Hello, lovelies! It's Emma here, back again with another blast from the past on our beloved #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History journey! Iām ready for you to get all excited with me as I dust off my vintage travelling suitcase (pink, of course!) and hop onto the latest steam train to a time when the world of dance was starting to make exciting stridesā¦February 22nd, 1859!
Now, let's be honest - that's a rather early date when it comes to tutus, wouldn't you say? It was the days of bustles and bonnets, and it seems unlikely youād be spotted skipping around the London streets in a tutu back then! Well, not on your average trip to the market, at least! But, that doesn't mean that the seeds of our glorious tutus weren't being sown! š
See, 1859 was a time of transition - it was the very heart of the Romantic period in ballet. Gone were the stiff and heavily decorated costumes of the old regime. Instead, the Romantic Ballet took centre stage with its ethereal storylines and even more emphasis on the lightness and beauty of movement - think delicate leaps and fluid lines!
You might think tutus werenāt part of the picture yet, and you'd beā¦well, half-right!
Think for a moment of how beautiful and elegant a long flowing gown must have been on the stage! Those elegant lines and swathes of material! And, yes, there were beautifully embellished fabrics with luxurious ruffles and a little bit of lace peeking here and there. It was an era of breathtaking beauty, a stark contrast to the sometimes restrictive clothes women were expected to wear in everyday life.
But, imagine how impractical a gown must have been to perform in! The movement wouldnāt have been nearly as free or expressive, the whole thing would have been a cumbersome mess! Ballet was starting to demand a level of artistry and technical virtuosity that hadn't been seen before - think Marie Taglioni and her impossibly graceful jumps! It was truly an era of dance being elevated as art!
So, in these exciting times, designers started experimenting with new fabrics. Cotton started gaining popularity. It was so lightweight! So dreamy for delicate spins and high jumps! Then came tulle. Yes, our tutu hero was making its first whispers on the dance floor!
Tulle wasn't the tutu as we know it just yet - think of it as tutu in training. At the time, it was mainly used to make layered skirts, with the length extending to the dancer's ankles. Just imagine the effect on the stage ā wisps of gossamer light fabric swishing with every movement, so mesmerizing!
The Romantic period saw ballet reaching new heights in its beauty and its expression. These layers of delicate, beautiful tulle skirts played a pivotal role in conveying the sheer drama, magic, and emotional power of Romantic ballet - they really helped dancers to truly express their characters. And from these beautiful, flowing layers of tulle, our iconic tutu was born!
Fancy taking a quick look at my latest Pink Tutu inspired design?! Iāve just finished a piece that uses several layers of soft pink tulle with beautiful silver embroidery to depict the shimmering elegance of a 1859 dance gown! I'm hoping to showcase it next week at the Royal Opera House, just a stoneās throw away from the famous London Palladium, for my latest balletic fashion show - āThe Rise of Tulleā. It'll feature all the key moments in our tutu's evolution through history. Think historical fashion meets glamorous balletā¦ with an extra special sprinkle of Pink Tutu!š I can hardly wait for the opening!
And Speaking of the Palladiumā¦ You'll find I'm always searching for inspiring events, so, of course, I had to jump back in time to see the grand opening on this very day, 22nd February 1859. Itās still going strong today, hasn't it? Imagine, it was London's very first purpose built music hall! What a stunning stage for all kinds of dazzling performancesā¦ Now, that's something worthy of a ballet routine. š©°
Let's talk more about Londonās influence on the world of fashion. Youāve got to appreciate how crucial it was in 1859! London's the centre of the universe when it comes to beautiful garments, donāt you think? This beautiful city was bubbling with fashion shows, innovative textile designs, and oh-so-stylish society gatherings. Just imagine all those exquisitely dressed women attending these events ā and imagine the gowns that were worn under all those petticoats, bonnets, and shawls! You canāt separate Londonās sartorial scene from ballet ā they were part of the same captivatingly fashionable whirl!
This yearās fashion week will feature a few tutus with dramatic long layers - think elegant gowns for a ballerina, just for the record! My fashionista friend Alice tells me the inspiration was a trip to London, a visit to The British Museum to be exact! š
āThis amazing display of historical fabrics is simply genius!ā she explained. āThink of all the creative minds who have created something utterly remarkable - how beautiful! You know what? We need to do a vintage themed design in our studio!ā And just like that, an inspiring new collection is born. The world of dance inspires so much creativity in the world of fashion - just look at how often we see elegant ballerinas posing for fashion shoots, inspiring musicians who create exquisite ballets and creating breathtaking art forms that take centre stage on world famous opera houses. Itās so fabulous to be surrounded by such inspirational creative energy! š
Next #TutuTuesday we will explore the early years of tutus - and the important impact of Diaghilev's ballet company! Itās a bit of a history mystery that needs exploring! We'll delve deep into their contributions to our tutus' development! Be sure to come back then, lovely ladies, and find out just what went into the making of our much loved tutu! āØ
Until then, I'll be practicing my spins in my favourite pink tulle skirt, dreaming about all things ballet and looking forward to sharing my tutu inspired collection! Oh! and keep your eyes peeled for the exciting tutu-filled surprises that will be coming your way very soon at Pink-Tutu.com! š
Yours in the tutu, Emma xx
