Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com, darlings! It's your favourite tutu-loving time traveller, Emma, here, bringing you a pink-hued history lesson on our beloved ballet attire. This is #TutuTuesday post number 1918, and today we're waltzing back to September 29th, 1868, to peek into the captivating world of the ballet tutu!
Imagine, my dears, a time before the elegant tulle tutus we know and adore. Back in 1868, the ballet stage was a sea of layered petticoats and fussy dresses, oh, so cumbersome! Thankfully, fashion had a bright idea. Enter the "Bloomers," those delightful, wide-legged trousers (although admittedly a bit less frilly than we like).
Now, picture this: our wonderful, audacious Marie Taglioni, queen of the ballerina, decides to bring this innovative bloomers idea into her balletic world. She knew the ladies needed more freedom on stage to show off their elegant movements, so she redesigned those wide-legged bloomers, transforming them into the earliest form of the "tutu" we know and love today! It was a revolutionary step, making graceful, airborne leaps and turns a more comfortable and attainable sight.
But of course, nothing about the ballet world was straightforward in 1868! Those early "tutus" weren't all billowing tulle and playful pink, darlings. Imagine knee-length dresses, made of stiff fabrics, still carrying the weight of those old-fashioned, fussy petticoats. A little bit bulky for pirouettes, wouldn't you say?
Over the years, those bloomers-turned-tutus kept evolving. Gradually, the skirts started getting shorter and lighter, thanks to the amazing innovation of tulle, the soft, lightweight netting we know so well today. By 1868, that innovative tulle had found its way into stage attire, adding a beautiful airiness and lightness to these graceful ballet performances. And let's not forget those lovely romantic ballerinas of the time – imagine those lovely dresses billowing like delicate flowers, showcasing a glimpse of those perfectly honed ballet legs. What a delightful image!
You know what else happened in ballet on that glorious September 29th, 1868, darlings? Well, there's always something exciting going on in the world of dance, right? Well, on this date in the history of our beloved ballet, one of the most celebrated French ballerinas, Carlotta Grisi, debuted as Giselle! I simply had to see that show in Paris, my dear, and I found myself in the very heart of the opera, the Paris Opéra, which was a grand place, full of opulence.
After seeing Carlotta, my darling, I had to buy so many new accessories to complement my ever-growing collection of ballet outfits. What could be better than a bit of Parisian shopping? I knew exactly what I needed for my wardrobe – more pink tutus, obviously! This time I was shopping on rue de la Paix – a fashionable street for couture, don’t you know – and found such a dazzling range of ribbons and beautiful, shimmering sequins for my latest designs. I always have so much inspiration in Paris – the elegance, the beautiful music, and the enchanting performances of the ballerinas inspire my every move. It was the perfect Parisian ballet evening – from the opera to the shops and then onto the train, back to Derbyshire where my love for ballet just keeps blossoming, like my ever-expanding wardrobe!
It seems 1868 was an eventful year for ballet, wasn't it? From the revolutionary arrival of "Bloomers-turned-Tutus" to Carlotta Grisi gracing the stage in Giselle, ballet history was filled with an energy and creativity that left my heart aflutter. It is amazing to think about how our love for ballet, from that little girl standing on her toes in a classroom to a blossoming dancer, to the most accomplished, world-famous ballerina, connects through time and space, a shared passion, with such elegant and revolutionary attire like the tutu as a symbol!
Well, my dears, as the final strains of the curtain call fade, and my travelling tutu settles back in its luggage, I bid you farewell until next week. Until then, twirl on!
Stay beautiful and always wear pink, Emma 🎀🩰
