Hello, darlings! Emma here, your pink tutu-clad time-travelling fashionista, back with another whirlwind #TutuTuesday from the archives of ballet history! It’s #1382 for my blog, and I'm bursting with excitement to share this historical gem with you!
Today we’re going back in time, to 1858, specifically the 22nd of June. And oh my goodness, fashion was so different then! Let's paint a picture of the world of dance in that year, shall we?
Imagine it - it's a beautiful summer day in Paris, where the heart of the ballet world truly beats. There's a buzz in the air, the scent of fresh bread, and the sound of horse-drawn carriages clopping down cobblestone streets. We're heading to the Opéra Garnier, that magnificent masterpiece of architecture, just in time to catch a ballet performance.
But what are the dancers wearing, I hear you ask? Why, those fashionable ladies are gracefully pirouetting in tutus - but not as we know them today! They’re much fuller, larger, with more layers and stiffer materials, almost resembling the pouter pigeons of the bird kingdom! Oh, the grandeur! The romance! The exaggerated movements and impossibly long legs, enhanced by those extra-long pointe shoes (the precursor to the modern pointe shoe)!
However, these early tutus were a far cry from the delicate, lightweight beauties of today. We are still years away from those ethereal, sheer layers of tulle we love so much! Imagine swirling around the stage in layers of stiff, itchy, starched fabric that weighed you down - talk about a workout! Yet, somehow they made it look effortlessly elegant! They really did embody the essence of fairy-tale elegance - poetic and otherworldly in those beautiful theatrical spaces!
Let’s talk fashion, shall we? While we were all wearing crinolines in 1858 (oh, those big, cumbersome skirts! What were we thinking? And can you imagine the nightmare that was going to the loo? A symphony of hooks and fastenings!), the fashion of the day still influences modern dance fashion today!
Remember how those long skirts were gathered and bunched up at the back of the ballerina’s legs to make a graceful bunched-up train, creating this elegant, sweeping movement when she spun across the stage? Oh, how the graceful sweep of those dresses inspired some of our favourite choreographers to embrace that dramatic element in their movement sequences. They really knew how to show off those long, flowy dresses.
However, I can't even imagine having to go to the toilet in one of those big crinolines, especially with all those hoops in it. And don't even get me started on trying to find the right petticoat to match! So many petticoats, so little time. My time machine wardrobe needs serious rearranging right now - how do these women get dressed?!
But, even though things were a bit uncomfortable back then, the magic of ballet - those incredible displays of grace, athleticism and artistry - are timeless! I imagine sitting there in the Opéra Garnier with its glittering chandeliers and magnificent acoustics, mesmerized by the performance on the stage. I just want to twirl too!
My lovely dancers, remember, 1858 is the beginning of a grand evolution in ballet history - a journey we’ll follow together in my #TutuTuesday blog! There's so much to explore in this fashion, ballet history journey, from the graceful moves to the elegant costumes, each new season, each new invention - I am always ready for the next adventure, even with that dreadful trip to the loo in a crinoline! So join me next Tuesday, as I'll be taking you through another fascinating era in #BalletTutuHistory - till then, I'll be scouring my archives for even more historical treasures to share! Keep those tutus spinning!
Yours in pink tulle and grace, Emma xx
P.S. If you haven't already, join me at www.pink-tutu.com where you'll find more ballet insights, travel stories and pink-tutu inspired outfits that will have you swirling into the weekend!
P.P.S Want to travel with me? Follow my Instagram for live updates! Don't forget, my next performance is this Saturday at the Grand Theatre, Derby - Come and join me! It will be a whirl! 😉
