Hello my darlings, and welcome back to another exciting #TutuTuesday installment of Ballet Tutu History on www.pink-tutu.com. This week, my tutu is a confection of the finest pink silk, adorned with delicate rosebuds and billowing layers. Today, we're taking a trip back in time, to the romantic Victorian era of 1851.
As a budding young ballerina with an insatiable passion for fashion, it's truly a dream come true to delve into this glorious era of flounces and frills! Remember to grab your favourite pink ribbon and cup of Earl Grey tea – we're embarking on a journey of fashion that's both enchanting and utterly delightful!
Imagine: London, a hubbub of activity. The Great Exhibition has just wrapped up its run at the Crystal Palace, celebrating the very best of ingenuity and design from all over the world! The city is still buzzing with the excitement of innovative machinery, sparkling jewels, and the latest creations from the finest designers. But there's a hidden, even more romantic world – the world of ballet!
Now, whilst the Victorian era is often associated with crinolines, high-waisted corsets, and those delightful little bonnets that flutter with every movement, we can't forget that dance was also a significant part of their artistic and social world.
And when we talk about ballet, we have to remember those utterly charming, graceful "tutus"! While these Victorian "tutus" weren't the elaborate creations we see in contemporary ballets today, they were nonetheless, quite the spectacle.
Here's where it gets intriguing: tutus weren't universally worn, but were often considered more suitable for theatrical productions.
Can you picture the scene: a charming Victorian theatre. Gaslights illuminate the stage, casting an ethereal glow on a ballerina dressed in a flowing white tutu made from silk or muslin. There are ribbons and lace everywhere, perhaps decked out with bouffant petticoats.
I have to tell you, there’s a special magic about the era, as if each ballerina was performing a dream in silk!
However, these early Victorian tutus were, as they called them back then, "ballet dresses", differing greatly from our modern-day iconic tutu styles. They didn’t necessarily feature a full skirt. Sometimes, they looked a lot more like graceful court gowns with delicate, long, swirling skirts!
However, what they lacked in length, they more than made up for with layers and layers of sheer, frilled beauty. Lace trims were a must! Imagine dancing in a graceful, billowing cloud of lace and tulle. I think that's my kind of party!
Speaking of layers! Don't forget, a "tutu" back then also had many undergarments! Imagine a set of intricately laced corsets to create a slender silhouette. The fabric, delicate as a butterfly’s wing, created a sense of lightness and beauty that emphasized the elegance of the ballerina.
Even though they weren't as long as today’s "tutus", they were absolutely charming! The silhouette of these dance dresses often included long flowing trains that cascaded to the floor.
Remember those gorgeous floral patterns that we all love so much? These dresses were embellished with dainty and graceful floral motifs. Those sweet, romantic, hand-painted blossoms! Now that's what I call real fashion!
There were, of course, colour constraints! Think demure white, pale blue, or a sweet light pink. The colour palette perfectly reflected the refined sensibilities of the era, evoking the feeling of innocence and elegance.
This is where we find ourselves with a rather lovely discovery!
This specific date, the 26th of August, 1851, happened to be a particularly busy one. While the Grand Exhibition had just wrapped up, there were several events in the London theatre circuit that would have made for truly fabulous nights out. Imagine heading to a Victorian theatre in your finest dress for a night of grand entertainment!
There was the Theatre Royal, the home of popular comedic plays like "A Regular Fix" and "The New Country Girl". At the Haymarket Theatre, the star attraction was the lovely Helen Faucit who made her London stage debut in a charmingly romantic performance! She was the darling of the Victorian theatre scene. Now I know why she was loved by London theatre audiences – can you imagine her in a stunning "tutu", or "ballet dress", as they would call it back then?
However, perhaps the most celebrated ballet performance that week was "The Enchantress". With graceful costumes, beautiful movements and expressive story, this captivating ballet could not have asked for a better setting than a Victorian theatre!
In conclusion, my lovely pink-tutu-wearing fashionistas, the "tutu", even in its earliest form, was a sign of elegance and an embodiment of the graceful art of ballet, captivating audiences with its feminine charm. So, let’s make the most of these Victorian tutus!
We’ll take these lovely memories and lessons with us as we travel through the next #TutuTuesday! And remember, we’re going to try and make pink tutus, a universal dress code for all! Join me again next week! Don’t forget your pink ribbon and let’s all dream about the future of fashion.
Until next week, I hope this Ballet Tutu History was full of fun, magic and delight. And of course, I will see you again on the next #TutuTuesday!
Love,
Emma.
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