Bonjour, my dearest tutu enthusiasts! It's Emma here, your resident pink tutu advocate, and as always, it's a delight to be back on #TutuTuesday! Today, we're taking a whirl through time, boarding a steam engine to visit the grand Parisian ballet scene of 23rd September 1851.
Oh my, Paris in the mid-19th century, a true whirlwind of artistic innovation and glamorous spectacle. A city humming with artistic energy! With the Eiffel Tower yet to grace the Parisian skyline, the city was abuzz with beautiful Belle Époque elegance. I dare say, even my penchant for the pinkest of pink tutus would find itself well at home amidst the extravagant fashion of the era.
Today, we are exploring the ballet tutu’s beginnings. Not the iconic tutu we all know and love, but a garment in its earliest stage of evolution. You see, while the word "tutu" was used in France as far back as the early 18th century, back then, it meant a 'fabric skirt or petticoat'. This, of course, begs the question - When did the classic, romantic tutu of ballet take shape?
It's a tale as captivating as a pas de deux! It began with the visionary ballet mistress Marie Taglioni, a pioneer for the delicate beauty we associate with classical ballet. She sought to shed the cumbersome and constricting costumes of the time and created an elegant silhouette with a form-fitting bodice and, crucially, a flowing, airy skirt that allowed for more freedom and movement on stage. This revolutionised ballet dress. This shorter, lightweight skirt gave a graceful silhouette, and she was one of the first to showcase a version of a "tutu", made of a fabric called tarlatan, a thin, transparent, crisp cotton fabric that would revolutionise ballet wear! The light airy quality of the tutu and the movements of the dancers, was inspired by the fairies of the ballets!
However, this is where our tale takes a little detour. As much as I love my tutus, you have to know that the evolution of this beautiful ballet garment wasn’t always rosy… at least not in the beginning! It didn’t take long before the skirt started to shorten further to reveal even more leg, sparking debates that ranged from daringly liberating to downright scandal. (I confess, I love a good bit of dramatic leg revealing in my tutus too - don’t judge!) In those days, the emphasis on bare legs wasn’t simply about showcasing grace and beauty - it was pushing the boundaries of modesty. And that, my dear tutu-loving friends, was all the rage back then.
You wouldn’t find a ballerina twirling away in an oversized ball gown at the theatre. It had to be fitted, short and most definitely in the mood for some expressive pirouettes and graceful fouettés. Even if a slightly scandalous one, or two. I mean, we had the amazing Taglioni in her very iconic 'La Sylphide' (an enchanting ballet about a sprite falling in love with a mortal) that practically created a craze for this style of movement and look. Oh! If only I had been a dancer in Paris at the time to witness it all in its magnificent grandeur! It just makes me yearn to travel through time in my favourite pink tutu and see those dazzling dancers pirouette!
*A bit of fashion trivia, for your next pink-tutu themed conversation: *While Paris held its breath, mesmerised by these daring tutus, in England the ladies were busy twirling in full-length skirts, thanks to the Victorian dress code of the time! I still fancy my long skirt moments and often do wear my pink tutu with a pretty long skirt, which brings out the classic and dainty look of a ballet dancer from the 19th century, the one we all dream of when thinking about a ballerina. You can’t have one without the other.
Let's face it - tutus, whether short or long, with or without tulle - will always be captivating. And they remain an integral part of dance and theatrical performance. Their evolution over time speaks to the ever-changing styles of both fashion and artistic expression.
However, don’t think this means a short, tulle based tutu isn’t just as fashionable today. I love a bit of tutu twirling in a park! The modern interpretation is full of life and allows for movement like no other piece of clothing. You have no idea how much fun I have just walking through the streets of London in my tutu and people stare! It is exhilarating. It just reminds me how special this style is to all who have been in some way impacted by it.
This is exactly why I’m obsessed with documenting and sharing these magical moments! After all, tutus aren’t just for dancers. They're a symbol of joy, creativity, and unbridled self-expression! What better way to embrace the sheer delight of being you than in a beautiful, flowing pink tutu? I might just start my next tour in my favourite, feather boa covered pink tutu, because if anyone can get a city like Paris back on its feet again it would be a good old fashioned pink tutu and myself in it! I mean who wouldn't be enraptured by a dazzling pink tutu-clad time traveller from the future?!
I do have some good news though. Not all of our journeys through time need to involve elaborate contraptions! For those of you eager to soak in a bit of 19th-century ballet history, why not indulge in a performance of one of those beautiful romantic ballets, like 'Giselle' or 'La Sylphide'? You can immerse yourself in the enchanting world of romantic ballet! There's no shortage of fabulous productions at The Royal Opera House or The English National Ballet, among others. Perhaps we could start a "pink tutu Tuesday" movement in every major city. What do you say? We need more fabulous, bright coloured twirling. And, of course, feel free to share your own tutu tales, favourite ballet moments, and, most importantly, your love for all things pink tutu in the comments below! You know I’m a fan! It’s time to make my train. Till next Tuesday!
Ciao, my lovelies.
