Hello my lovely tutu-loving friends! It's Emma here, your very own time-traveling ballerina, and welcome back to another Tuesday. Now, for you lot, this might just be any ol' Tuesday, but for me, it’s a special date – August 8th, 1854!
That’s right, I'm stepping back in time to a date steeped in fashion history. It’s also a bit of a dance in time as the dance itself, Ballet, has been sweeping through the world like a pink tulle tornado! And where do we start but Paris? Oh la la, Paris in the 1850s is an absolute dream. Imagine The Paris Opera House - pure extravagance, with dancers gracefully gliding on stage, in tutus I can only dream of, it's truly a spectacle! And don’t even get me started on the fashions, my dear friends. You know I simply adore a touch of whimsy and frills, and crinoline skirts, swoon… they are the statement piece of this era. Picture it, layers of soft white tulle billowing out, with those delicate floral motifs all over! It’s truly a fashion vision!
Speaking of fashion, have you ever wondered about those fabulous tutus you see the ballerinas dancing in? What secrets lay in their fluffy tulle history? Well, darling, buckle up! Let’s take a trip back in time, or rather, a train journey back in time – nothing beats the charm of a railway carriage on the way to Paris – to the early 1850s, when those dreamy ballerina tutus were still making their grand entrance.
You see, those iconic tutus, with their delicate and elegant forms, were not a constant, darling. It’s all about those little moments in history. The early days of tutus are a fascinating story – let me spill the beans!
Imagine our graceful ballet stars twirling in outfits that look quite unlike our contemporary tutus! Ballet costumes of the time? They were less about ethereal floatiness, more about practicality and freedom of movement, so tights and a short, loose skirt was the go-to! Just think, darling, those little tights, all the rage - even back then, fashion keeps going round and round!
And so it is, darling! The evolution of tutus, it’s quite the love story! Imagine, you’re back in Paris, in 1839, and enter, Marie Taglioni, a breathtaking dancer, and guess what? She just introduced us to our very own tutu-moment! Imagine a* light, delicate tulle skirt, barely clinging to the figure. *A whisper of fabric! Now that's what I call revolutionary!
Now we're getting into that fabulous era in Paris where the famous* “Romantic Tutu”*, that airy vision in light, delicate white tulle that practically floats above the ground! Oh darling, a ballet costume masterpiece and such an inspiration!
By the 1850s, tutus are becoming more intricate, think graceful layers of tulle. Imagine, you see our lovely dancers dancing in “The Sylphides”, a stunning work, and then the costumes, simply breath-taking, so airy and graceful, it’s a tutu fantasy come true!
But, don’t get caught up in the dream too much! Those delicate, romantic costumes of the 1850s weren’t all roses. It’s important to be honest – ballet clothing wasn't all pretty tulle and feather boas. In those days, ballet was physically demanding, so corsets, you know the ones we try on at antique shops but would never actually wear! ,were essential, to accentuate the figure, making dancing all the more demanding and dangerous, oh darling! We don't need corsets, we don’t need the pressure, but a beautiful shape in tulle? Sign me up!!
Well my dear tutu-obsessed lovelies, the world has kept on twirling! Tutus have evolved and evolved with a dramatic splash of colour (yes! Pink! Is my absolute *favourite!!* - and we do have the fabulously pink ballet tutus that everyone knows and adores!*
Speaking of the gorgeous Paris Opera, don’t forget Auguste Vestris (the legendary choreographer) had to battle against that fashion of the corset - how amazing! Vestris pushed boundaries with the freedom of ballet, even designed a shorter tutu to allow dancers more freedom and flexibility. What a true hero for the tutu-lovers everywhere, darling!! Hats off to the real men in our world!
And you can bet that we, the dancers of this time are just living it up in our beautiful tutu styles, and if we want more legroom, bam! we change our tutus. I guess some things never change, eh? You know, every era brings its new tutu ideas. It’s what we are all about at Pink-Tutu, getting the tutu tastic world moving!
Well my darling friends, that's your history lesson for the week! I’ve got my train to catch to see the next fantastic production in Paris. Let’s keep spreading the tutu love and remember, no matter where you are or what you're doing, everyone looks better in a tutu! Don't forget to check back in for more fashion history and tutu amazing fun! Until next week darling!
Emma xoxo
www.pink-tutu.com
