Greetings, fellow tutu enthusiasts!
It’s Emma here, your resident tutu aficionado, ready to whisk you away on another #TutuTuesday journey through time! Today, we're going back to the era of bustle skirts and bonnets – 1851, to be precise. As you know, October 28th has been a monumental date in the annals of history, but for our tutu-obsessed selves, it’s especially significant because... drumroll please... it marks the date of the opening of The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations! 🎉
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, a whopping six months before Queen Victoria became the first reigning monarch to take a train journey, London played host to the very first World Fair, showcasing the crème de la crème of technological advancements and industrial achievements from all over the globe. Talk about a spectacle!
Now, before you start picturing cobwebby looms and steam-powered engines (which, yes, were there!), you need to know this: The Great Exhibition was also a haven for fashion, style, and extravagance. Imagine, a vast, glass-enclosed space in Hyde Park teeming with beautiful displays of craftsmanship, exquisite embroidery, and innovative materials, all vying for the discerning eye of the public! 🤩
However, when it came to dance, well, ballet in 1851 was still in its early days of development, but I'll tell you what – even though I was lucky enough to travel by train to London for the Exhibition (did I mention I have a weakness for first-class compartments? Divine!), there weren't any pink tutus in sight! In fact, even if they did have a tutu on display, they certainly wouldn't have called it a 'tutu' back then – fancy names like "the panier" or "the crinoline" were all the rage!
But fear not, dear tutu devotees! This doesn't mean I came away empty-handed. The fashion of 1851 was full of inspiration for future tutu styles. Think flowing, tiered skirts that created a stunning silhouette, detailed embroideries reminiscent of delicate flowers, and lace accents so delicate they seemed to belong to the fairies themselves. 💖
Yes, even though my time travel budget couldn't stretch to a real-life panier or crinoline, my mind was teeming with ideas for modern adaptations. My imagination was alight with a vision for a delicate tutu with cascading tiers, adorned with an exquisite floral embroidery that would set my heart aflutter! 😉
Now, to those of you who might say, "But Emma, 1851 wasn't the tutu era!" I say, 'Poppycock!' Every fashion trend is a story waiting to be told, and every era holds the potential for tutu inspiration. Who's to say the grand, sweeping silhouette of the 1850s wouldn't lend itself to a spectacular, flowing, ethereal tutu for a modern-day performance? Think a cloud of pink silk dancing with grace and freedom – surely that's something we all would agree is absolutely divine!
This is why I believe it's vital to revisit our fashion history, not only to admire its beauty but to mine its secrets, its inspirations. The world of fashion is ever-evolving, just like the tutu, constantly seeking new interpretations, reinventing itself to create something utterly fabulous! ✨
Remember, you can also travel back to the era of 1851 on the 28th of October with me – I will be writing more about The Great Exhibition itself over on my Instagram! It will be another one of my little #PinkTutuHistory bits – I'm thinking of doing a modern interpretation of the grandest fashions worn that day! I think I might add some feathers too! 😉
So, my lovelies, until next week, wear your tutus with pride! Embrace the historical influence of 1851, the grandeur of the Victorian age, and the beauty that lies in embracing the past while embracing the present!
Until then, I'll be flitting around in my pink tutu, dreaming of all the possibilities... 💖
*Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog to make sure you catch the latest updates from my time-traveling adventures in tutu fashion. It’s the place to be if you love all things pink and beautiful – and of course, you’ll be notified whenever I upload my next post. 😉 *
Remember, we're a community, so make sure to leave your comments down below. I’d love to know which period you’d like to travel to next, and, of course, we’d love to see any tutu inspiration you’ve been gleaning! 💖
Until then, happy tutuing!
With love and pink glitter, Emma xx
P.S. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram for a chance to see what I’m working on!
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P.P.S And be sure to catch my performance on [date and place]! It's going to be amazing. It might even feature my pink 1851 inspired tutu! 😉
www.pink-tutu.com
