Hello my darling tutu enthusiasts! Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com and my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog! I'm Emma, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu-wearing, ballet-loving, time-travelling fashionista. It’s Tuesday, which means it's time to dust off our tutus, sip some tea, and delve into the fascinating world of ballet history! This is post number 1123!
Today, my time machine whisked me back to 5 July 1853, just in time for a little Parisian soirée at the Opéra. As you know, dear readers, Paris is THE place to be for all things fashion, and this is where our tutu story begins!
Now, imagine this: swirling gaslight, elegant carriages pulling up to the grand entrance, and the air abuzz with the anticipation of seeing the great ballerinas of the time perform! I just adore the Parisian energy! I felt as if I was walking straight out of one of my favourite ballet stories, and the air crackled with the thrill of seeing the world’s greatest dancers in action!
On this date in history, the most talked about tutu was not just any tutu. This was the iconic “La Sylphide” tutu – light, wispy, and reaching to the knees. Designed for the famous ballet La Sylphide, it broke all the rules of the stiff, heavy classical tutus that had been popular at the time. You can just picture those ethereal sylphs flitting around on stage in this dreamy new design. Talk about elegance and grace! This little tutu was quite a game changer!
In 1853, the legendary Marie Taglioni, the prima ballerina assoluta of the era, wore her La Sylphide tutu with a dazzling lightness and grace that the public just adored. You could say it was a little touch of magic for every Parisian soul that evening, especially all the ladies dressed up in their silks and satins in the audience. They say that La Sylphide’s influence can still be felt in contemporary tutus – that flowing, feminine silhouette is quite simply irresistible, isn't it? You know you secretly dream of owning one yourself!
As a ballerina in love with all things pink, let me tell you - 1853 was still very much about the white and cream tones for ballet outfits. But, let me tell you, that little burst of colour pink was about to make its glorious entrance on the stage, as I’ve documented before! It was a whole other level of elegant magic - almost as exciting as when the little tutu stole the show, don’t you think?
Anyway, back to 1853, the tutus back then were mostly made of layers of white tulle. Now, you know me – my obsession for all things pink. Imagine that in a vibrant shade of pink? Divine! But this historical detail really goes to show how things have changed.
Oh, but let’s not forget the other fantastic ballet shows happening at this very same time. There was the mesmerizing “Giselle”, featuring another famous ballerina, Carlotta Grisi, in her iconic black and white tutu with a flowing and Romantic, rather dramatic design that created a powerful effect. These ballets were more than just beautiful movement – they were pure theatre and storytelling in motion. That's what made ballet such an incredible art form for its time, you know?
I've got to say, being back in 1853 was a magical time! The opulence, the incredible performances – everything was a little more extravagant than we have now! Imagine what fashion was like with every costume needing to be made from scratch. What dedication from all the designers and dancers back in the day!
Now, as I’ve just mentioned, this magical era also happened to have an enchanting pinkness, which I shall touch upon later – because what is a Tutu Tuesday blog post without a sprinkle of pink, dear readers?
I am so excited to take you with me on more tutu-licious time travel journeys every week. Just as soon as I pop off to visit some delightful shops and pick up a new pink tutu! The world needs more pink. Don’t forget, dear readers, join me next week for a #TutuTuesday exploration of even more historical tutu treasures. In the meantime, stay fabulous, and remember - a tutu makes everything better.
