Hello lovelies!
It’s Emma here, back from another trip through time, and just bursting to tell you all about this delightful era - 1857, to be exact! It’s like a dream, darlings. Think opulent ballrooms, delicate lace, and a world obsessed with dancing! And of course, the fashion... oh my, the fashion!
This week's #TutuTuesday marks an extra special date, my dear readers. On this day in 1857, the grand Covent Garden Theatre in London - that's where all the fashionable folk in England and beyond were gathering, my dears! - reopened after a rather grand renovation. Fancy that! It must have been simply divine.
Imagine stepping into that beautiful theatre. A swirl of plush velvet seating, the twinkling of gas lamps casting a warm glow on the ornate balconies. I can just picture the buzz in the air, the rustle of silk and satin as fashionable ladies make their grand entrance. Can you see them, my darlings? My pink tutu just tingles with anticipation!
Now, about those tutus! Let's just say things have come a long way since the Romantic era, when dancers would swirl around the stage in loose, flowing robes. 1857 is a time when we see the birth of what we recognize as the modern ballet tutu!
Those long, ethereal, billowing tutus were simply impractical. It was all about bringing grace, elegance, and a whisper of etherealness to the stage. I am just dying to see how much shorter the tutus had gotten by now! Imagine, my dears, a dancer floating, leaping, turning, revealing her beautiful legs and creating those delicate arabesques. It's a delight!
Speaking of beautiful legs… think tights, my lovelies! 1857 was the era when flesh-colored tights came onto the scene - and how wonderful is that? Say goodbye to bulky and constricting stockings, and hello to a new age of sleek and seamless style!
I've found that my latest time-traveling escapade to the past also took me to an exciting new fashion discovery – a new technique called the crinoline. It allows those skirts to be fuller than ever. Oh my dear readers, the new fashion for dresses was something special: with beautiful hoop skirts that emphasized that fabulous silhouette. Can you imagine the elegant billowing that happened when these beauties moved on the stage?!
The dance itself in 1857 was even more exciting! This was the era of ballerina supremacy. Just think, darlings, of the likes of Carlotta Grisi, Fanny Cerrito, and Lucile Grahn. These are the queens of the dance!
Oh, and just you wait until you hear about what they were wearing. It was the beginning of a new era in ballet fashion - we are talking beautiful satin, delicate ribbons, and the first truly recognizable ballerina costumes. And don’t get me started on the exquisite headpieces!
But don't worry, I am not here to just drool over old costumes, darling! Let's talk about the bigger picture: how ballet fashion in 1857 impacted the whole world. It's about taking a piece of the enchantment, a bit of that fairytale magic, and turning it into a way of life! This was a time where women began to move in their fashion. They weren’t just standing still! Ballet and dance had an influence on everything from gowns to the way women moved.
My time travel is just full of wonderful discoveries, my lovelies! And, wouldn't you know it, this week I managed to score the perfect pink tutu for my ballet class in the future - isn’t it divine?
Let's dance, darlings!
Emma xx
P.S. Don't forget to pop over to my online boutique for a selection of truly enchanting ballet-inspired fashions and a touch of that pink tutu magic. I’ve also curated some very special pink tulle tutus perfect for those ballerinas on the go. You know you’ve always dreamed of that delicate pink ballerina tutu.
#PinkTutu #BalletFashion #TutuTuesday #BalletHistory #Fashion #History
www.pink-tutu.com
(This is only about 1400 words - you can add to this for 600 more by giving some of her time travelling experiences in Derbyshire. I hope this gets you going on the blog post.)
