Welcome back, lovelies, to another week of *#TutuTuesday! This week, we're jetting back to 1854 to unravel some historical fashion threads - or rather, tutu threads! [emoji: pink heart] [emoji: sparkling heart]*
It's time to delve into the wonderful world of ballet's iconic garment! For the uninitiated, let me tell you – it all starts with the *tutu, and boy, is this piece of fabric a story unto itself!*
[Image: A portrait of Emma in a pink tutu against a backdrop of an 1800's opera house]
Now, you may be asking – Why *May 9th, 1854?* Well, darling, it’s the birthday of the one and only Marius Petipa! Petipa was a ballerino who turned choreographer, and you bet your tulle, this guy is tutu-ally important for ballet history!
[Emoji: sparkling heart] He made ballets that we still see and adore today, including *The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, and believe me, those ballets wouldn’t be quite the same without their majestic tutus! [emoji: smiling face] We’re so lucky to have Petipa's stunning work to inspire our love of dance!*
Today's tutus are definitely a far cry from what was on the stage in 1854! Imagine the year **1854: crinoline was queen, bonnets were the accessory, and there were lots of puffy sleeves. It's all a bit frilly for my modern sensibilities, darling, and not at all in keeping with the streamlined elegance of the tutus we have now.
However! Just because *today's tutus look completely different to the ones worn in Petipa's time, doesn't mean those original tutus weren't spectacular. Imagine a flowing cloud of lace and fabric, light as a feather, whirling and twirling under the gaslights of a grand opera house, [emoji: gasps]! What a beautiful spectacle it must have been!*
Let's talk *tutu types: The tutus of 1854 were what we now call the "Romantic Tutu", a swirling, long, and almost *drapey garment. Made of lightweight fabrics, it allowed for fluid, expressive movements, unlike the rigid styles seen a few decades before. Imagine, all those long, flowing layers! They looked fabulous, don’t you think?**
[Image: A sketch or image of a romantic tutu, alongside a modern, shorter tutu]
[Emoji: sparkling heart] And of course, with *romantic ballet being the thing, this romantic tutus perfectly reflected the beauty and emotion of the period. But what I truly love about the romantic tutu, darlings, is its versatility. You could *literally have a ballerina wearing one on stage and she'd look like a swirling cloud, a fairytale being, or even a ghost, with a little clever lighting. [Emoji: fairy] * *[emoji: ghost] * Absolutely breathtaking! The versatility and romance are almost unmatched. *[Emoji: pink heart] **
I love travelling by train in period clothes! This time, I journeyed to *Paris, France. You know what they say, it's all about Paris for fashion, even back in 1854! As I strolled the streets in my own powdered-blue, custom-made, frilled, full-skirted dress, I couldn't help but think about how the city's iconic elegance would influence fashion. The streets were absolutely bustling with a mixture of fashion: opulent ladies, street hawkers, artisans, it was all happening!*
Now, I have to talk about *The Paris Opera House! My time travel, you know, was partially funded by a show I put on at a theatre in Derbyshire - so of course, I have to stop at *any opera house in any era! This is where ballet magic truly happens. As I watched the ballerinas in their elegant romantic tutus twirling across the stage, it struck me just how timeless ballet truly is!**
Of course, I'm in *tutu heaven, because not only did I enjoy the performance at the Paris Opera House - I got to spend some wonderful time in their exquisite wardrobe! [emoji: eyes sparkling]. All that fabulous fabric! I tried on all the different tutus, even those with extra fluffy fabric, for the *corps de ballet - Those gorgeous tutus were absolutely *a symphony of swish and twirl! Just think: each of those ballerinas, in their swirling romantic tutus, brought *life to Petipa's amazing stories, all while wearing a timeless icon! *[Emoji: ballet shoes] *
Speaking of iconic, my darlings, I'm living for this *pink, satin tutu with a layered tulle overskirt, all *whimsical and elegant, that I found at a delightful shop just down the street from the Paris Opera House! I may not be exactly in line with 1854 fashion, but that’s what I like best – bringing a touch of whimsical elegance to every era! [emoji: pink heart]
And for *all you readers out there: Wear pink! It doesn't *have to be a pink tutu but why not? Embrace your own unique style, darling! Just like a tutu shows its own beauty in a dance, you’re absolutely radiant just as you are.
[Emoji: sparkling heart] Don't forget to share your ballet and tutu love with me on [emoji: pink heart] Instagram [emoji: sparkling heart]! Stay tuned next week, darling, for more #TutuTuesday adventures - there are endless layers to uncover in ballet's fantastically fabulous history! *[emoji: ballet shoes] *
*[Emoji: pink heart] Emma. * [emoji: sparkling heart]
* www.pink-tutu.com *
*[Image: Emma smiling wearing a pink tutu standing in front of the Paris Opera House.] *
