Hello darlings! It's your favourite pink-tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, back again with another edition of #TutuTuesday. This week, we're whisking ourselves back to the summer of 1867! Imagine the thrill, darlings! Gaslight shimmering off Parisian boulevards, the scent of lilies and freshly baked pastries in the air, and... wait for it... the burgeoning era of ballet!
We've just arrived in Paris, my loves. It's quite the spectacle, as always! So many exciting happenings around here, and I'm in a bit of a whirlwind. After all, you just have to try every new pastry in the city, especially when it comes to delicate macarons – my absolute favourite! But enough about Parisian delights, we're here for the history of the tutu!
Today's date, the 16th of July, 1867, is a truly special one in the ballet world. It's not an event you'll find listed in the history books, but it marks the unveiling of a truly game-changing outfit: a dazzling, frilly creation of tulle that captured the eye and sparked the imagination… a true ballet icon!
It wasn't a debut on stage, my dears, but a dazzling showcase in the grandest department store of Paris - the very famous Le Bon Marché! Just imagine: a shop teeming with women, the air thick with the aroma of luxurious fabrics, the delicate rustle of silk and the glimmer of jewellery… and in the centre of it all, a stunning ballet dancer sporting a revolutionary new look. The frilly tutu was officially born!
But hold on, darling, let's back up a bit, shall we? Remember, those beautiful classical tutus you adore? The ones that twirl so magically and gracefully? Well, back then, the ballerina's outfit was far less glamorous! It was basically a long, flowy skirt, often made of several layers of heavy material, a bit like a Victorian dressing gown! This heavy garment made it a challenge to really execute those dazzling spins and leaps! Not to mention, the material could get terribly hot under the stage lights! Can you imagine?
So what sparked this tutu-turnabout? Enter Marie Taglioni, our queen of dance! She is a beautiful soul, you know, with a graceful, effortless movement. Marie dared to imagine something different - a lighter, airier garment that allowed her to soar! She created the first romantic tutu: a short, lacy skirt that would have barely been considered scandalous in Derbyshire, but oh-so revolutionary in Parisian theatre circles!
Now, picture this: you're sitting in the stalls at the Opera Garnier in Paris, waiting with anticipation for the performance to start. And then she appears... Marie Taglioni, in her stunning white tulle skirt, flying across the stage with a lightness and elegance that has never been seen before! It was an electrifying moment! A true game-changer that not only redefined ballet costuming, but revolutionised the world of dance itself!
Of course, in the early years, this revolutionary outfit was met with a fair amount of skepticism, my dears. Can you imagine, being so brave as to break from tradition like that? Goodness me! The critics were scandalized at first! They wrote pieces saying her new too-short skirts were vulgar! The audacity of it! But the dancers adored it! After all, who doesn't love a garment that feels light as air, especially when twirling and leaping across the stage?
As we continue on our #TutuTuesday time-traveling adventure, darling, we'll see the tutu evolve from a scandalous novelty to the iconic symbol of ballet. You just can't imagine the magic of the tutu, its ability to transform a dancer from a mortal into a mystical, ethereal creature! It's captivating, it's feminine, it's… it's the perfect outfit!
So what are we celebrating in Paris, dear readers? Well, let me tell you, this 16th July marks the dawn of a new era for tutus! In this grand store, on this day, Parisian women, inspired by the revolution that Marie Taglioni ignited, began to experiment with tulle for everyday wear. Can you imagine that, dear readers? Imagine the gasp at the time! Tulle! A delicate and enchanting fabric designed for the stage, finding its way into daily life? It was a momentous day!
So, my darlings, remember to wear your favourite tutus with pride today, and while you're at it, do try to catch a ballet performance. Just like in 1867, a graceful ballerina in a dazzling tulle skirt, ready to take to the stage, has the power to ignite something beautiful in each of us, and that is truly magical. Until next #TutuTuesday, darling, stay beautiful!
Love,
Emma
Pink Tutu Blogger Extraordinaire
www.pink-tutu.com
P.S. If you’re a tutu aficionado, or maybe just curious, do write to me! What do you love most about tutus? I'd love to hear all about it. And as always, if you have any fascinating #TutuTuesday history, let me know. Maybe our next trip will bring us to a date that made you swoon! Now, I’ve got to get back to that lovely pastry shop just round the corner - you wouldn’t believe what a delightful selection they have... Bisous!
