Hello my darlings! It's Emma here, back again with another exciting installment of my #TutuTuesday blog series, chronicling the fabulous history of the ballet tutu! It's post number 1481, and today, we're travelling back to 1860-05-15, a time when the world of ballet was ablaze with excitement.
Today I'm in Paris, where else?! Honestly, darling, Paris is the absolute centre of everything fashionable and exciting about dance! My pink tutu, as always, is turning heads at every turn. Imagine my joy when I was transported to this wonderful city, on a grand train journey of course. That's my favourite method of travelling - something about a big comfy train seat and the sway of the tracks really does get me in the mood for the theatre!
Oh! And don't even get me started on the shopping, darling! This Parisian fashion is something else! Just yesterday, I found this exquisite new material - a lace with little flowers, perfect for a romantic pink tutu, that I simply had to bring back with me. Of course, a quick trip to the dressmakers and - voila! The perfect look to fit the day’s occasion.
As for today, the 15th of May 1860, it's the first night of “Giselle,” at the Opera Garnier. Honestly, darling, this is the event of the year! The ballet scene here is absolutely bubbling over with anticipation for this show.
Did you know that "Giselle" is a ballet where a poor girl sacrifices her life to save her lover from his jealous rival? What a drama! Of course, I will be taking copious notes of all the most exquisite tutu designs and colour schemes. This is important! It's all about the trends, my darlings! Every tutu detail has its own story and plays an important role in conveying the drama, grace, and emotion of each performance!
This "Giselle" performance has special meaning, because this evening it features a certain Carlotta Grisi, who was absolutely the star of the ballet stage during the 1840s. It's rumoured she actually wore the first ever real, full, Romantic tutu in the original performance of "Giselle". Now that is what I call a true fashion icon.
Now, let's delve into a little more of this history, darling. The 1840s was truly a fascinating period for tutus! Imagine, up to then, women were expected to perform in heavy, cumbersome dresses. Just imagine - you can barely take a single step in those! Then along came this - The Romantic era. Now, in our modern world, "romantic" evokes a sense of whimsical lace and pretty designs - all very appropriate to the dance world, wouldn't you say?
Anyway, this is where our little romantic, flowy tutu story starts, It's all thanks to Maria Taglioni, one of the absolute stars of the ballet world. Her performance in the ballet "La Sylphide" in 1832 set the world on fire and became a global sensation!
Imagine - every theatregoer wanting to see this one performance with this one amazing ballerina! And this little wispy, diaphanous tutu on Maria’s body, and that’s the way she dances and how she moves ... this, my darlings, is where our love for this amazing, graceful fashion item comes from.
So let’s look closer at why these little dancing outfits are so perfect for the ballerina. Maria Taglioni was all about elegance, and graceful, fluid movement. That’s why we are talking about tulle. It was invented specifically as a sort of stiff netting to create that voluminous, billowing look for fashion in those days, and we love it, because it gives us these big, full tutus. The little dances could do these incredible jumps, these big dramatic leaps. No more struggling with the old heavy outfits! No, with our beautiful little tulle garments they are dancing on air. And honestly, the effect is sensational.
This time of Romantic fashion made it all so important that the tutu actually showed off the grace and movement of the ballerina. Maria wanted the stage lights to illuminate the lightness and elegance of her dancing. I completely get her!
Now I've seen the beautiful romantic tutus on Marie Taglioni in the early 1830s - you know - these super pretty white tutu’s – pure, innocent, and utterly heavenly!
However, by the time the late 1840s rolled around, this white style tutu was evolving. The tulle was starting to get a little less, you know, fluffy for all these lovely little moves and a more sleek, sculpted look became The New Hot Thing with these beautiful little, swirling shapes - a bit more like the tutus that I wear now.
However, there’s always a little bit of romance for the tutu. Even today the style of the 1840s romantic era continues. Imagine – we get those full, gorgeous layers, giving the skirt an elegant curve. They are all about this romantic shape. And it’s not just on stage – imagine all the elegant women of Paris, in full romantic dress! And wouldn’t you just know that they would also be wearing tutus as an essential item in their everyday attire.
As you can see my darlings, the history of the tutu is exciting, colourful and endlessly interesting. In this day and age – as far as I am concerned, with my pink tulle, and these amazing dancing beauties on stage - well this romantic and graceful era is just begining... #tutueloverforever.
Of course, the excitement of seeing "Giselle" and then all the lovely dress-shopping and exciting dancing I’ve been doing in Paris have to end soon. Sadly, the time-traveling ballet ballerina must travel home to dear old England, and Derbyshire where everyone is very lovely but a tad bit less in the know when it comes to this divine, pretty ballet style of dress.
But for now, darling, I am feeling super-inspired to start the planning for the perfect new pink tutu creation. Just watch this space for new tutu designs and ideas - I think you'll adore it, just like my new lace-detail skirt! You know, you will look simply heavenly with the latest in ballet fashion!
Don’t forget, darlings, to keep checking back each Tuesday to find out more about our ballet tutu story on www.pink-tutu.com.
Till next time, be beautiful, darlings!
