Hello my darling dears!
It's Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-wearing ballerina blogger, and welcome to #TutuTuesday! It's post number 1049, can you believe it? That's 1,049 weeks of exploring the magnificent world of ballet tutus and their history. Every week I travel through time, sharing with you the fabulous fashions, dazzling dances and delights of tutus throughout history.
This week we're taking a trip back to February 3rd, 1852! Picture it: cobbled streets, horse-drawn carriages, and ladies in elegant bonnets - oh, how I yearn for the fashion! And if you think I'm crazy, then hop on board this trip back to the Victorian era with me, and you'll see why a 1852 London street would make any tutu lover swoon.
The Romantic Era: Flourishing Ballet and Fabulous Fashions1852 - a time when the Romantic ballet was in full bloom, offering an escape from the daily grind. It was all about flowing lines, graceful movements and ethereal themes, and these sentiments definitely seeped into fashion, too.
Just imagine this: Marie Taglioni, the epitome of a romantic ballerina, taking centre stage in her perfectly puffed skirt - a design that is credited with inspiring the modern tutu! Imagine a billowing, swirling confection of tulle, showcasing a beautiful dancer's movements - just magical!
The Romantic Era really pushed boundaries. Women finally shed the corsets, revealing delicate shoulders and a waif-like silhouette. That said, there was no escape from a structured shape: crinoline became the wardrobe staple of the era, making skirts billow dramatically - truly the ultimate fairytale outfit.
This fascination with fluffy fashion extended into the ballet world, where skirts were crafted with layers of lightweight tulle - a sheer wonder that allowed for airy and fluid movements. Imagine a graceful pirouette, a skirt made of air flowing around a dancer's delicate legs - pure magic!
And let's not forget the panniers, these wire hoops under the dress that provided structure and helped create the desired voluminous silhouette! Just picture these gorgeous gals, dressed to the nines, swirling and dipping under a twinkling chandelier.
My Diary Entry from 1852Okay, imagine this: It’s a balmy February afternoon, and I've just hopped off a steam train, my tulle fluttering like a beautiful, pink flag as I dash down a London street. *Ooh, and did I mention the pink train ticket tucked inside my dainty purse? * It's so Victorian, you guys!
My favourite thing about 1852 is the colour palette. I’m talking pale blues, dreamy lavenders, and, of course, my beloved pink! Oh, it just makes me melt with joy! My diary is overflowing with descriptions of this magical period - imagine being a dancer, wearing a billowing tulle skirt, performing under the glittering glow of the chandelier!
As for me? Well, I’m spending the week indulging my senses and collecting memories. I'm just back from a charming performance at the Her Majesty's Theatre, which is utterly opulent - all gilding and velvet - and a glorious celebration of theatre and ballet. Later, I'm off to shop for lace trims and silk ribbons. I can already picture a new, pink tutu! It will be a dreamy number - all lace and silk ruffles. Just perfect for my ballet lessons. My diary is positively exploding with descriptions of pink lace trims!
Time-Traveling Back To My Pink World!Okay, you're probably thinking I'm mad, right? This historical stuff is all well and good, but how on earth can it help us create a modern tutu? Well, I see the past as a window into the future! By understanding the origins and inspirations of ballet and tutus, we can rediscover their elegance and reimagine them for modern life!
It’s amazing how even today, a glimpse into the Romantic era reveals so many fashionable and elegant ideas we still see echoed in our current style - romantic flow, dramatic tulle, billowing skirts - they all continue to influence our current sense of style!
Don't just take my word for it. Put on a gorgeous pink tulle skirt and take a whirl! Then tell me it isn’t utterly divine! And as we’ve journeyed into the past, remember this:
Fashion evolves, ballet remains!
Remember to subscribe to pink-tutu.com, check back for next week’s #TutuTuesday and let me know your favourite ballet era! Don’t forget to hashtag #PinkTutuRevolution.
Let's get everyone wearing a pink tutu - what do you say?
See you next week!
