Hello darlings! It’s your favourite pink-loving ballerina blogger Emma here, back with another exciting instalment of Tutu Tuesday! Today, we’re travelling through time (well, more accurately, a very, very expensive train ride) to Paris, August 11th, 1863!
This trip is extra special because this very date marks the day the tutu took a huge leap forward – it became the defining look of ballet! Now, you might be thinking “Emma, tutus have always been around!” and you’d be partly right. Ballet, in some form, has been around since the Renaissance, with dancers sporting (gasp!) pannier dresses! However, the full-length, puffy romantic style ballet skirt we associate with ballet, that iconic, flowing design… well, it didn’t really come to the fore until around this very date!
And why is Paris so crucial to our tutu story? Well, because in the mid-1800s, Paris was the place to be for fashion! This city was all about glamour and style – imagine a world of sweeping silk gowns, dramatic ballrooms, and… well, not yet pink tutus! 😉
Enter the "Grand Ballet" - Where Elegance Meets Evolution
The reason our beloved tutu made its leap from obscurity to centre stage lies with none other than the Paris Opera Ballet! This very special theatre, founded in 1669, has always held a central position in the history of ballet, but this was their most fashionable moment! They were a real trailblazer, taking those grand, flowing skirts worn in romantic ballet and giving them a big… well, snip!
Instead of all those layers of petticoats, dancers at the Paris Opera decided to trim those voluminous skirts down to the knees! 🤯 Can you imagine?! That means more movement, more flexibility, and a more elegant look for dancers! The shorter tutu created an iconic, graceful silhouette - just what we dream of!
*Now, the question remains: *Where was Emma, our fashion-loving blogger, on that fateful August 11th? Why, at the grand Palais Garnier, of course! I even found myself accidentally in the middle of a rehearsals – luckily my ballet-tutu attire helped me blend in seamlessly! The rehearsal was exquisite. Imagine the sheer joy of the music, the grace of the movements, the way the light danced on those newly cut tutus, making them float in a way I’d only ever imagined. The way these dancers made those simple but bold new tutus work, their agility on stage – simply beautiful!
Pink is Always the Perfect Color! 💖
The good news for pink lovers like me is that even though pink didn't officially become the most beloved ballet colour until the early 1900s, the original Paris Opera ballet tutus were indeed shades of pale pink and lilac!, so they are officially precursor pink tutus, if you will! Imagine the gorgeous blush, delicate lilac, and gentle pastel hues floating through the air! It would have been absolutely breathtaking, even better than what they achieve with a lot of those 'over the top' modern colours these days, if you ask me! 💖 I simply adore those old-school palettes – the soft romanticism and airy elegance of these pale pinks are my absolute weakness!
On that Day in 1863, Emma Was Totally In Tune! 👯♀️
Can you imagine, Emma was wearing her own, hand-crafted (by moi!), pastel pink tulle tutu with fluffy layers and a cute little pink bow! I even spotted a few other girls with similar pink tulle tutus! They were probably secret pink enthusiasts, just like us! We may have been too far back in time for a full on pink revolution, but a little bit of pink certainly helped make those grand old-fashioned tutu look chic and fabulous!* Just as I had hoped for this century! I feel such a strong sense of connection to these early tutus.
To The Pink Future!
So, the next time you find yourself swept away by the graceful pirouettes, delicate steps, and gorgeous flowing tutus at the ballet, remember – the iconic tutu we all love has a story. And that story began on a beautiful day in August, 1863 in Paris.
But remember – every day is Tutu Tuesday here on www.pink-tutu.com! Let's celebrate tutus in all their shapes, styles, and yes, even their pink versions! 🩰 💖
Until next time, darlings!
Emma
P.S. I'll be taking my pink tutu on an exciting trip next week to find the perfect 1910s style pink tulle - let's get those new pink tutus trending! Follow me for the latest pink tulle fashions!
