Post #1899
Bonjour, my darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, your one-stop shop for all things pink and tutu-licious! I'm your favourite pink-clad time-travelling ballerina, Emma, and today, I'm whisking you back to 19th Century Paris, a city bursting with romance and fashion, the perfect setting for a peek at tutu history!
I've just hopped off the train from a thrilling visit to the Palais Garnier â that magnificent theatre designed by Charles Garnier. It was a masterpiece, utterly dazzling! And just wait till you hear about what I discovered about the tutus back then!
(This week's post is inspired by my journey through history! Remember, I travel to different times to uncover the evolution of the tutu. Whatâs a ballerina to do when she gets itchy feet, darling? Besides wear a different tutu, of course. But, you know whatâs REALLY exciting about travelling through history? Shopping! So letâs delve into the origins of this most fabulous garment.)
Firstly, I want to assure you all that I am, ahem, âfashionably lateâ, in my quest for pink tutus! I mean, we all know pink is a wonderfully versatile hue and so perfectly dreamy when made into a tutu, but let's talk about tutus in general. Those of you who have been following along will know that tutus, darling, didnât just âappearâ fully formed on stage one fine morning. No! Their journey is fascinating!
So let's take a step back in time. Around 1830, the tutu, as we know it, hadn't been invented yet. The female dancers back then â you might know them as crinolines â wore gowns. These had stiff, very long skirts, rather like what Queen Victoria might wear to a coronation ball (though not as comfy!). They might have slightly hindered their dancing, shall we say? They didn't give those exquisite movements the opportunity to fully shine!
Thatâs where the legendary Marie Taglioni comes in. She was quite the ballerina â her signature move, the penchĂ©, must have been breathtakingly beautiful, and even she must have struggled with the voluminous crinolines. Now, Marie didnât just inspire tutus; she inspired tutus to become lighter and shorter. The resulting dance looks, my darlings, were sensational. This evolution was about giving freedom of movement. Marie became an icon; sheâs still talked about today! The first shorter ballet dresses were a sign that the design of tutus was already on the cusp of huge change. It took a pioneering figure like Marie to get us there!
Imagine my excitement, dear readers, to have caught a glimpse of some of those earlier styles. Talk about fashion history in the making! Now, the 1860s (which we are right smack in the middle of at the moment) saw tutus becoming shorter, lighter, and yes, my darlings, more romantic! Think soft, flowing materials and even more airy looks, perfectly complimenting the ethereal quality of the ballet itself.
Speaking of âromanticâ, dear readers, have you been to the Grand Prix de l'OpĂ©ra? Every month it brings together Parisian aristocracy and theatre folk, to mingle in a delightful buzz of fashion and excitement. It's truly one of the grandest gatherings in all of Paris! I imagine myself gracefully navigating this scene, clad in a flowing pink tutu, the picture of ballerina elegance. Now thatâs an idea worth dreaming about!
Oh, I do love those little ballet performances! Even those small, intimate venues can provide a most dazzling show. Such intricate steps and enchanting stories are always unfolding before your very eyes!
Todayâs historical visit took me to a small ballet school nestled away in a quieter corner of Paris. What fun to watch those students working tirelessly to master their moves. Such talent and dedication â it fills me with admiration! Ballet, my dear readers, is not a simple pastime, but a lifelong commitment to the art of dance.
But enough about the history of tutus for today. Thereâs always more to explore, so stay tuned! Do take the opportunity to look back, explore and learn from the rich history of tutus â and who knows, maybe it will spark your creativity to try something new?
The important thing, my dears, is to remember that whether youâre pirouetteing across a stage or simply taking a stroll down the street, a pink tutu is always the perfect accessory for expressing your individuality and inner ballerina. Donât forget to post your fabulous pink tutu looks on Instagram with #pinktutu and tag me - @pinktutu - and I'll be sure to re-post the best ones. Stay twirly and wonderful, darlings!
Love,
Emma x
*(Emma is funded by performing on trains to her many travelling destinations!) *
**(All content on Pink-Tutu.com is for entertainment purposes only. Emma the time-travelling blogger does not exist but her pink tutus, dancing and general cheer do! It would be very expensive and a lot of hassle to travel backwards and forwards in time.)
*Emmaâs favourite ballet performances: * The Romantic Ballet Era. (Mid-nineteenth century). Think tutus, think graceful ballerinas, think expressive storytelling in the language of movement.
This ballet is also on today, May 19th. Donât miss the enchanting and iconic The Ballet Sylphides. This performance in the grand romantic era is still as fresh and beautiful as it ever was.
This choreographic masterpiece by Michel Fokine takes you on a journey to a whimsical forest. Prepare yourself to be transported to an ethereal world filled with graceful movements and romantic themes! (Hint! If you fancy catching it, make a trip to the Paris Opera House!)
