Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com and another #TutuTuesday. This week we are whizzing back to the 1850s and the world of ballet, and to see what all the fuss was about back then.
I must admit, when I first thought of a Tutu Tuesday trip to 1852 I felt a little nervous - what could possibly be fashionable in that gasp era?! I loved a little Victorian frock, but that wasn't quite the vibe I was going for! I needed to put on a show, a real show! A performance that would set the heart a-flutter. It wouldn't be just any tutu either, no. It would be a pink tutu.
Off I popped, travelling on a grand steam train to Paris (who doesn't adore the train, anyway, it's so stylish!), ready for an extraordinary day and the joy of my first glimpse at some real ballerinas. My, it was truly grand! The beautiful music filled the opera house, the stage aglow with soft lights... and oh, the outfits! While not exactly tutu-licious, the women dancing had these fantastic, flowing skirts and billowing sleeves. Imagine the fabulous swirl and spin. The ballet that took my breath away was Giselle, a love story set against a backdrop of magical woodland sprites. I absolutely adore sprites - imagine the frocks! - and this performance made me feel quite tearful! The story of the tragic young Giselle - you'll forgive me if I forget all the details of her story as my mind was simply consumed with tutus, how the dancers could make those swirling fabrics move so perfectly was just mesmerising!
As we walked down from the opera house after the show (all decked out in my favourite, most glamorous pink tutu) I was completely enthralled with how ballet had transformed from a mere "folk dance" to an elevated and beautiful artform that seemed to weave together elegance and drama. I must tell you all, I couldn't resist a stop at a very exclusive millinery shop, a charming little boutique in a cobbled street tucked behind the Opera House - a must for any true fashion enthusiast - where I found myself coveting a most lovely rose-pink hat for the ultimate feminine flair. I think this era had more to offer than I first anticipated. And it gave me so many ideas for pink tutu inspiration. It all started here, with Giselle.
After the Opéra National de Paris (as the Opera House is called in modern times), we headed to The Grand Prix de Paris - the event for horses in all their glamour and racing speed. Can you imagine how many horses have galloped on this date! It is a real honour to be here for this incredible racing spectacle! My tutu really added a touch of elegance, I feel, to the more boisterous crowd of Parisian gents (I was certainly the centre of attention in this pink masterpiece of a costume). What's a racing event without some glamorous fashion!
I was also, I confess, quite desperate for a cup of hot chocolate! My friend at the millinery had told me of a fantastic café not too far from The Opera. It felt so much more grand than the pubs we frequent back in Derbyshire - much, much fancier. As I sipped the velvety chocolate, I began thinking - what exactly were the dancers wearing before tutus? After all, I am a historian, a chronicler of tutus, a woman obsessed with these frilly little skirts. That's how Pink-Tutu.com was born! And why not! Imagine how it would have felt - so, so beautiful! To create a tutu and have every woman wear one. Think about the impact - what could be more elegant?! So the great tutu story was brewing, simmering beneath that warm chocolate!
Well, after many more moments of delight at this splendid cafe, and after I finally caught my breath from all the dancing and horseracing, it was time to travel back. Oh, that sensation of being whisked through time is quite extraordinary, and a little disorienting at first, I confess! A quick whirl of starry light (oh, what a magical experience that is!), and, bosh! I was home.
Of course, the best part about my time travels are sharing it all with you, my beloved pink tutu fan family! What was the most inspiring part about 1852? Let me know in the comments below - I just adore hearing your thoughts on TutuTuesday.
#Until next time, ladies and gents! Enjoy a pink afternoon of tutu indulgence and remember - don't let anyone tell you you can't be a little bit of fairytale in your every day.
Always with love, Emma
