Hello, darlings! Emma here, your resident tutu-loving, time-traveling fashionista, ready to whisk you back to a bygone era of ballet and grace. Today, on this most splendid of Tuesdays, weāre venturing to December 30th, 1862, for a peek into the world of balletās most iconic garmentā¦ the tutu!
Hold onto your tiaras, lovelies, because weāre about to dive into some seriously stunning history!
Travelling by train (I do love a good train journey, it's so civilised!) to Paris, the heart of the ballet world, I'm ready to take you all on a thrilling adventure! Youāll be amazed at the styles that swept the stage in those glorious days. I can already imagine the gasps of awe from the audience as the ballerinas twirled, their tutus billowing around them like delicate clouds of silk.
This date marks a significant point in ballet history, for itās only 15 years since the introduction of the romantic tutu! Imagine that! 1847ā¦ oh, the year it all changed. Itās almost a scandal for our timeā¦ a skirt so short, it exposed the dancer's legs all the way to the knee! Back then, ladies wore those billowing hoop skirts, and then, WHAM, the Romantic tutu! A daring choice, truly! This change brought about a whole new movement in ballet, focusing on the fluidity and athleticism of the dancers. I'm so glad it did. It allows such fabulous dancing - and gives us the chance to admire their gorgeous legwork!
But even before the romantic tutu's arrival, ballet garments had a long and illustrious history! It all started back in the 16th century, with long, heavy costumes made of satin and velvet, embellished with sequins and even feathers! Imagine the struggle of the poor ballerinas in all those layers. Then came the invention of the pannier and, of course, the lovely, flowy frock. Think beautiful, floor-length gowns with a multitude of layers, perfect for twirling and swirling - though I'm afraid, a bit less good for high kicks and leaps!
Our very own Romantic tutu wasnāt all sunshine and rainbows though. Even this short skirt still featured multiple layers, and while it liberated the legs for greater flexibility, those long layers would create quite a hefty amount of fabric swirling about. Imagine attempting a fouette in that! No easy feat, let me tell you. And forget trying to jetĆ© in a classic, Romantic tutu, with all those ruffles and layers of netting! But then, thatās the beauty of it. Ballerinas of those times were real artists of agility, mastering their craft with absolute dedication.
By the time our date in 1862 arrives, the Romantic tutu has reached its peak! All the best dancers like Carlotta Grisi, Marie Taglioni, and Fanny Cerrito were sporting their versions of the new tutu, leading the charge of this beautiful, free-flowing ballet style. The fashion in ballet had truly come into its own! Their gowns would flow and twist, just like a graceful ballerina would do, in the perfect, light fabrics. It was as if they were a dancing flower in a magical ballet world!
Oh! If only we could rewind back to that time and watch them dance! It's almost enough to make me want to book a time machine trip and get front-row tickets to one of their shows!
Speaking of shows, December 30th, 1862, happens to be the day the esteemed ballerina Emma Livry took the stage in Auber's ballet āThe Crown Diamondsā at the Paris Opera. Now thatās what I call a date for the books! A truly historic moment for a budding ballerina, especially in that era. I wonder if she was wearing a romantic tutu? A short skirt that was scandalous then but which is the stuff of ballet fashion history now?
But beyond the grandeur of the Parisian ballet scene, we can also take a peek at the everyday world of ballet. There was something special going on in ballet classes at that time ā the first hints of the Imperial Ballet school's techniques! The dancers were mastering techniques like a la seconde and the gorgeous port de bras (an absolute dream for a tutu wearer). These revolutionary steps changed the world of ballet.
It wasn't just the technique that was exciting ā ballet clothes were becoming less cumbersome too. Dancers were finally finding freedom, both literally and metaphorically, in their movement. This allowed for such expressive moves and so many gorgeous looks! A true gift for ballerinas - and an absolute treat for the audience, my darlings!
As we journey back to our own time, itās incredible to see how the Romantic tutu has evolved over the years. From its simple yet revolutionary beginnings, the tutu has evolved and flourished to suit the changing needs of the ballet world, taking on a variety of shapes, colors and styles, whilst retaining its beautiful essence. Even if the modern tutu now sports multiple tiers and lots of elaborate detail, it still echoes those simple and graceful forms, and remains one of ballet's most magical pieces.
Now, off to browse some vintage tutus ā because I simply cannot get enough of this beautiful fashion and history! Perhaps I'll get lucky at a vintage boutique in London?
Until next time, darlings, keep twirling! And don't forget to wear your pink tutus - because everyone looks amazing in a pink tutu, let's be honest! You'll feel fabulous, ready for dancing, ready to celebrate, and ready to embrace the history of the tutu!
