Greetings, my dearest tutu-loving darlings!
It's Emma here, back again from another thrilling time travel escapade. I know, I know, you're probably all aghast, "Emma! You haven't told us what happened in 1853-11-22! Was it glamorous? Did you wear a pink tutu? Was it truly fabulous!?"
Yes, dear readers, all the above.
Buckle up, my little ballerinas, because today we're stepping back in time to the year 1853. Think of it – carriages instead of cars, gaslights flickering in the dusk, and, oh, the dresses! Imagine, all that fabric, those exquisite details…and we weren’t even wearing tutus yet!
Yes, that’s right! On this date, November 22nd 1853, my dear fashion-loving hearts, tutus were but a twinkle in the eye of Marie Taglioni, who herself was already a legend by this time, a glorious swirl of ethereal grace in her ballet dress!
Now, don’t misunderstand. Ballet was absolutely flourishing. My beloved London theatre scene was a whirlwind of romance, passion and beauty. There were dances and waltzes, dashing cavaliers in fashionable frock coats, and oh, my dear dears, those silk dresses, so dreamy! The very height of Parisian chic!
But as for the tutu, we had to wait for the revolutionary change. You see, my lovelies, up until that point, the dancers’ attire had remained, shall we say, quite unrevealing. It was much like a flowing gown with layers upon layers of petticoats to create a dramatic swish and a flowing silhouette. Not nearly as dramatic and glorious as our iconic tutus, with their frills, their tulle, and the ultimate show-stopping movement!
Just imagine, our darling Marie Taglioni - the undisputed Queen of ballet – gliding across the stage in a silk dress! Yes, her movements would have been breathtaking but she was dancing in that long, voluminous attire! You've got to feel a twinge of admiration for how she managed such stunning feats in such an elaborate, constricting gown.
Of course, I must tell you, I did travel back to this 1853 evening in my fabulous pink tutu, naturally! (Did I forget to mention that pink is, perhaps, my favourite colour?) It would have made such a sensation for everyone! They wouldn’t believe that we have such modern-day, gloriously fabulous apparel to dance in! It would be the ultimate fashion coup. (Not that my usual ballet uniform of a white tutu isn’t just as beautiful, of course. Just sayin’)
As always, when I time-travel to a new period, a spot of ballet is a must, right? You simply can’t get a feel for a new age without getting the sense of the performance. And in this 1853 world, you can truly feel the energy. I'm talking a sense of theatre and excitement, a complete immersion in a world of performance that doesn’t involve iPhones and insta-stories – well, at least not the sort I’m familiar with!
So, to make sure I wouldn’t be caught off guard, I headed off on a very pleasant journey, first class of course, on the Great Northern Railway, a magnificent train journey that takes you from London right to the heart of Yorkshire, from which I could see my beloved Derbyshire, and finally to see my chosen ballet.
And wouldn't you know, a very lovely little ballet it was! It took place at the theatre Royal in Drury Lane, London's historic theatrical hub, one that continues to delight and enchant us to this day!
And of course, after my trip, it would have been remiss of me to not stop for a spot of tea and some magnificent fashion!
I know you'll be thrilled to know that I did my shopping at one of the great London emporiums - The Swan and Edgar - that marvel of luxury that still flourishes on Piccadilly. Just the mention of those stores brings such delightful nostalgia. The exquisite gowns, the fabulous bonnets, the gloves... oh, such exquisite creations!
So, #TutuTuesday is here again, my little dears. A very big thank you for joining me on my journey through time.
It is truly important to keep the history of ballet and our beautiful, graceful tutus alive and to keep their magnificent and empowering stories close to our hearts.
I’ve got a great new set of tutus to go with my newly acquired, beautiful vintage ballet shoes and a stunning silk dress for when I need to relax in between ballet performances!
So until next time, keep dancing and let the pink tutu magic spread,
Love and tutus, Emma
p.s. Join me on www.pink-tutu.com for a week of fashion and fabulous ballet! And please tell your friends! We must ensure that **everyone is wearing a pink tutu!
P.P.S Don't forget to send me a message about your favourite ballet and a photo of your outfit! I'd love to see your beautiful pink tutus!
