Welcome, darlings, to my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog, number 1595! I'm your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, reporting live from the very heart of the ballet world. Today we're stepping back in time to 1862, just a hop, skip, and a pirouette away from a very special moment in dance history.
This week I'm travelling right into the grand old heart of Paris. The very name of Paris conjures up images of swirling tulle and satin shoes, don't you think? It’s a city practically built for ballet, with all the opulence and glamour we could possibly wish for. And honestly, just saying the name makes me want to whip out a sparkly pink tutu and perform a graceful grand jeté in the middle of a Parisian street!
Oh my heavens, just imagine! That elegant ballet "Giselle", which I absolutely adore with its enchanting melodies and tragic love story, had its very first Paris performance in the year 1841 at the Opera House, just ten years before our date, which means ballet is really starting to take off here! Oh, it fills my heart with such joy, because there is truly nothing more exquisite than watching talented ballerinas effortlessly flit across the stage in their beautiful tutus!
The thing about tutus is they have a certain power to uplift you, a sort of "let's go, let's dance" magic! They make you feel all twirly and cheerful. Who can resist that? And imagine how delighted the Paris audience must have been, seeing that ethereal, billowing tulle fluttering about on the stage. Honestly, it would have made their hearts soar!
Now, we're all gathered here, ready to delve into 1862! Let me whisk you back in time just for a moment to give you a taste of the Parisian fashion scene at the moment. This was the era of the crinoline, ladies, when those huge, billowing skirts took centre stage, practically demanding a good sweep of the floor! These grand designs required much more movement from the ladies of the time, which must have caused all sorts of charming complications, like stumbling over cobblestones, catching the hem of your skirt in the door, or, heaven forbid, falling down a staircase!
Speaking of falls, on this very day, July 22, 1862, we see a rather peculiar incident taking place in the city's grand squares! Fancy a guess, my lovely tutu-lovers? The grand Parisian squares have witnessed many delightful sights, but imagine the delight when not one but two young men in skirts took a daring stroll through the streets, their bold appearance generating a wave of whispers and surprised giggles from the onlookers.
Can you imagine that? Young men flaunting their feminine sides with full-length, fluttering skirts? That’s truly cutting-edge for that period, pushing boundaries and igniting conversations about the ever-changing roles of men and women. They were quite the trendsetters, weren't they? Now, the men's skirts might have been just for a little "whimsy and daring" moment, and definitely not the kind of flowing, romantic tulle we are used to seeing in tutus! And you can bet that in today’s world these men would be applauded, and probably given some rather daring, dazzling tutus, no doubt, which we know are the ultimate symbol of freedom and creative expression!
I truly love these moments of history when people decide to just embrace the whimsy and beauty of dressing in tutus! The Paris of the 1860s, well, she's full of such charming contradictions: ladies swooning over ballet performances one day, and watching daring, brave souls break out of convention in flowing skirts the next! Such delightful and interesting times for a sartorially minded time-traveller like me.
This week, my dears, the focus is on tutus in Paris and the fascinating mix of history, fashion and a healthy dose of boldness and rebelliousness in the 1860s. Remember, the love of tutus transcends eras, and always reminds us to find a little bit of whimsy in every day!
Until next week, stay twirly, stay chic and keep embracing those pink tutus!
See you all back here next Tuesday for #TutuTuesday!
Emma, out!
