Oh, my dears! I simply adore delving into the archives of our beloved ballet, don’t you? Every week I’m simply giddy with excitement for our little jaunt back in time to discover how the tutu evolved and made it to us today! Today, we’re going on a fabulous adventure back to February 1st, 1853. My travel plans for today? Well, my darling, we're heading straight to…Paris! whispers excitedly I mean, can you even imagine? Parisian ballet at its peak, and I’m going to see it all in my perfectly pink tutu. (My dressmaker, Miss Antoinette, made this beauty for my last show. A complete masterpiece, don't you think?)
Now, when I was getting ready for our trip, I got to thinking…we don’t even have tutus quite yet! It's hard to imagine that we haven’t quite discovered the glorious poof of tulle we associate with ballet today. Oh, but that's exactly the joy of travelling through time, isn't it? We’re witnessing history unfold before our eyes, right from the stage to our tutuingly gorgeous pink costumes.
Instead of the flowing, fluffy tutus that twirl with the ballerina's every movement, ballet in 1853 was a lot more…practical, shall we say? Ballerinas were wearing a style that actually originated centuries ago in Italy, the "Robe à la Française" - you know, the long, graceful dresses with that very pretty bell-shaped skirt? Oh darling, just a bit too many layers for all the jumping and leaping we do now! Can you even imagine trying to turn in that thing?
Think, my dears, if the Romantic ballet, as it was then called, focused on ethereal and whimsical fairies, how on earth could those pretty creatures flit and dance in such a constricted outfit? Well, the beautiful Carlotta Grisi changed the game for all of us in 1841, making her stage debut as La Sylphide in…drumroll a skirt so short it was deemed almost shocking for its time! Yes, my lovely fashion-forward friends, the early steps towards the "tutu" we know and adore were made right then and there!
And guess what? It was a pink tutu too! Oh my, a blush of pink with tulle layered so softly over an underskirt, and a little matching bodice? Doesn't that just make your heart skip a beat? It would’ve been simply spectacular for those attending the Paris Opéra, wouldn’t it? A vision of Parisian loveliness in a colour made for dancing. (Remember when pink wasn’t for girls? Well, ballet always knew better! Haha!)
But back to February 1st, 1853…What a treat we’re in for! The very talented Mlle. Fanny Cerrito, a dancer known for her breathtaking agility and charming performance style, is starring in the grand ballets at the Opéra! Isn’t that exciting? The theatre is positively buzzing with the excitement of La Fille mal gardée, a comedy about a headstrong girl trying to dance her way out of a terrible engagement. My word, but that one is a classic! They must have been bursting with excitement when the curtain went up! And let me tell you, when Miss Cerrito went on stage…the audience, all dressed to the nines…simply roared with excitement.
And what is that I see in the distance, flitting and frolicking, but another Pink tutu! The lovely little Marguerite in her light, pink dress, an ode to innocence and charm! How divine is that? But you know, our Parisian journey doesn’t stop at the theatre, it wouldn't be complete without a bit of shopping. Oh my dears, Parisian fashion was at its most fabulous, especially when it came to lace! Think delicate trims on dainty handkerchiefs and ribbons, perhaps a hint of silk mixed with velvet…It was truly an explosion of feminine delight! Imagine shopping at a dress shop full of frills and bows, it would take an entire day just to browse it all! Don't even get me started on the little boutiques for shoes!
Our trip through time ends in this gorgeous place on this very specific date! So next Tuesday, we’re on the train back to Derbyshire…sniffs …And what am I packing? Well, as I said earlier, the train has plenty of room for an extra pink tutu…
Oh, but before we get there, I must share a tip I learned during my shopping spree: never be afraid to embrace pink! My dear friends, that was always my mantra, and it's certainly why you can find me prancing about in pink from the time I wake up to when I drift to sleep…well, perhaps not asleep…maybe a slightly more subtle shade! And remember, always keep a sense of wonder, keep searching for that touch of whimsy in every little thing you see, and remember the ballet’s simple grace, even in the grandest performances. The love for dance comes with a heart that is open and always searching for more, don’t you agree?
Till next Tuesday, Emma
P.S: Did you know, my dears, the story of ballet's evolution is not over! I have some thrilling adventures lined up. Just you wait and see. 😉 Make sure to visit us again for all the latest from the world of ballet fashion - from the grand tutus to the perfectly fitting shoes, and everything pink! Until then, go on, dear friend, get your tutu on and start dancing. #pinktutu #TutuTuesday #balletlove
