Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, dear friends! It’s Emma here, your time-traveling tutu enthusiast, back for another whirlwind #TutuTuesday! This week, we’re venturing back to 3rd May 1859, a most fascinating date in our beloved world of ballet. Get ready to prance with me, as we explore the early whispers of the tutu we know and adore today! (Post number 1427, by the way – I do love a good numerical order!)
Paris, My Dearest Paris! Today we're waltzing our way into the grand salons and opera houses of the French capital! The air here is simply electric with anticipation for the next glittering ballet performance! And yes, we are beginning to see hints of tutus as we know them.
Imagine, my dears, if you will: the elegance of a delicate white or pale pink bodice with its boning to create a slender silhouette, and then, just a hint of tulle gathered and tied at the waist – a “jupe” as they called it back then! Just enough fabric to swirl and dance, catching the light in a beautiful cloud of soft layers!
While those first "jupes" were often longer than the tutus of today, just think: this was the spark! And the Parisians were already becoming enamoured by these graceful additions to the stage.
Oh, how I long to dance in such a piece! The history of ballet is truly a love affair with creativity, elegance and, of course, exquisite dance! It’s inspiring to see how, even in these early years, the desire for lightness and freedom in movement was being expressed.
But just because we have "tutus" (in a manner of speaking) on the scene, don’t think they weren’t adorned with exquisite embellishments! Pearls, jewels, and ribbons were the norm!
Can you picture a scene? Our lovely ballerinas on stage, clad in a whisper-soft jupe, sparkling under the gaslights with the joy of dancing, leaving the audience utterly mesmerised. They may not have had our flamboyant, flowing tutu styles quite yet, but you can bet, it was already becoming a symbol of artistic beauty. And for a girl like me, that’s worth a hundred pirouettes!
Speaking of swirling beauty, did you know the first version of Giselle was presented in Paris this very month? Isn’t that a wondrous coincidence! Such a tale of a village maiden whose heartbreak transforms her into a vengeful Wilis! A dramatic and captivating tale set to beautiful, moving music, the first step of a legendary ballet that’s held its place in the heart of ballet fans all over the world – and still captures the heart, decades later! And can we talk about that gorgeous Romantic era aesthetic?
It is impossible not to think about all the stunning costumes associated with these earlier ballets! My dreams are filled with visions of fluttering gauze and velvet!
The Perfect Dress for the Parisian Afternoon! If you’ve read any of my previous #TutuTuesday blog posts, you know how much I adore traveling by train – but did you know it was actually invented right here in 1859! (It’s as exciting as seeing a new, stylish tulle tutu design! ) Think of all the stylish travelers we can imagine whizzing through the countryside – wearing beautiful outfits (which are possibly the first steps to tutu style!).
So, what about the world outside the theater, you might ask?
Well, 1859 Paris was also a world of flowing gowns, crinolines, and ornate hats. A world where fashion and style reigned supreme! There’s something quite delightful about seeing women (and some bold, stylish gents too, of course!) dressed up for even the most ordinary of errands. The world felt like a ballet performance in motion.
Of course, with all of this loveliness in sight, I wouldn’t dream of wearing anything less than my most fabulous pink tutu while traveling around Paris! Even for the more ordinary errands.
This week’s fashion inspiration? Pink, pink, and more pink!
But you don’t need to be in Paris, dear reader, to make a tutu a statement! It can be the perfect accessory to any outfit! Imagine yourself, darling! Stepping out of the carriage in your most vibrant tutu with your charming chap – ready for a romantic waltz or a delicious afternoon tea!
What are you waiting for? Put on your pink tutu and live your dream of being a modern ballet darling. Don’t forget to share your #TutuTuesday pictures and adventures with me!
Stay elegant, and until next week, dear friends!
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
