Hey there, tutu-lovers! Welcome back to another installment of #TutuTuesday, your weekly dose of all things tutu-licious! Today, we're going on a little historical trip. Grab your teacups and put on your fanciest slippers, we're venturing back to July 3rd, 1860!
Hold your tutus, the train's about to leave!
My trusty time machine (I swear it's disguised as a particularly ornate antique sewing machine, shhh!), has whisked me off to none other than Paris, France - the beating heart of ballet in the late 1850s and 1860s. Imagine swirling through the grand, candlelit halls of the Opéra Garnier! The air would be alive with music, the aroma of fine perfume and the excited chatter of opera lovers.
Now, I wouldn't want to go back without a proper look at what tutus were like at that time. It's 1860, so we're in the heart of the romantic era of ballet. Gone were the stiff, heavy, skirts of yore. This is the era of the tutu en pointe! It's a bit like the ultimate fashion revolution for ballet.
The tutu had really hit its stride! Shorter, airier, and flowing like the finest silk - imagine billowing layers of delicate fabric floating like clouds as ballerinas leaped across the stage. Think graceful, light and ethereal, perfect for the expressive movements that ballerinas were now mastering. They were generally made of gauze or tulle, usually several layers. This lightness allowed ballerinas to effortlessly dance on the tips of their toes - pure ballet bliss!
Oh, but here's a juicy tidbit for you - those glorious tutus of the time weren't necessarily just pink! (Cue the gasps!) Imagine, tutus in delicate pastels, creamy white, even hints of blue, all flowing around dancers like wispy dreams. A bold red would make a real statement too! Remember, darling, ballet in the 1860s wasn't just about dance, it was a fashion spectacle too. Imagine the opera glasses focused on the graceful lines of the ballerinas and the exquisite textures of their costumes!
Of course, a true tutu lover must have their pink. A blush pink tutu wouldn't have been out of place at all. In fact, that whimsical pink hue would be just as captivating in those glittering Parisian theatres. And what would those theatre boxes have looked like with ladies bedecked in pink tutus, the latest Paris fashion! I’d have loved to go to the ballet at that time – just imagine the opulence of the theatres, the lavish boxes, the audience in their finery – but there would be only one lady in a pink tutu in the room...
Now, since we're in Paris, we have to remember that the fashion capital is not just about the grand theatres. Fashion is everywhere! It’s on the street corners, in the shops and in the cafes. You'd see fashionable Parisian women swishing their long skirts in vibrant silks and crinolines. Imagine the look on their faces when they caught sight of my own personal pink tulle masterpiece – talk about a head-turning entrance!
The world was just waiting for a pink tutu revolution! The ultimate style icon? The legendary dancer Marie Taglioni, of course! I'd bet anything she owned at least one stunning pink tutu. I'd just love to travel back and visit her at her house. Just imagine her home! Imagine it all decorated with pink, imagine her dressing table overflowing with perfume and tulle, and a hundred pink tutus draped in corners – now, wouldn’t that be a sight! I might be dreaming, but just imagining these beautiful Parisian ballerina worlds in a blush pink cloud is already taking me back to my time travelling dreams!
Speaking of which, today on July 3rd, 1860... the opera La Favorita was being performed at the Opéra Garnier in Paris. You could see ballerina Fanny Cerrito showing off her legendary skill on stage, showcasing just how light and expressive those early romantic era tutus were. They were more than just fancy dress. They allowed for a kind of movement previously unimaginable – a perfect example of fashion and function at their very best!
And who knows, perhaps on this very day, in 1860, somewhere in Paris a young ballerina would have slipped on her own perfect pink tutu and dreamt of swirling under the glittering lights of the grand opera house!
Well, darling tutus, my time travel has come to an end. As always, keep an eye out for our weekly Tutu Tuesday adventures on www.pink-tutu.com! Who knows, I just might be posting pictures of a fancy pink Parisian gown in the near future, so you better be watching.
And don't forget, no matter where you are, put on your pink tutu with pride! Until next time, my dear lovelies, remember: the world is a brighter place in pink.
With love and tutus, Emma xx
