Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, darlings! It's #TutuTuesday and you know what that means...a delightful journey back through the fascinating world of the tutu! Today we're pirouetting back to September 3rd, 1867. Imagine it: gas lamps casting a soft glow over the cobbled streets of Paris, the scent of freshly baked croissants wafting from nearby boulangeries, and… wait for it… the excitement of a brand new ballet premiering at the Opéra Garnier!
This is where I found myself this week, jetting off to the City of Lights thanks to a particularly delightful performance of Giselle in Derbyshire (and of course, my trusty vintage train ticket!). It truly is the most magical feeling, travelling back through time – all thanks to the enduring beauty of the ballet, and of course, my beloved tutus!
(I know, I know! How is this even possible? Well, darling, I am a ballerina, but with a secret…I'm also a time traveller, using the power of my ballet performances and a good sprinkle of magic to skip about through history.)
Anyway, back to Paris. The Garnier Opera House is magnificent – it's the ultimate theatre, like a grand fairytale palace for the arts, and, well, it certainly inspired me to take my new pink tutu for a whirl! The Opera House had just been inaugurated a mere four years before, a masterpiece of architectural design. Oh, darling, can you imagine the sheer excitement in the air? Paris was buzzing with all the latest trends and I just had to be in the heart of it!
Speaking of trends, the stage at the Opéra Garnier that night was a veritable fashion spectacle. Imagine flowing gowns and intricate hairstyles – an absolute vision in Parisian elegance. And even if tutus weren’t yet the centre stage stars they are today, they were still present in all their fluttering glory. Ballet dancers twirled and leapt in ethereal tulle creations, but with a slightly more modest silhouette than we see today.
For you see, darling, 1867 was still very much an era of Victorian sensibilities! Skirts might have become more slim and less voluminous, but the idea of an extremely short, revealing skirt on stage was, shall we say, still a little shocking for the sensibilities of the time! But, oh how that would change in the coming years!
Just picture a room full of opera glasses, twinkling with gaslight, each lens focusing on the grace of those ballerinas as they glide across the stage. A wave of applause, the smell of jasmine perfume in the air… it truly is a spectacle like no other.
Did I tell you that today’s premiere was the Sylvia ballet? I had the most divine time! The music was breathtaking, and the costumes were beyond extravagant. All this amidst the sparkling elegance of the Opera Garnier – truly a dream for any ballet aficionado!
Now, as I'm writing this, it's raining in Derbyshire. The pitter patter of rain on the window pane has inspired me to pull out my very best vintage pink tutu. You know, the one with the delicate lace detailing and the cascading layers of tulle. It’s absolutely dreamy and it just makes me want to twirl. So, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. But first, I just want to encourage you to try a vintage tutu yourself! Think of all the magic, the imagination, and the endless possibilities for styling.
Just pop on over to Pink-Tutu.com where you'll find everything from romantic, floral creations to playful, bright tutus. And be sure to join me in my #TutuTuesday posts next week! We’ll be exploring even more enchanting eras in ballet history, one pink tutu at a time.
Until next time, darling, keep on twirling!
Emma
(And don’t forget to check out my favourite ballet shops for some inspiration – you never know when a gorgeous pink tutu will catch your eye!)
