Bonjour, darlings! Emma here, back from another thrilling trip through time and, naturally, sporting a gorgeous pink tutu! You wouldn't catch me without one, especially not for a Tutu Tuesday post, right?
This week, we're diving into the fascinating world of the tutu in the Victorian era. 18th November 1851, to be precise. Now, imagine the excitement - you've got London, in the midst of The Great Exhibition! Everyone's abuzz with inventions and grand displays, and, naturally, my darling tutus are definitely part of the fashion scene.
Now, let's chat about what this era was all about for our beloved tutu, shall we?
Remember, dear readers, the tutu of the 1850s wasn't the dramatic, knee-length beauty we know today. No, those beauties were still tucked away in the wings of history waiting to make their grand entrance. In those days, it was all about the "Romantic Tutu". We're talking delicate, almost airy, tutus that brushed the ground, shimmering in tulle and lace. Imagine, imagine these ethereal garments flowing in every graceful movement, captivating the audience! They weren't about flamboyance, no, they were a vision of graceful lightness.
A tutu back then was more like a graceful petticoat, a swirl of gauzy material that just gently whispered as the dancer moved. It was more about expressing the emotion of the dance, the subtle emotions, than grand technical prowess. It was truly romantic in its nature. Imagine yourself waltzing on a Parisian stage in a diaphanous tulle tutu - pure Parisian chic, don't you think?
It's in this period that ballet became increasingly popular throughout the West. Ballet became more accessible and more readily available in this time period thanks to the new technological advancement, the train!
Now, one can hardly talk about tutus and the Victorian Era without talking about Carlotta Grisi. She was quite the revolutionary, my darling readers! Not only did she wear tutus that went up to her ankles, defying all previous notions, but she also introduced the "Romantic" tutu we mentioned before. This paved the way for ballerinas like the incredible Marie Taglioni, who made tutus truly iconic.
Remember, my dearest readers, that while we think of tutus as an essential part of the dancer's costume today, it wasn't always that way. It's taken time for our lovely tutus to reach the popularity and elegance they possess now! They took many, many iterations, through a glorious historical journey, reaching new heights of artistry, before becoming the dance wear of choice.
In fact, did you know that 1851 was also the year that the Royal Ballet School opened its doors? Isn’t that incredible?! This grand establishment nurtured some of the most exquisite ballet talents of the world, from Derbyshire to across the globe! Imagine the beautiful tutus they would have danced in, and all those glorious performances at the opera! How thrilling!
I'd be remiss if I didn't bring up my absolute favorite thing about this period: the incredible train journeys. You simply had to get on a train, whisk through the English countryside, and experience a performance! Isn't it utterly wonderful?! From Derbyshire, my own beloved home, you can take a steam engine and travel in a few short hours! We even have some amazing fashionistas travelling in London for the show, it is quite a trend! It's so much fun to be transported into a world where tutus take center stage, and fashion is a captivating art form. It makes you long to be a ballerina yourself, don't you agree?
And speaking of traveling, we're heading to Russia next week for a ballet show! Can you imagine, my darlings, a majestic theater under a Russian sky?! A dazzling performance with dancers gliding through a graceful flurry of tulle? I'll be back next Tuesday with all the latest details from our fabulous trip - including what the latest fashion is, you can't miss it! It's going to be fabulous!
In the meantime, remember to spread the pink tutu love and let your imagination soar to new heights! Because you know what, everyone is lovely in a pink tutu, you simply must give it a try! I've also been seeing some amazing pink outfits being worn with black tights - it’s fabulous, do give it a go.
Au revoir for now, darlings! Stay twirling and always keep the pink tutu dreams alive!
P.S: Don’t forget to let me know what you think of this tutu tale! Leave a comment and let’s get chatting, I’m just as happy to hear about your day, your dancing plans and your tutu thoughts! Let’s get chatting, it’s Tutu Tuesday after all.
