Hiya, darlings! Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, bringing you another slice of #TutuTuesday history. Grab a cuppa and get comfy, because we're stepping back in time to a pivotal year for ballet fashion - 1852!
Now, imagine this. The year is 1852. Gaslight flickers in the streets, steam engines whistle and puff, and oh, the carriages! But let's be honest, who's really looking at that when we can focus on the breathtaking ballet costumes?
We're in Paris, my darlings, the heart of it all, the capital of fashion, of art, of ballet! It’s where the best of the best come to twirl and leap, and let me tell you, they were twirling and leaping in some seriously gorgeous tutus!
Enter, The Romantic Era
Now, you all know I'm a big fan of all things pink, frilly, and fabulous. But there's something extra special about the tutus of this time. The romantic era, oh how it whispers to my fashionista heart. It's the time of Marie Taglioni, a legendary ballerina with an incredible stage presence. Her graceful, ethereal movements were absolutely divine.
Think flowing, almost transparent skirts that billowed and twirled around her like a wisp of smoke, not your rigid, structured, modern tutus. These tutus, made with thin layers of silk and gauze, had a sense of airiness and delicacy that allowed for more fluid movement.
But darling, we're not talking the structured pancake tutu shape that we see in many productions today, not quite. These were much softer and flowing, and often made of several layers of tulle. The soft layers were much easier to dance in than those modern rigid ones! And they allowed for the graceful, dreamy, delicate style that this period demanded. It was as if the tutus themselves danced with the ballerina.
And what about this 19th Century ballet life?
Well, my darlings, even though I'm here in 1852, the stories and photos tell us ballet was already an adored spectacle, like an elegant party that never ends! Fashionable ladies were adorned in intricate bonnets and exquisite gloves while men were in their finest suits. Everyone from dukes and duchesses to artisans and bakers enjoyed this incredible artistic performance, a truly inclusive event.
Just imagine, you go to a performance, and see graceful ballerinas pirouette across the stage, these beautiful twirls and turns under a sparkling chandelier. Imagine how elegant, romantic and magical it would feel!
And wouldn't you know, 1852 was an even bigger year for ballet, darling! A ballet called 'Giselle' was all the rage, the darling of the season. This was a powerful love story told through movement and emotion, an intense experience that took the stage by storm, both here in Paris and in London!
The dancers would flit and dance like birds! So evocative!
And oh darling, while in London you had to try and catch the 'Ondine' ballet. It’s another fairytale ballet about a water nymph who fell in love with a prince - very whimsical!
Can you picture it all, darling? These beautiful tales brought to life with swirling tulle and the beautiful grace of dancers? I could imagine it for hours! It is absolutely thrilling!
And did I tell you about the ballerinas themselves? Oh, they were the epitome of grace and elegance. Each movement, every pirouette, a spectacle to behold!
And the tutus? They just completed the enchantment!
And of course, dear readers, what would #TutuTuesday be without a pink moment?
Imagine these light, elegant tutus in a delicate shade of pink, maybe even adorned with delicate lace! Or imagine, if I were here in this magical era, my beautiful, frilly pink tutu floating across the stage! (One day darling, one day... but I must leave a touch of reality here.)
I'm just so grateful that we can carry on these ballet traditions in some way even today, don’t you think? Ballet and the romance of tutus are timeless! And that’s why I love travelling to see the beautiful costumes in the museum and archives. So next time you see a ballerina in her pink tutu, let her spirit of joy and creativity move you!
See you all next Tuesday, darlings! Have a fabulous week, and remember, it's always a good day to wear a tutu!
With all my heart,
Emma,
(From your pink tutu loving Time Travelling ballerina! )
www.pink-tutu.com
