Hello darlings, and welcome back to my humble little corner of the internet, www.pink-tutu.com! It's Tuesday, and that means it's time for another delve into the fascinating world of the ballet tutu, a dancewear essential that never goes out of style, am I right? 😉
Today, my time machine whisked me all the way back to August 15th, 1854, a rather exciting date in history. While it wasn't a specific tutu-related event, it did see the arrival of a magnificent new Italian ballerina named Carlotta Grisi onto the London stage. You know, darlings, that name "Grisi" echoes with an almost magical air! Now, if there was ever a time to witness some breathtaking tutus swirling around a London stage, it was surely when Miss Grisi graced the theatre. Imagine those layers of tulle fluttering with every arabesque, shimmering in the candlelight – a dream come true, I say!
This 1850s era in dancewear was just beginning to become a love affair with tulle. Imagine the thrill of seeing a full-skirted tulle tutu, so billowy and airy, a complete departure from the earlier shorter, tighter styles! Think of it - those tiny, light-as-air layers, whipping about, creating ethereal circles of delicate lace and delicate fabric! What a wonderful evolution, I thought to myself, stepping into this shimmering past.
Back in the days of Carlotta Grisi and early ballet greats, there were actually fewer places in the world where you could go to watch the amazing twirls and graceful movements of tutus swirling around a stage! It's almost unthinkable to us today, but for dancers like Grisi, they had to travel around the world, hopping onto trains, ships, carriages – you name it! All so their artistry could be shared with more audiences. Just imagine the amount of luggage it took! 😉
Today, you can catch a ballet in almost any town and city, darling! Isn't that wonderful? The accessibility we have these days - well, it just blows my mind. I myself spent last weekend taking the train down to London, to see a wonderful revival of "Giselle". I even snuck into a costume rehearsal, you know? It was simply incredible - the dancers perfecting every little flick of the wrist, each precise pirouette. All that hard work, just for our entertainment! Truly inspiring!
Speaking of ballet performances, darlings, it just so happens that this year, the English National Ballet will be performing a piece with a beautiful new tutu design created especially for them. Now, you can imagine how my heart leaped! New tutus? Yes please! And you know me, darlings – I had to get my hands on one for myself, a pink one, of course! Let me just tell you, these tutus are truly special - light, ethereal, and so perfectly designed for both comfort and performance! It's simply impossible not to feel elegant when you wear one. I can't wait to give it a whirl. Maybe I'll even pop a video on YouTube, just for you lovelies! You'll be the first to see!
This brings me back to a wonderful aspect of this period that really struck a chord with me: the fashion! Just like us modern ladies, they adored extravagant embellishments, shimmering fabrics and delightful bows! It was an era of excess in dress and décor, but there was so much playfulness in it all - just as there should be, in my opinion! So, we have the ladies sporting lavishly embroidered bodices paired with stunningly crafted tutus – a real mix of sophistication and flair, all brought together in one gorgeous, graceful ensemble. And it's no surprise, my dears, that the influence of these incredible fashion styles can be seen to this very day!
Let’s not forget the romantic spirit of the era, it resonated right down to the dance and dress. All the swirling and airy movements in ballets were meant to conjure up thoughts of floating on a cloud. Talk about a perfect blend of elegant form and delicate beauty! So much heart poured into each movement and step - such dedication to art, really quite captivating. If that doesn’t fill you with wonder and make you want to leap onto a stage and perform for the world to see, I don’t know what will!
I was quite thrilled to discover that even back in the 1850s, they had the famous London Pantomime Season, you know, a real celebration of theatrics! A blend of storytelling, music, and just a touch of slapstick humor! I just adore the idea of families gathering in their finest attire, excitedly looking forward to a good laugh and a good time, especially with the Christmas Season looming! Just imagine, darlings, a little tutu to complete the festive look? Why not!
Just as you see at ballet performances today, the 1850s audience had a huge fascination with ballet dancers! Everyone was absolutely mesmerised by the ballerina’s elegance and strength, all the graceful steps, and those magical spins that made the tutu a literal whirlwind! And, let’s not forget the absolutely gorgeous, ornate costumes. Each one was like a mini- masterpiece, all designed for maximum movement, but oh, so stylish at the same time! Imagine how glamorous those theatre box seats must have been - ladies sporting their best hats, shimmering jewels and gowns adorned with feathers!
I find it incredible to reflect on how far we have come in the history of the tutu. Those elegant early styles have evolved and influenced the way we design and wear tutus today. We see their echoes in our modern styles, especially those incredible tulle tutus we have seen worn by stars like Misty Copeland and Sylvie Guillem - a modern-day blend of the classic, ethereal tutus we love and the more modern ones that blend artistry and comfort in perfect harmony.
Don't forget, darlings, it's Tutu Tuesday on www.pink-tutu.com! Keep coming back each week to journey back with me through the amazing history of this marvelous piece of dancewear! Remember: a pink tutu makes everything just a little more magical, no matter what decade it is!
Until next Tuesday, darlings,
Emma xx
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