#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1862-02-18

Hello my lovely tutu-loving friends! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where tutus reign supreme and every Tuesday is #TutuTuesday! Today, we're whisking ourselves back in time, all the way to the 18th of February, 1862. Hold onto your bonnets, because this is where the story of tutus, my favourite dancewear, gets really exciting!

Now, I've got to admit, even though I love tutus so much, life for a ballerina in 1862 would have been quite a bit different! You wouldn't find the iconic fluffy tutus of the later 19th century, and a big part of this is down to one incredibly important and fashionable ballerina - Marie Taglioni. Yes, her name might ring a bell because she's practically the tutu's godmother! You know how I adore travelling to see ballerinas in every corner of the world, but my trip back in time to watch Marie Taglioni dance in La Sylphide is definitely a highlight!

Imagine the year is 1832 and there I am in the Parisian theatre, absolutely enthralled. Marie's dress, you see, was something revolutionary - a wispy, airy creation of white tulle and gauze! She wasn't constricted in stiff layers of petticoats and corsets, oh no, she was free to dance like a whisper on the stage! Can you imagine? This wasn't just a costume; it was an act of rebellion! It symbolised freedom of movement and a change from the heavy and restrictive dresses of the past. It opened the door for us to wear our own tutus!

Back to 1862, and those amazing tutus of the later century... Let's take a quick trip to the ballet studio and I'll fill you in!

Now, this date might not be bursting with big tutu changes but trust me, we are steadily building towards those breathtaking costumes that adorn ballerinas around the globe! In the studios, dancers were practicing “en pointe”, which was slowly catching on. Those lightweight tulle tutus that you see today would have become incredibly important for a ballerina performing "en pointe" so think of this time as a bit like putting the tutu building blocks in place.

1862, my loves, also saw an explosion of incredible ballet music! Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake premiered, filled with graceful dances and emotional themes. This masterpiece still draws us in today with its magical stories. Let's not forget about Sleeping Beauty that came to life a little earlier in the decade! Both stories are filled with beauty and enchantment, just like the beauty of ballet, don’t you agree?

Just imagining myself stepping out onto the stage in these enchanting costumes makes me giddy with excitement! But the real question is - how did the ballet world manage to be so fab without our tutus?

I think even though Marie Taglioni wasn’t wearing a massive tulle confection she set a fantastic trend. Her wispy, lightweight skirt inspired the designs to come and who am I to argue with the gorgeous looks! The evolution of tutus is a testament to the evolving art of dance and fashion, from those first, fragile whispers of tulle to the opulent creations we see on the stages today!

Fast Forward: 1862’s Tutu Impact

The incredible movement of “en pointe”, the beautiful stories in Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, and of course, Marie Taglioni’s fabulous and innovative white tulle creation were all paving the way for those incredible costumes we adore. The legacy of those first few moments in the world of tutus is woven into every ballerina’s dream.

Where Did My Time Machine Take Me Today?

This time around, I journeyed to Vienna, Austria! They really know how to do ballet here, and let me tell you, it was fabulous. But even more amazing was seeing the Vienna State Opera House! It's just incredible! They even had a ballroom and a theatre so I felt right at home!
Of course, I wasn’t going to miss a chance to go to the shops, where I discovered the most incredible fabric stores – the sort that any serious sewing fan like me would go crazy for! Imagine yards of lace, silk, satin, velvet - all begging to be transformed into my dream tutus!

And for you, my lovely readers, who adore tutus, I have a little challenge! Go for a whirl in your favourite tutu, imagine a stage performance or imagine the perfect tutus from this time period! Let’s create some Tutu magic in your life and feel a connection to the beauty of history through our favourite fashion piece!

This week, let’s all go #TutuTuesday!

Catch you next week, lovelies!

Emma