we have today, and maybe just a tiny touch of yearning for a brighter, more vibrant shade for the ballet stage!
And speaking of colour, lovelies, why don't we make our world a little bit pinker this week? Take a twirl in your pinkest tutu, wear your heart on your sleeve (preferably a bright, bright pink one!) and remember - it's always a great day to express your love for ballet and all things pretty!
Until next week, lovelies!
Much love,
Emma
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