22nd December, 1868
Dearest readers,
Good morning from the radiant, shimmering streets of Paris! You've heard it before - I'm absolutely besotted with this city, especially when it comes to fashion! This morning, the Parisian sun is dappled with a delicate gold, giving everything a dreamy glow - even more magical than a perfectly executed pirouette!
And it's on days like these that I think it's positively criminal that more people don't don a beautiful pink tutu!
Today, I'm taking a trip back in time with my very own Ballet Tutu History. It's #TutuTuesday after all, and we can't miss a chance to learn about the fabulous, flamboyant origins of the ultimate fashion statement!
Now, dear reader, prepare for a blast from the past, as we explore a little history of this enchanting garment and discover how this quintessential piece of dance attire evolved to become a symbol of grace and femininity.
The Spark of an Idea:
Let's rewind the clock to the late 19th century, a period filled with so much style and grace, wouldn't you agree? And that's when the seed of the tutu was first planted in the mind of ballet master, Marius Petipa. He was working on the incredibly beautiful ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, you know, the one with the grand pas de deux and the magical fairy godmother.
Petipa had this incredible vision, something a bit different than the long, heavy dresses ballerinas were usually sporting. Something a bit more free and flowing! And then - bam! Petipa was struck by a brilliant idea - to use tulle for the skirts of his ballerinas.
Think of that. Tulle, the epitome of feminine elegance and sheer beauty! Just imagine the gorgeous ruffles and swirls, fluttering and floating, and it wasn't just beautiful - it created a magical sense of lightness! A lightness that helped the ballerinas glide across the stage as they embodied the characters with all their beautiful grace.
Petipa saw his vision come alive in The Sleeping Beauty. This revolutionary concept made a massive splash - creating a shift in the world of dance, just like the whirl of a beautiful ballerina. The long and heavy skirts were gone, replaced with a lightweight, captivating creation.
A Fashionable Trend Emerges
Remember the saying: "It takes time for even the greatest idea to bloom?" Well, it's a saying for a reason, my dears! But what happened to our ballerina tutus over time? Oh my, they certainly evolved - oh yes, indeed! From The Sleeping Beauty onwards, tutus spread like a charming dance through the world.
By the turn of the 20th century, our beautiful tutus became a permanent part of the dance world. Think of ballerinas, like the magnificent Pavlova. Her captivating performances were all about the romantic tutu! She wore tutus in almost every performance, making them as integral to the art as the dancing itself!
What a Perfect Fit
Of course, our tutus kept evolving, reflecting the changing world and how ballerinas expressed their artistry. I mean, it wasn't long before we started to see two types of tutus – and can you believe it - they’re even given their very own names? Ooh, la la!
The Romantic Tutu is all about flowing and elegant - the embodiment of graceful fluidity, imagine all the elegant extensions and stunning balances. This is what we see in Pavlova and many, many other gorgeous ballerinas! And there's this gorgeousness that oozes elegance - the classical tutu, you'll find this on the great ballerina dancers like Anna Pavlova!
This was what Petipa envisioned, what the early ballerinas wore! It’s very dramatic, think full circles with tulle layers upon layers, a beautiful vision of dance elegance.
And then you have the Demi-Tutu a beautiful balance of romantic and classical! A shorter version of a classic tutu, allowing for easier movement and dynamic leaps and turns - the epitome of versatility!
The other incredible type is The Tutu en Pointe, I do adore them, all short and lovely, all the better for showing off those beautiful legs and amazing feet of dancers! And it allows the amazing movements of ballet to be shown in all their glory!
I think all of them are simply brilliant, don't you agree?
Tutus For All, Darling!
You see, my dears, the evolution of the tutu reflects the creativity and evolution of ballet itself. From The Sleeping Beauty onwards, the tutu has remained the ultimate expression of beauty, elegance, and strength! And they're such a wonderful expression of style, just like my passion for them, dear readers!
This is why, in all of its forms, I can never resist adding this quintessential garment to my collection! And now, I want to share it with you!
Here at Pink Tutu, we are obsessed with inspiring everyone, in every corner of the world to wear a pink tutu! They can go with everything – you can go elegant with a simple black dress and a sparkling tutu, a dress up party – who doesn't love wearing one! A fancy outfit at a wedding - go pink with your tutu and the bride, why not!
After all, we're all dancing to our own beat, aren't we? We can use fashion to reflect our moods and to let the beauty inside all of us come out to play!
Until next time, wear your heart on your sleeve, and don’t forget to put on your tutu!
And let’s keep spreading the love, by showing the world just how much joy a good tutu can bring!
Until next week, my dears!
Yours with style,
Emma
P.S. Be sure to stay tuned, because next week's post will have more fun facts and amazing finds!
Remember you can follow Emma's fashion adventures at www.pink-tutu.com
This is an excerpt from her #TutuTuesday blog.
