Greetings, lovelies! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling tutu enthusiast, back with another #TutuTuesday blog post. This week, we're venturing back to 12th August, 1851. Now, if you're like me, you can hardly imagine a world without tutus - they're the epitome of grace and elegance, and their whimsical swish is music to my ears! But let's rewind the clock and take a peek at how these magical garments came to be...
A Ballet Revolution: From Long Skirts to Whispy Wonders
Now, before 1851, ballerinas weren't swirling and leaping in their iconic tutus. They were actually dancing in... long skirts! Imagine the restriction! But our beloved Marie Taglioni, the ballerina known for her feather-light leaps, felt she needed something more... something lighter. So she brought the tutu onto the scene! This groundbreaking change sparked a ballet revolution!
Marie was absolutely the vision of ballerina beauty! Think of a cloud made human. I am SO obsessed with Marie's career, she's a huge icon for me.
Let's talk fabrics for a moment - silk was used because it was so beautiful and moved with a ballerina like silk moves in the wind. A lot of the tutus were pale pink and yellow and the ballet dancers had these huge, fluffy tutus, they were massive and magnificent! They swished around so much in the middle of a ballet that they were so hard to control but these gorgeous and glamorous dresses did so much to change ballet forever, which is why tutus have gone on to become so popular.
They're like ballet dreams!
12th August, 1851: A Grand Opening!
You won't believe it, darlings, but today is a truly historic date in the world of fashion and design: the grand opening of the Crystal Palace in London. It was absolutely HUGE and was made of glass - stunning! It played host to the Great Exhibition which brought all the inventions and creations from around the globe to one place. You've gotta imagine the excitement, dear reader, it was truly a marvel of the modern age! It was a real mix of old and new, classic and experimental, much like fashion itself!
This was a golden era for all things exquisite and luxurious. The Crystal Palace was built for a huge exhibition of new creations from around the globe, including amazing fashion! Now, wouldn't it have been utterly magical to witness this spectacle with my own eyes? I can imagine the gowns, the silks, the lace, oh! And I simply have to tell you all, ladies, you just had to see the carriages that arrived with the Royals. Oh, they were stunning!
Speaking of carriages, and the train - this was my way of getting around! I love riding the train so much - such an exciting, dramatic journey, not to mention it allowed me to take in the views, especially those romantic scenes of the English countryside. And as we all know, dear readers, Derbyshire's so full of lovely countryside scenery. There were so many delightful stores in London's West End.
Tutu Inspirations: Taking a Cue from the Past
This was an era when people were inspired by nature. The ballet tutu of the 1800s took on that delicate natural aesthetic, often embellished with little floral motifs - just think how adorable! I can't wait for my next shopping spree to find myself some beautiful little florals to add to my tutu. They add a charming, romantic flair, perfect for any little princess. Or in my case, an elegant time-travelling princess!
I always want to embrace those vintage styles in a contemporary way, blending historical elegance with the fun and fabulous trends of today. Now I know you may not all be time travelling ballet dancers, but my motto is why not embrace the spirit of a pink tutu! It's an ode to artistry, freedom and self-expression, something every lovely lady should embody.
So let’s celebrate these magical moments in history with a big, beautiful whirl in our favourite tutus.
Don’t forget to check back here next Tuesday for more #TutuTuesday history!
Keep dancing and shining!
Love, Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
