#1027
Hello lovelies! Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood tutu-wearing time-traveler, back with another installment of #TutuTuesday! Today weâre waltzing back in time to the glorious year of 1851, a time of bustling innovation, extravagant fashion, and⊠tutus! Yes, those magnificent, swirling garments of tulle and dreams were just beginning to strut their stuff on the world stage, and trust me, darling, it was an exciting time to be a tutu enthusiast.
I recently arrived in London, just in time to catch a sneak peek of the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace. Now, picture this â an immense glass structure, glittering in the sunshine, filled with marvels of human invention from across the globe! And just imagine my excitement as I realised, in the midst of steam engines and textiles, they had a whole section dedicated to the arts â and, wouldnât you know it, I spotted a charming display of early ballet costumes, including a whisper itâŠtutu!
While not exactly the full-blown tutu we adore today, it was a fascinating glimpse into the beginnings of this fabulous piece of clothing. Picture a simple skirt, crafted from layers of delicate tulle, cascading to the knee â just the hint of what would become the iconic swirling tutu we know and love. It was certainly less âwhirlworthyâ than today's styles, but there was a distinct charm to it, with a graceful, elegant sway. It was certainly a far cry from the earlier "dancing" costumes â long, thick layers of fabric that restricted movement and were much more like⊠well, everyday gowns. You can't blame me, darling, Iâve tried to shimmy and shake in one of those at a recent ball I popped in on! Not quite the dance floor vibe Iâm after. The 1850s were indeed the era where tutus took their first graceful steps, becoming a symbol of beauty, artistry, and elegance.
Speaking of elegant⊠London itself is a treasure trove of fashion, much more refined than the streets of my dear Derbyshire. The ladies here have truly mastered the art of the âwalkâ, so delicate, so composed, it makes one want to twirl along! From the flouncy frills of crinolines to the opulent bonnets, every detail is perfectly coordinated. This isn't your average farm-fresh, home-spun look â we're talking silks, satins, and laces, all adorned with the finest jewels. Of course, for a pink tutu enthusiast like me, a stroll through the city means admiring the array of delicate fabrics â so many colors, textures, and textures I can barely handle it! And, let's not forget, there's a shop for everything, just bursting with inspiration.
Speaking of shops, darling, you wonât believe the fantastic new millinery shop I stumbled upon â it is truly an Aladdinâs Cave for a tutu enthusiast! I just had to pop inside, you know, to get a feel for the current trends, of course. A sea of velvet boxes, adorned with intricate feathers and ribbons, revealed rows of perfectly formed hats. And amongst them? I spied something special: tiny pink velvet bonnets, adorned with delicate lace and pearls â absolutely perfect to be worn with a sweet pink tutu, I tell you! And did you know there was such a thing as âballet shoesâ? These delicate marvels are like dainty, delicate socks with thin satin ribbons that attach to the ankle! Oh, darling, the more I explore the fashions of this era, the more inspired I am to craft a ballet-themed wardrobe for my future travels!
After all, what is life without a little touch of whimsy? As a tutu-loving traveler, my motto is: Always wear pink and twirl with confidence. And the best thing is? Even if your tutu isn't the 'proper' style or doesnât reach that glamorous swirl, you can still get the same feeling of magic â like I said before, a simple tulle skirt is the beginning of something magical! So, get yourself a tulle skirt, or better yet, create your own! The possibilities for creativity are boundless. Imagine pairing a graceful, tulle skirt with a crisp white blouse, perhaps with a hint of lace and a charming little hat? Darling, I think I've just discovered the new dress of the season! Imagine the delighted expressions on the faces of people passing you by! Now, how could I, as your dedicated pink tutu correspondent, not embrace a new trend! The future is already looking rosy!
Now, onto the big event I had to attend - a truly enchanting evening at Her Majestyâs Theatre. They were holding a fundraising event, a benefit performance, they call it, for the children of the workers who were constructing that incredible Crystal Palace â can you imagine being one of those hardworking men building such a marvel? The performance was nothing short of spectacular! Ballet, drama, song, all in one show, truly captivating the senses. There was even an incredible piece, "La Fille mal gardĂ©e" (a story of a naughty, mischievous girl and her lover) â I must say, it was a story truly about love and rebellion! But what caught my eye? The ballerinas, darling, the ballerinas! Such incredible grace and beauty, whirling around the stage, like fairies caught in a swirling dream. Every step they took, a glimpse of utter perfection and a whirlwind of tulle! But that was before they entered that exquisite new style of tutuâŠ
The design is called the âRomanticâ tutu and it is completely different from those early ones from 1851. They say this style first emerged in the mid-1830s â who would have thought that back then that those dancers would create this sensation? There was such joy and elegance, and letâs not forget drama. This âRomanticâ style is more flowing and romantic. There is more volume, allowing for a wider range of movements. The tutus were crafted from multiple layers of gauze, silk, or sometimes even taffeta. I believe they were quite challenging to wear but how gorgeous do those layers look when they twirl? I could only marvel at these wonderful dancers - they made the tulle, lace, silk and ribbons sing. Itâs so beautiful how this artform expresses emotion, darling, how this can captivate a room filled with thousands, simply with movements, dance, and...tutu!
For someone with such a passion for all things pink and tulle, seeing ballet dancers soar through the air, each pirouette and arabesque, a testament to the magic of this art form â oh darling, it was an absolutely sublime experience! And who knows, perhaps I'll return to 1851 again one day, and we will have our own âRomanticâ twirl together â a whole street of ballerinas all dressed in the latest trends. Until next Tuesday, darling, keep that inner ballerina sparkling! And remember, the best way to travel through time is by making memories and twirling your heart out!
Emma xoxo
