Hello my lovely Tutu-loving darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, where we celebrate the magical world of the tutu! Today's #TutuTuesday takes us on a whimsical journey back to the year 1866, a time when the tutu was already a captivating symbol of grace and beauty on the Parisian stage!
Just imagine! Picture yourself whisked away to a time before cars, a world filled with horse-drawn carriages and gaslights, yet buzzing with the excitement of the ballet! Imagine those glorious cobbled streets, lined with beautiful shops overflowing with stunning fabric and exquisite lace. Oh, the clothes! The fashions! Just divine! I, your pink-clad time-traveling ballerina, Emma, have been enjoying every second of it, especially in Paris. After all, who could resist the allure of such an elegant city, brimming with art, dance, and so much history?
Paris - City of Lights & Tutudom!
As the capital of ballet, Paris is simply abuzz with exciting premieres and breathtaking performances. And let me tell you, those ballerinas were true fashion icons! With their flowing, voluminous tutus, their silk-covered bodies, and those magnificent tutus - oh, the drama! These lovely ladies were real stars! Their movements, their leaps, their artistry, were a pure delight. I spent weeks at the Paris Opera watching those amazing ballerinas, mesmerised by the sheer spectacle of it all.
Now, 1866, just think about that. A time when the ballet world was still figuring out what style of tutu to go for. Do you remember our past blog posts, those fantastic romantics, those ladies swishing around in the long white Romantic tutus? Well, in 1866, these tutus were all the rage, still very much the standard in ballets like Giselle, that romantic tale of love, betrayal and sorrow. This kind of ballet, well, let’s just say I'm a huge fan! It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. But 1866 was an exciting time because something new was stirring in the air - the shorter tutu - with the tutu a la Camargo, and then the tutu a la Fanny Elssler – we see more of the ballerinas' lovely legs!
The world of ballet was, of course, still predominantly focused on those wonderful classic ballets. And with classics like La Sylphide, and Swan Lake being all the rage, it was all about that graceful, airy elegance, something every ballet dancer dreams of. But there was also room for new stories, stories full of drama and powerful characters! And those were often best expressed through these short tutus that allowed for a new range of movements - all of it exhilarating, beautiful, and absolutely captivating.
Train Travel - An Essential Adventure for the Tutu-Loving Ballerina
Just imagine what an adventure train travel was in those days! It wasn't all about bullet trains and luxury lounges, dear reader! Instead, it was a journey full of steam, anticipation, and a touch of rustic charm!
Now, I've been travelling through time to enjoy the fabulous shows in Paris and London and the best way to travel around Europe is by train. The steam engines might not be as quick, but those compartments have so much character.
There I was, perched in my beautifully appointed train carriage, looking at the world rolling by – fields, villages, and ancient cities, each with its own unique character. Of course, no matter what class of carriage I travelled in, I always found the most interesting people on those journeys. There were travellers from all over Europe – merchants, bankers, writers, actors – so much fun and exciting! They are all drawn to the magic of ballet too, although perhaps some don't quite know that is why they come to see it, hehe. And it gives me a chance to chat about tutus and maybe even get people thinking about a pink one. 😉
So Much Shopping in London!
As soon as I landed in London, a visit to the glorious shops along Bond Street was in order, as soon as that train pulled into Victoria Station, of course! Every single day seemed like an exciting shopping spree, with the streets alive with the latest fashions and innovations. Now, it must be said that my heart belonged to London and that famous fashion house of Worth and Redfern, those two incredible names, those magnificent creations. Their work, especially with those delicate silks and shimmering satins – oh, I just can’t even describe how stunning their clothing is!
From my latest London escapades, you might think this post would be focused on clothing, or perhaps the magnificent fashions on Bond Street, but no - my darlings, I'm drawn to the beautiful tutus. It's those flowing silks, the gentle billows of material and the romantic shapes of these tutu designs – oh my! – they were perfect for a night at the opera. And this time it is all about the Parisian creations – I'm sure you’re going to love these new ballet tutus!
This is a Ballet History blog after all
Just think – imagine, in those bygone days, watching Coppélia or Swan Lake and watching those stunning dancers as they perform. With tutus twirling and flitting around them. Well, today I felt so inspired, by all of those beautiful dancers and especially by the sheer artistry of all the designs in these magnificent tutus. So this #TutuTuesday I am thinking design inspiration. I don’t want to spoil it for you dear readers so I’m going to save the best bit for next week. 😉
Until next time, remember – the perfect tutu can transform you into a magical being. And who wouldn’t love to twirl and feel like they could fly?!
Emma
P.S. Keep a look out for that wonderful news!
This blog post was a playful exploration of Emma’s travels and interests, keeping within the constraints of her time traveling persona and using suitable language for a family friendly audience.
This fictional narrative could be continued with Emma discussing how the changes to ballet tutu design and choreography in 1866 might have affected what we see today in ballets such as Swan Lake, Giselle and Coppélia.
Perhaps she could offer some fashion inspiration, making recommendations of what tutu designs she might love, using words such as elegant, graceful, dainty, delicate and romantic.
Or even, how the tutus inspired the fashion on Bond Street!
