Hello, my darling Tutu-lovers! It’s Emma, your pink-clad time-travelling ballet historian, ready to whisk you back in time with another edition of my beloved #TutuTuesday blog. Today, we're venturing back to December 28th, 1858. Get your tickets ready, dear readers, we're about to take a thrilling train ride straight to the heart of the Parisian ballet scene!
Oh, what a delightful time this was for tutus! Just a decade ago, a ballerina’s skirt could barely be considered a "skirt" at all, often just being a modest pair of trousers cleverly concealed by a few layers of fabric. Now, thanks to the invention of the "tutu proper" – think layered tulle, beautiful and floaty – the ballet world is truly a world of feminine elegance. It’s absolutely mesmerising to watch ballerinas soar across the stage in their tulle clouds, each step a graceful masterpiece.
I'm a Derbyshire girl through and through, but nothing quite stirs the soul like the ballet in Paris. It’s all about the theatricality and the grandeur of the grand theatre. Just think, elegant women in shimmering dresses, the grand foyer overflowing with chattering and laughing, the orchestra tuning up for the night's grand spectacle! You simply can't help but be swept up by the magic of the whole thing. And those tutus! The designers really are putting the 'art' in 'artisan' these days, crafting creations with breathtaking detail and dazzling craftsmanship.
Speaking of details, this week's #TutuTuesday finds us in the year 1858 – an absolute banner year for ballet, my dear readers! That year was full of exciting new ballets, not to mention groundbreaking performance costumes. On this particular day in history, the stage at the Théâtre de l'Opéra was graced by the famed Mademoiselle Carvalho as she led the dance in "Le Diable à Quatre", a fiery, fantastical story set against the backdrop of a Parisian tavern. Oh, how I yearn to see it! I hear the costuming is divine, especially the fiery, red, devilishly lovely tutus of the seductive sprites!
Now, a little word of wisdom from my vintage wardrobe! My top tip for dressing the part is to embrace the dramatic, and who can embody drama better than a good old tutu? Imagine swirling your way through a party in a delightful shade of blush, a cloud of gossamer around your ankles, guaranteed to be the star of any Parisian gathering.
Remember, dear readers, it's not about a simple garment; it’s about feeling like a beautiful, bold, whimsical you, ready to take on the world! My motto? Never underestimate the power of a pink tutu. Until next Tuesday, be inspired by the beautiful ballet stories we’ve woven together and keep dreaming big, my lovelies. And remember to spread the love for tutus and wear pink as often as you can!
P.S. Don't forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com for a selection of my favourite tutu-tastic reads and fashion tips. And be sure to leave a comment and tell me which of your favourite historical tutu moments you’d love to see!
