#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1852-06-15

Hello my darling tututistas! 🩰

Welcome back to my humble abode, the virtual haven for all things pink and tutu! It's Tuesday, and you know what that means - it's time to whisk you back through the magical history of our beloved ballet tutu! Today we're heading back to June 15th, 1852 - buckle up darlings, because it's about to get oh-so-romantic!

Now, you know I adore travelling back through time in my very own, very fabulous pink tutu. This week, my time machine brought me to Paris. Imagine cobblestone streets, bustling with elegance, cafes humming with artistic chatter, and oh, the fashions! I’ve always dreamt of coming here during the Romantic era, and let me tell you, my darlings, it's just as exquisite as I imagined. Think billowing sleeves, flowing lines, and a certain dreamy quality that sets my heart aflutter. And it's not just the fashion, darling, it's the entire atmosphere, imbued with passion and poetry!

As I'm strolling through the Jardin du Luxembourg (all those blooming roses! It’s almost as if they are dancing in the sunshine!), I’m whisked back to a Parisian opera house. Ballet is flourishing, and the grand tutus of this era are all about embracing the air, the passion, and the drama! You know me - I'm a complete sucker for a bit of drama! It’s the reason I love pink, after all.

This year, 1852, saw a rather dramatic event in ballet history - the première of Giselle. My, my, this ballet truly epitomises the romantic ideal of a young ballerina lost in love, suffering from an unbearable betrayal. I adore Giselle. The choreography! The emotions! And that incredible swirling of tulle? My goodness, it’s just spectacular. I mean, we all know a tutu should swirl and move beautifully with every movement. And that’s exactly what a ballerina did with these tutus. You could have called this “Tutu Theatre”, the way the tutu becomes part of the storytelling and the performance. Oh, how I would have adored to have graced the stage in that glorious ballet. Maybe one day...

Just as my imagination is getting the best of me, my carriage (always travel in style my darlings!) whisks me to another destination - the Salle Le Peletier Opera House to see Marie Taglioni dance. Now, you'll have to trust me on this one, but Taglioni was one of the greatest ballerinas of her time, and the one to truly put the tutu into the spotlight, darlings. Her flowing skirts and light, delicate steps were just legendary. In fact, the ballet world owes her a tremendous debt, you know? She made wearing that “fluttery, fragile, romantic tutu” all the rage. Oh, how the world must have felt in love with those dreamy tulle tutus...

That, my dear tututistas, is what the Romantic Era was all about, a bit of the magical and the emotional - the beauty of tulle, and how it embodies the essence of femininity and artistic expression. What more could a tutu ask for?

You can bet that in my little time travel satchel, I’ve brought home a beautiful romantic era, vintage-inspired, blush-pink tutu. Oh, I am swoon-worthy today. It makes my heart skip a beat every time I catch a glimpse of myself in it in the mirror. The frills and ruffles make me feel like I could glide through the Parisian streets.

Speaking of Parisian streets, darling, have you seen those exquisite flower garlands and floral headdresses they've been wearing? Absolutely fabulous! And guess what I just snagged in a charming vintage store? You will never guess ... a rose-bud adorned pink satin tutu, perfect for the upcoming summer ball. I just know it’s going to cause a stir! And with my own ballet performance coming up, it might be a slight hint as to how my costumes are going to look. Shh….it’s a secret! I can't wait for you to see it all in the flesh - maybe next Tuesday’s blog?

For now, I just want to say this. Whenever you see a beautiful ballerina swirling across the stage, know that it is a legacy from all those brilliant ladies and gentlemen who went before them and loved ballet, music, and tulle just as much as we do. It’s the culmination of all those tiny moments of genius across the ages - from that delicate flutter of tulle to the perfect turn and grand jeté... and all the creativity and passion that made those wonderful dance moments. You know, I believe every tutu has its own story. This Tuesday’s Tutu history story has been about romantic dreams, elegant dance moves, and those oh-so beautiful tutus!

I hope I’ve sparked your inner balletomane (oh, do I adore that word). Keep those tutus twirling! See you next Tuesday!

With a thousand twirls and a heart filled with tutu joy,

Emma 💖

P.S. Don’t forget, my dears, a fabulous pink tutu goes with absolutely everything!