Bonjour mes amies! It's Emma here, your pink-tutu-loving blogger, bringing you another delightful delve into the history of the most glorious garment ever invented - the ballet tutu!
This week, weâre stepping back in time to the 29th of October 1861. Iâve just popped off on my trusty time-travel train, my new vintage lace trimmed pink tutu flowing magnificently around my legs, all ready to tell you what was happening in the world of ballet tutus, way back when.
Letâs face it, the history of fashion, and especially the history of the ballet tutu, can sometimes be quite staid. But as I like to say, 'A good tutu can make anything a little more exciting' - so letâs go on an adventure together!
So, what was happening in 1861? We were smack-dab in the middle of the Romantic period in ballet. This era, in its most popular incarnation, started in the early 19th Century. Romantic ballet was all about gentle fluttering fairies, passionate love stories and magical adventures, often performed outdoors in beautiful woodland settings. Sounds lovely, doesn't it? Think âGiselleâ or âLa Sylphideâ. And guess what - these beautiful creatures all needed pretty tutus, the perfect garment to capture their delicate nature.
It wasn't all frilly whimsy back in 1861 though. That same year, an incredible young ballerina was dazzling audiences all over Europe. Can you guess who it might be? Yep, you've got it - the legendary Carlotta Grisi! This phenomenal performer wasn't just adored for her amazing technique - she had incredible stage presence. She moved like a butterfly in a gentle summer breeze. A breeze⊠which reminded me, remember those billowing Romantic tutus we talked about before? Itâs a big thanks to this era, and dancers like Grisi, that our iconic tutus evolved into these wonderfully romantic, fluttering masterpieces we adore today!
A Brief History Lesson - The Evolution of the Tutu
Hold onto your tiaras ladies, here comes the fascinating part⊠Our tutus havenât always been a âpicture perfectâ image of loveliness! You wouldn't believe how much they've changed. You could say theyâve gone through a few metamorphoses, like those delightful little creatures that can be a caterpillar one minute and a beautiful butterfly the next! Hereâs the breakdown, from humble beginnings:
Early Tutur's - More like Pants! - You wouldnât be thrilled to see dancers in these early forms of the tutu. These âtuturâ - Yes, it wasn't spelled like âtutuâ in those days, were more like full length skirts worn under a bodice. These looked nothing like our modern tutus, so the thought of an 18th century ballerinas twirling and leaping around in something like a giant frilly petticoat might give you a giggle! (Luckily, most of them just posed gracefully).
Enter the Romantics - Letâs Fly! This is when things got a lot more⊠elegant. The Romantic period, where ballerinas like Grisi dominated the dance floor, was a glorious time for tutus. You might remember, we are deeply into the Romantic period right now, with its fairy-tale like stories. It is no coincidence! As you might guess, ballet tutus started to go sky-high (pun intended!), making their transformation into the fluffy, light as air designs we see today. You see, dancers needed a look that matched the themes â delicate and otherworldly! Theyâd wear a lightweight chemise under a tulle, or mesh, skirt. Imagine dancing with all those yards and yards of fluttering, feathery soft tulle around you⊠truly captivating, wouldnât you agree?
Enter Marie Taglioni (Another awesome ballerina!), and letâs give her the credit due - This amazing dancer revolutionized our tutus. Can you imagine wearing a costume with almost 10 layers of fabric - youâd be exhausted after two pirouettes! Well, Marie changed the game. She introduced a âsingle-tierâ design to the world! Imagine that⊠the single layer was perfect for her, it wasnât so heavy but still made her appear otherworldly. She would wear one full tutu for her performance! And a tutu in a new colour that is becoming more and more popular... Pink!
Tutu shopping in London? * I would have *loved to step back in time and *spend an afternoon shopping for ballet fabrics with Marie Taglioni herself! Just think, in 1861 the big name in textiles for ballet costumes was a family by the name of *Lott. The *Lott's were so important to the development of our beloved tutus. Can you imagine - They actually went into partnership with The Royal Opera House back in the day! They were responsible for all the fabrics, from lace trimmings and chiffon to the soft tulle that formed those dreamy ballerina shapes we adore. This is quite a partnership! And I just have this picture of us choosing lace together. âWhat would you say, Marie? This fine delicate Italian lace?â... "No darling, that wonât flow as nicely as a silk". Can you picture this? Just darling⊠and she was so stylish. A true ballet fashion icon.
What about The 29th October 1861, anyway?
Oh, this particular date was brimming with exciting newness, even for 1861! That year, October was when the âSociĂ©tĂ© des Concertsâ Concert society in Paris was preparing its next performance, the first concert of the new season - no pressure! They were very much the hot spot for live music and dance in the world at the time and this special day was an incredibly significant date for ballet fans, music enthusiasts, and those who simply love to be entertained! Just think - We have a new season of Ballet - can you even handle that kind of excitement? And I would love to travel in time to attend that concert myself!
Shopping time! Now, to modern day. After that trip back in time, I need a new tutu. I thought about going shopping online. The famous shop âLott & Sonâ still exist - imagine - still running after all this time!. I think that's enough ballet tutu inspiration for now... Itâs a very good job my pink tutu never goes out of fashion!
I'll catch you next week for another TutuTuesday adventures. And remember â let your inner ballerina fly!*
Yours,
Emma
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