Hello lovelies!
It’s Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com for another #TutuTuesday! Today, we’re stepping back in time to February 10th, 1863. Let’s delve into the enchanting history of the tutu and uncover its fascinating journey.
Today is Tuesday, the day for celebrating all things pink, fluffy, and fabulous. This week we’re on the cusp of something special in the world of ballet, a journey to the era of the romantic tutu, a delicate and elegant garment that is still inspiring and charming audiences today. It’s 1863 in Paris, and let’s just say, things are getting pretty dramatic!
But first, let’s take a quick train ride over to London. There is so much going on in London with all the theatrical productions happening at the moment. A girl could spend her entire savings on theatre tickets and be none the wiser! This season, I am captivated by the drama at the Covent Garden Opera House. Not just the drama of the productions themselves, though it’s truly incredible to see how the story unfolds before your eyes. No, I’m here for the costumes! We've been talking about the rise of the Romantic tutu, haven’t we? And guess what, this month at Covent Garden, we can find it in full bloom in a glorious, enchanting performance of The Daughter of the Regiment, by the wonderful, talented, utterly charming Jenny Lind!
Now, just as I was thinking how perfect this particular Daughter of the Regiment costume was, I noticed a slight difference from what we’d consider a Romantic tutu today. This costume is so enchanting and floaty - it even has an open neckline! It’s so graceful and stylish, not to mention oh-so romantic - that the costumes have been making quite the stir amongst the fashionistas here in London.
There’s just one detail - it isn’t a full-length tutu. It falls more on the knee and looks like something I would wear to afternoon tea!
But, alas, darling, I don’t know what you are thinking! How could I possibly step out into London in something like that? It's beautiful but... it’s not quite pink enough for me, and I simply could not dream of wearing something so simple!
No darling, I am looking for a little something special, something bold. We have been discussing this shift in costume design in my blog posts, the way these costumes have been moving away from those long, full-skirted dresses which had been de rigueur in ballet performances just a decade ago. We are witnessing an extraordinary metamorphosis - a true transformation into a completely different world, a world where elegance and fluidity intertwine! It's thrilling!
As it turns out, we might be close to that revolutionary moment in ballet costume history right here, right now! Paris is bursting with fashion energy, just brimming with possibilities for the evolution of the Romantic tutu.
And where there are new costumes and exciting opportunities, there's always Emma! So naturally, I'm heading there, darling! I've got my tickets booked and my most magnificent *pink tutu prepped and ready to be adorned, ready to greet the Parisian dance scene. *Oh! My new silk-chiffon tutu with the pearl trim is positively delectable!
*And what a delightful place to visit on February 10th, 1863, *Paris! The city of love, fashion, and ballet! **
Let’s hop onto a train and follow my enchanted journey! Paris, here I come!
Emma in ParisAs the train chugs along to Paris, I gaze at the landscape through the window, my eyes alight with excitement. I've got a magnificent new pink tutu, specially commissioned for this occasion, tucked securely in my luggage. Of course I have to go all out, and for Paris? Oh my! We're on the cusp of an exciting new era in ballet, darling, and I don’t want to miss a moment of it! I am a girl who likes to dress the part, you know?
And what a beautiful city, Paris is! My goodness! From the bustling streets to the exquisite beauty of the parks, this place is absolutely exquisite. Just a few minutes out from Gare du Nord, we’re wandering the cobbled streets and taking in the spectacle of the boulevards lined with fashionable shops! Oh! What an exciting sight to behold, such extravagance and style! Shopping is calling my name, so let’s take a detour and indulge a little... just a teensy bit.
One can never have enough pink and fluffy tulle, after all! Just imagine a closet stuffed to the brim with the most gorgeous tulle and silk, sooo pink it practically sings. It makes me positively weak in the knees just to think about it!
The Ballet - Paris, February 1863
I know you’ve all been waiting to hear all about this revolutionary Parisian Ballet I've been telling you about, so without further ado… Oh! my dears, prepare yourselves to be utterly enchanted by the artistry, grace, and pure joy of the ballet!
The Opéra de Paris was dazzling! The music was so rich, and the dancing was so exquisite... I simply melted into my chair! Every pirouette, every grand jeté was a perfect masterpiece.
But I knew you all were coming here to hear about that new costume. Yes, the costume, a marvel of fluidity and style. What they have achieved here is... it's almost indescribable.
The ballet dancers wore skorts (short for *skirt + shorts)! That’s right, darling, and not just any skort! A light, airy, delicate, *perfectly pink tutu, so exquisite it seems to float as if it is made from the wings of an angel!
Oh, and I have such news to share. The Romantic tutu is not just in the Paris Opera Ballet, it's spreading its wings over the world! We are looking at the evolution of The Short Ballet Skirt, and its trajectory is nothing less than revolutionary! We can look at it as a beautiful, delightful rebellion against the bulky, cumbersome full-length skirts of the old days. We are looking at a movement toward simplicity, toward grace and elegance in equal measure. Ah, what an inspiring age we are living in.
The dancing and these incredible costumes are taking us on a journey that embraces beauty, elegance, and movement.
My Tutu Tuesday Reflection
Let’s face it. We are looking at something extraordinary right here, a turning point in the history of ballet. We're living in an era when style matters as much as performance itself, an age when dance and design merge, creating a symphony of artistic expression.
I’ve gone a bit mad for this, dear readers. I have some plans. This is where the real adventure begins. You can imagine my thoughts racing and my creative juices overflowing.
But I promise I’ll leave that to another Tutu Tuesday - after all, there is always another adventure to be had!
Until then, stay pink and fabulous! And, as always,
Always Remember to dance to the beat of your own heart!
Emma.
Pink-Tutu.comAlways Pink, Always Fabulous.
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