Hello, darling tutu enthusiasts! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, dedicated to the most fabulous invention in fashion history: the tutu! This week on #TutuTuesday, we're taking a train ride through time, to the bustling city of Paris in 1854, and oh, what a beautiful time it was! I can’t wait to share what I learned about tutu fashion then, but let’s go back to my lovely comfy Derbyshire home first before the journey commences. Let’s get started, darlings.
I have a confession to make: this trip is extra special because January 3rd, 1854 is my birthday! It's just too fitting to be travelling to Paris on this very date to see the ballerinas who were paving the way for my beloved pink tutu (my favourite colour!). I've spent the past few days doing research, polishing my pink shoes, and picking the perfect shade of pink tulle for my birthday outfit. You know I just have to celebrate my birthday in style!
After weeks of ballet performances in Derbyshire and careful saving, I have my ticket and have just bought the prettiest lilac velvet dress for the train journey (and an extra pink tutu just because!). I adore trains! It's a whirlwind adventure on a railway line. They’re the only thing as delightful as tutus – full of elegance and movement, carrying people and their dreams far and wide! My carriage is nearly full but one lady’s skirt, just off the edge of her seat, has caught on my dress hook, giving me an extra moment to enjoy my surroundings – this is the way the good life is, don’t you think?
So, imagine my delight when, arriving in Paris, the most exquisite Ballet de l’Opéra, was on stage. Even then, Parisians had their passion for tutus! The costumes, oh my! Some were short and simple, a cloud of white that allowed for so much movement. Others were much longer and flowy. Can you picture it? Such grace! Such style!
The stage was the perfect canvas for a beautiful story! Ballerinas danced through a whirlwind of emotion, their tutus swirling around them like a magical dream.
While the ballerinas in 1854 wore those exquisite costumes with so much elegance and style, it was so wonderful seeing them too. Their faces radiated joy and passion for the craft.
We went shopping afterward - my trip to Paris wouldn’t be complete without it! We bought several Parisian pastries, just because they were so pretty! The confectioner looked a bit shocked when he saw my tutu but he was even more surprised at my love for his sugared plums! I then popped in a delightful shop and tried on so many new dresses, and even treated myself to some delicious fabric to use to make a new pink tutu back in Derbyshire. There’s no better shopping day than one with ballet on the brain and tutu fashion on the heart.
After dinner at a charming bistro and some delicious crêpes (that were, naturally, pink! They always manage to surprise me), I strolled through the city. The beautiful moonlight reflected on the streets. Even Paris after dark has its beauty!
It seems my pink-loving journey wasn't a coincidence, darlings. On January 3, 1854, the legendary ballerina, Carlotta Grisi, gave the world a spectacular dance, and it was one of the biggest moments in history for ballet tutus.
Fun Fact: Imagine a tutu with 16 yards of fabric! Now imagine a ballerina using this tutu for the role of the Sylph in the ballet La Sylphide. That's what Grisi did and she changed ballet fashion forever.
And here's the truly incredible part: Grisi embraced her ballerina individuality in a world where it wasn’t always accepted. Her artistry and bravery paved the way for ballet history as we know it!
Paris is just a memory for now, but the spirit of Grisi lives on through each tutu we create. Every swirl, every twirl, is a nod to this amazing woman and her vision!
This Tuesday was absolutely divine. I hope I can spread the beauty of the tutu. Let’s all aim to spread pink joy with each whirl and twirl we do!
See you all next Tuesday, with my #TutuTuesday ballet history journey.
And always remember, my sweet dears, you can never have too many tutus, and never too much pink.
Love, Emma x
P.S. I just found the most amazing pink silk! What should I make with it? Let me know your ideas.
