#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1866-07-31

Hello, my darlings! Welcome back to another Tuesday and another installment of your favourite #TutuTuesday blog - pink-tutu.com! You know me, Emma, a true tutu devotee from the heart of Derbyshire, always buzzing about all things ballet and of course, those dreamy, fluffy wonders called tutus!

It’s blog post number 1805, and today, we’re taking a trip through time - by train, naturally - to a day in 1866, specifically the 31st of July. We’ll explore the exciting world of the tutu back then, and I’ll be telling you all about my absolutely smashing outfit, which I, of course, purchased on my recent travels to the French capital - the hub for everything fashionable, Paris, you know!

Let’s face it, 1866 wasn’t exactly a ‘pink tutu explosion’ year like today! However, that doesn’t mean there weren’t a few fluttering tutu moments worth mentioning. You know I love digging deep into the tutu archives to unearth little nuggets of historical goodness for you lovely lot! And trust me, even back then, these swirling, voluminous masterpieces were the symbol of all things graceful and graceful!

Now, you see, my lovelies, while it was a bit before our modern "tutu" emerged, back then, there was this magnificent little ballet garment called the "tutu" – just slightly different in shape, you see! It was more like a very fluffy, layered skirt with lots of delicate lace and embroidery. We'll be digging deep into the world of this kind of tutu for this #TutuTuesday!

The story goes that in the 1830s, a certain Marie Taglioni (she's kind of a legend!), a beautiful Italian ballerina, took a leap into the world of dance history by introducing a shorter and lighter version of the skirt the ballerinas used to wear. It was truly a revolution! Imagine - no longer confined by layers of heavy fabrics. With her breezy, new-style skirt, Taglioni floated gracefully on stage, becoming a ballet icon! And of course, this 'new' skirt later became what we now call a tutu.

This change paved the way for new balletic moves. Imagine twirling like a fairy, lifting off the ground, and making it all look effortless – and believe me, ballerinas had to work for it! Now, the graceful tutu is essential for any true ballerina's stage repertoire - a real icon of femininity, elegance, and magic.

Now, as a seasoned time traveler, I often arrive in the past and find the styles quite a bit... well, not quite my aesthetic. And back in 1866? You could say the trends were a bit conservative for my liking! I love colour, my darlings!

You know me and my penchant for pink! Luckily, even back in this era, they had the 'colour of femininity' as a blush tone for all the sophisticated and beautiful ladies. I mean, have you ever tried putting on a pale pink outfit? Truly enchanting, just like the grace of a tutu!

This visit, my time-traveling mission was a bit of a sartorial struggle. There wasn’t a lot of variety to pick from for my 'tutu' choice – no pink fluffy clouds for me. The nearest I got was a charming ivory lace skirt with a delicately puffed, layered design - pretty close to the original ‘tutu,’ don’t you think? This skirt was just like what ballerinas would be wearing in 1866. Luckily, a skilled milliner in Paris was able to dye the lace to the perfect shade of pale pink for me – simply perfect for this time traveller! It was the only colour I was able to find, as I'm pretty sure no-one else on the planet thought to do something like that. The only pink tutu there!

But it wasn't just the dress. I'm all about a coordinated look - everything from shoes to accessories. My outfit featured the most divine satin bodice in the pale blush with floral trim! It was a touch romantic, feminine, and made me feel like a blooming flower! I can assure you this made for a dazzlingly pretty and comfortable, airy ensemble - the essence of ballerinas through the ages. My darling, there's just something magical about flowing skirts - they bring a real magic to the air, wouldn’t you agree?

You might wonder, why the bodice, and no full-on tutu? Well, this era was more about layering – lots of elegant flounces and draping, much more so than the super-short and structured 'tutu' we know today! Imagine that. Today, they’d say I was “channelling the Romantic ballet period." You know me, always learning, evolving, embracing different fashion eras!

Of course, every outfit requires its own fabulous touch, and I added the ultimate cherry on top of my ensemble – a beautiful feather boa. And to be truly glamorous, it had to be pale pink, naturally! The boa completed the outfit – making it even more vibrant and stylish, truly giving the elegance of a vintage ballet look. The whole outfit is perfect, like a vintage fairytale, just as dreamy as the romantic ballets of 1866!

You might think a trip to Paris for the fashion is just an excuse to spend time looking at fashion. You’d be right! But for a history buff like myself, it’s essential to dive deep into history! Now, Paris in 1866 was in its glory - buzzing with fashion and entertainment!

I just couldn’t resist attending the Opéra de Paris – you simply must if you visit Paris in this period! I loved catching a beautiful rendition of a Giselle performance. My, oh my - those ballerinas twirled with a grace so effortless, they almost defied gravity, they were so wonderful to watch! Their long-layered skirts and little romantic bodices were simply heavenly. You really feel that those ballerinas have just stepped straight out of the ballet stories themselves! It made me even more excited about all those lovely skirts - a bit of inspiration to get those creativity gears churning for my next custom design, of course. I wonder what those amazing women in 1866 would think about what's happening today with the tutu...

Now, the ballet world of 1866 wasn't just all about France, mind you! England had its own thriving ballet scene at that time - the Royal Opera House in London was a true center of ballet magic! Many of London's elite - you know, duchesses, dukes, society ladies, even the royal family, frequented the Opera House for a taste of the beauty and refinement of ballet!

Remember, the whole scene wasn't just about those fluffy tutus and twirls, my loves. Back then, opera and ballet went hand in hand. Think soaring operatic melodies perfectly timed with the dancer's movement - a truly immersive theatrical experience that takes you away from all the cares of the world, a magical escapism, I say! It’s something truly enchanting – especially when combined with those glorious skirts and those elegant ballet moves, it’s just utterly divine.

And guess what? I was thrilled to learn about a brand new exhibition happening in Paris - the “Les Arts de la Mode” show at Musée Carnavalet, focusing on Parisian fashion and artistic life from the 18th century until the 1870s. Now, I just knew this would be a must-see! Imagine all those gorgeous historical garments, the ones those stylish Parisian ladies would have worn! A true treat for any time-traveling ballerina fashionista! This kind of display truly showcases the elegant evolution of the tutu - what started with layered and delicate skirts transformed into the showstopping costumes we know and love today.

So, there you have it - another glimpse into the captivating history of the ballet tutu! And, my darling, remember that wearing a pink tutu can be just as empowering today as it was for ballerinas through the centuries! Wear your pink tutu with confidence, my dears! It's time to get inspired and bring those feminine and powerful energy into the world! And if you want to travel in a pink tutu like I do, just let me know in the comments section!

As always, feel free to share your love for the tutu! Do you have any favourite tutu moments from your travels in time? Tell me all about them in the comments. I’m always eager to hear your insights and suggestions! I love it when my #TutuTuesday readers share their stories. We might even create a fabulous new post about a tutu or dance from this fabulous history – with your input!

Until next Tuesday! 🩰💖

Emma xx