Dearest fellow tutu-lovers, welcome to my #TutuTuesday post!
This week, we’re whisking ourselves back to the fabulous 19th century! It’s Tuesday the 22nd of November 1859, and believe me, you’d be surprised how much hasn’t changed when it comes to fashion, dear readers. And when it comes to dance? Oh, darling, it's like stepping into a vintage ballet film!
We’ve found ourselves in the enchanting, cobbled streets of Paris, just around the corner from the exquisite Opéra Garnier, a veritable jewel box of opulent splendour. Just imagine – grand chandeliers, velvet-lined boxes, and of course, some truly fabulous tutus gracing the stage!
My time travel outfit for today? You know me, my dears – a perfectly pink tulle tutu (naturally) with a silken, pale blue bodice for a touch of contrast. I’m just itching to see how these Parisian ladies are sporting their own creations. Paris has always been a city known for its daring fashion, wouldn’t you agree?
Speaking of Parisian fashion… this very week, the 22nd of November marks the grand opening of a fascinating exhibition, La Mode: A Retrospective, which showcases the very latest trends, my dears, from exquisite ballgowns with tiers of petticoats and lace, to those revolutionary and quite scandalous crinoline gowns!
I had to slip into this exhibition, darling, and you just wouldn’t believe it, no one’s wearing tutus in their day-to-day life. Oh, it’s just so curious! Why would they deny themselves the joy of such a wondrous piece of fashion? I have to tell you, dear reader, I spent quite a bit of time trying to convince the fashionable ladies in attendance to adopt a pink tutu or two – just for a whimsical change! However, my dear, not even the most dramatic and fabulous gowns could steal the spotlight from the most magnificent dancers at the ballet.
And speaking of ballet, I managed to secure tickets for this evening’s performance of Giselle – I couldn’t miss it, especially for such a fascinating date! This evening we'll be stepping into a world of breathtaking leaps, swirling pirouettes, and stories woven into the fabric of the very costumes, as Giselle’s ethereal grace unfolds before us, adorned in her breathtaking tutu! The choreography, oh my dears, simply divine. You see, my dear readers, it’s the magic of the ballet that sets our hearts racing, and lets our imaginations truly soar!
Speaking of the story of Giselle, the iconic tutus of ballet are not always what we think they are, are they? And even the style of tutus themselves changed dramatically over time. As for 1859, let's see what we can uncover about these fascinating creations!
Before tutus existed, dancers donned a costume of several layers of petticoats underneath a bodice, with flowing skirts. They were called "crinolines", and I just can't help but wonder about how difficult it must have been to leap and twirl in such a heavy, rigid costume.
Now, we've gone from multiple, cumbersome layers to an airy lightness: the tutu was born! I can just imagine the excitement, darling! A lighter garment that allowed the ballerinas' bodies to move with unprecedented freedom – to reach, to leap, to soar – with such effortless grace and precision, that I nearly forgot about the story altogether, I must say! And it was a revolutionary design, too, made with lightweight materials and cleverly designed to enhance the dance itself! This was quite groundbreaking, especially when we consider the popularity of these designs for other performers, such as Can-Can dancers who would be seen performing around Paris.
In the year 1859, tutu designs for Giselle weren't as long as they were later – imagine the ballerina being able to lift her legs higher and make bigger steps, how thrilling, my dears! And these skirts are full but not too big – giving a more elegant and refined feel compared to the "poofy" Victorian style! The material? Well, naturally the soft, elegant layers of tulle that make the dance feel even more magical. They are made to be incredibly light but stiff enough to form their lovely, graceful shape, which makes for beautiful swirls, with intricate detailing – oh darling, I do love the craftmanship involved! And those colours, darling! Such beautiful pinks and whites! And those dainty embellishments - I've fallen in love with the detail of these dresses already.
But tutus weren't just about design – they transformed the story! Remember when Giselle becomes a ghost and her movement shifts to ethereal, fluid dance - that's where the tutu really gets to shine!
It is important to say, my dear readers, that it's a testament to the evolution of ballet and how perfectly the costume interacts with the artistry of the dance, and its performance. How I've long dreamt of joining a ballet, being on the stage with such grace.
From that stage to this week's historical adventure, I truly love sharing with you all the incredible, exciting moments in tutu history! How do you celebrate the artistry of ballet?
Join me next week for another journey back in time with a whole new Tutu Tuesday, and don't forget to share your thoughts on your favorite tutu designs in the comments below, my darlings. Have a wonderfully elegant week, and until then, never forget the power of pink – and the sheer magic of the tutu!
Love,
Emma xx
Don't forget to follow my TutuTuesday adventures every week here on www.pink-tutu.com!
Post number 1456
