Welcome, dear readers, to Tutu Tuesday! Itās Emma here, your Pink Tutu Princess, ready to whisk you back through time to discover the origins of our beloved ballerina garment ā the tutu! Iām so excited to be writing to you today, my #1055 blog post on the glorious history of the tutu! Today, Iāve packed my time-travelling trunks and hopped on the Orient Express for a thrilling trip to Paris ā the very city where our beloved tutus made their grand entrance onto the world stage!
Before we step into the glittering halls of the Paris Opera, let's take a quick peek into the world of 1852! Just imagine, my dear readers, a world without electric lights, where horse-drawn carriages still rumble through the streets and ladies still sport the graceful elegance of crinoline gowns. This is the world where Marie Taglioni, a graceful goddess of the dance, stunned audiences with her ethereal ballet āLa Sylphide,ā which was revolutionary for its time, paving the way for tutus.
Now, back to the magnificent Palais Garnier ā the Paris Opera House. It was this magnificent venue that hosted the most legendary ballerinas of the time, and we're in for a real treat. In 1852, Marie Taglioniās breathtaking performance in La Sylphide, an otherworldly ballet that highlighted the graceful, ethereal, and almost āfairy-likeā essence of ballet, shocked audiences! Imagine seeing such exquisite movement for the first time! In the ballet, Marie donned a new costume, and there you have it, the precursor to the modern tutu was born ā the Romantic tutu! This magnificent creation showcased the ballerinaās slender frame and the elegant curves of her body.
It's the beginning of a revolutionary era in ballet history. For the first time, the focus shifts from the heavy skirts and layers of the previous costumes to the movement and artistry of the dancer. And imagine, my dear readers, this new focus brought a burst of colour and new movement onto the stage, setting a whole new dance trend across Europe, especially in England!
Can you imagine, this lightweight costume brought out the graceful ballerina as a mystical sprite in La Sylphide. Thatās why the Romantic tutu became known as a 'floating tutu', as it appeared to just float with each elegant pirouette and graceful jetĆ©! Talk about magic on stage! And oh, the inspiration it must have created! Weāre talking about the most exquisite stage-wear, and for that time, a very bold statement. This new, revolutionary style brought with it a whole new energy to ballet. Imagine seeing dancers who had never moved in such a way before, they became free and weightless. Just as we, all over the world, strive to achieve that weightless feeling, only more beautiful and in complete freedom, just like Marie Taglioni!
The magic of that night in 1852 still shimmers through the decades. This incredible legacy has made Paris a magical hub of dance for centuries! We owe our adoration for ballet, especially that incredible stage presence, to the vision and creativity of the Paris Opera! You can understand, why the romantic tutu captured the heart of Europe! Now, if you were to visit the grand Palais Garnier in 1852, you would see a fascinating mix of tutus - some crafted with fabric resembling flowers, some resembling an alluring bell shape.
In 1852, even though the tutu we know and adore hadnāt been developed just yet, this new era of movement and lighter styles had begun. It wouldnāt be too long until Marie Taglioni's "La Sylphide" would pave the way for what we know and love today, a style called the 'Pagliacci', which translates to ājesterā, in which the dancer has to fit a huge ābowl of frillsā into an unbelievably small and extremely snug bodice, which weāre going to discover on our Tutu Tuesday Blog Journey next week! Itās going to be an incredible, and quite frankly daring adventure! It takes real commitment to fashion, not to mention talent, to pull this off! However, this bold style eventually opened the doors for other iconic tutus like the pancake tutu, a wider style where a tutu is a perfect circle in front of the dancer, which we all adore today, as well as the full tutu, the ballet skirt everyone immediately connects to!
For my lovely ladies, our favourite garment wasn't just a piece of clothing; it was a revolution. I mean, just look at the beautiful shapes, styles, and materials of tutus! Theyāve been inspired by a whirlwind of styles, a kaleidoscope of trends! This new dance was a fashion trend. Weāre talking the birth of a beautiful fashion movement! But donāt worry, my lovelies, there's plenty more to come!
So, darling readers, join me on Tutu Tuesdays for a journey into the incredible history of this enchanting garment. From a Romantic tutu to a Pagliacci, there are some seriously gorgeous stories to be uncovered! Now that Iāve enjoyed my grand Parisian trip to the heart of ballet history, I am feeling quite the inspiration. So this Tuesday, dear ladies, letās get on our journey through fashion, fashion that moves, fashion that tells stories. So why not pull out your favourite pink tutu! (If you don't own a pink tutu...then what are you waiting for!) Take photos, get dancing, share your stories, tag us on @pinktutu and be part of the magic of the Pink Tutu Movement!
Until next week! See you all next Tuesday!
Love, Emma xxx
Emma's Style Pick: For this trip, my lovelies, I chose a dreamy pink tutu ā a fluffy, light pink creation from my beloved London boutique ā itās called Ballerina Dream, I must show you all sometime! I combined it with a pale pink lace top for that romantic and delicate feel. Oh, and a stunning pearl necklace for a touch of vintage charm! I'll be showing off all my outfit choices, plus the fabulous venues in my next post. And don't forget, ladies, you can share your #TutuTuesday outfits by tagging your photos with #PinkTutu!
P.S. Next week weāll explore the story of the daring, magnificent and sometimes outrageously big "Pagliacci" tutu. Are you ready for an enchanting ballet journey, my lovelies?!
