Dearest darlings, welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where all things pink and fluffy reign supreme! This is #TutuTuesday, post number 1937, and today, we're waltzing our way back to 1869, a time of revolutionary change, not just in ballet but in fashion and society at large. Now, strap in, because we're taking a thrilling ride on the time train!
My lovely frock for today? Well, a gorgeous silk, powder-pink tutu, naturally! It’s got a touch of old-fashioned charm, yet perfectly embraces the edginess of the new century. Imagine delicate ruffles cascading like a rose garden and a generous swathe of soft pink satin ribbon, tied into a pretty bow right at the back, and you have a glimpse into this beautiful piece. It feels absolutely divine!
We're here in Paris, the heart of the ballet world, where tutus are already a sight to behold!
But first, a little travel tale for you. Did I mention how much I love train travel? There’s just something about the clinking and clanking, the rhythm of the tracks, and the anticipation of a grand arrival. Today, my journey started from my dear Derbyshire. We have an excellent line to London. It's the absolute best way to experience the beauty of our green and rolling countryside, even though this week it has been drizzly and dull, thank goodness I found a pink umbrella, otherwise I'd be a soaked mess. Now London itself was bursting with life as I arrived - horse-drawn carriages everywhere, the bustle of people in their fashionable finery. Even in 1869, a lady in pink wouldn't go unnoticed, my darlings! But in the heart of this big city, you know I simply had to slip into my Parisian attire. And what’s better than catching a Parisian ballet before we begin our #TutuTuesday dive, my loves?
As for the performance tonight? I simply gasped, my darlings! A whirlwind of emotion and movement! My, oh my! Let's talk about costumes. The sheer elegance, the graceful movement! Think flowing silk, intricate embellishments, and shimmering gold accents! Absolutely breathtaking. I know the history of tutus is often associated with earlier styles, with shorter, tiered designs. But even then, you see the seeds of something spectacular blooming, something that would become synonymous with ballet itself. And, dare I say it? The ladies, my dears, were looking lovely with such expressive movements. It seems dance and the beauty of tutus have an unspoken language, they tell us something about our souls.
So, now that you have a glimpse of the current trends of ballet, let's take a trip back in time to 1869, the year that would prove instrumental in the ballet’s progress. Imagine this: The premiere of "La Source," an opera by the composer Léo Delibes, taking Paris by storm! This wasn't just an opera; this was a full-blown ballet performance that featured a beautiful, ethereal pas de deux, the kind of stuff that leaves you speechless! *What makes it even more significant is that this ballet featured one of the first "long tutus". * I just love the elegant shape of these. They make a ballerina look so delicate, graceful and almost unreal. The first ballerina to take the stage was a graceful soul by the name of Marie Taglioni, but many more followed. She had been considered one of the greats for years before her grand performance in this magnificent, long flowing tulle skirt!
Can you imagine, my loves, the gasp from the audience, the feeling of anticipation as the music began and then - BAM! Out steps Marie, dancing with this long and billowing tutu in the centre stage spotlight. Just beautiful. No longer would ballet be constrained by those smaller tutus! Suddenly, the stage became an enormous landscape of airy, free-flowing fabric. Imagine the thrill! This is an incredible period for fashion, too, and this really helped set a new fashion precedent! Now that's a dramatic introduction. Talk about setting a trend!
Let’s rewind even further! A long time ago in 1832, another iconic piece, "La Sylphide," brought a whole new, flowing grace to the dance world! Remember when I mentioned those shorter tiered tutus? Well, this was all about a tutu crafted from soft white layers! Oh my, my lovelies, it's beautiful - they give such a delicate impression as the dancers take flight across the stage, so incredibly lovely, ethereal and delicate, the white was a perfect compliment to the beauty and grace.
This white tutu was nothing short of revolutionary! The delicate, airy lightness, a perfect compliment to the elegant, romanticism of the ballet, a new form of beauty took centre stage! Now the women could dance so effortlessly in these creations and really make the story of the ballerina a reality - that’s a revolution that resonates even today! The women dancing like winged sprites and the stage lighting - magical. This new style made women a central focus on the stage! The impact of this on fashion in society was undeniable! Can you imagine women wanting to try this out for themselves? The elegant look and lightness were all the rage. White became the symbol of graceful ballerinas everywhere! Now if you think of tutus you think white don’t you? The history of a design can be so significant - the inspiration this creation made had such a wide reaching influence on people!
You know I love fashion history and it is clear that fashion plays such a strong role in dance, and vice versa. As far back as the 1600s, dance and theatre costume designs inspired a style that went from the stage and out into society.
It's funny, isn't it, that something so simple - a few layers of tulle, a bit of ribbon - can evoke such powerful emotions, make you gasp and dream, take you to another world! In this century, we’re seeing women making real change - and who doesn't love the sight of a lady dressed in a beautiful, elegant, fluffy white tutu?! There is something just magical, something beautiful and elegant about them! The history is fascinating!
Okay, my lovely, lovely tutu enthusiasts. I've simply got to share one more tidbit, as we all have that need for fashion even back in 1869. Do you know who decided to give tutus some of the colour back, you lovely bunch? * The gorgeous and fashionable designer *Paul Poiret, now he had a way with colour and designs and, **after he redesigned it and brought a whole range of new colors into the mix, you bet everyone fell in love all over again! Suddenly we're seeing, beautiful jewel tones like emerald greens, sapphires and dazzling rubies! But, you all know, the heart of the fashion world, will always love a shade of pink and that was always in Poiret's palette too!
What do we know about #TutuTuesday this week then?
First up, Marie Taglioni is truly a star in the ballet world - I love a little bit of history. Long tutus are all the rage! A must-have for every ballerina! And of course colours were big in the ballet and fashion worlds. A big yes from me to every gorgeous jewel tone and, naturally, a pink for me always!
Well, my dearest friends, the time machine is calling me. We’ve done a quick trip back in time! Let’s celebrate those long, beautiful tutus! I'm heading to see that Parisian show! Let me know what you’re doing for your #TutuTuesday fun in the comments! I want to hear all about your beautiful dancing, dancing fashion and how you are spreading pink tutu love! And I’m absolutely loving that every tutu style out there is a trend for my blog!
Until next week, keep on dancing, stay glamorous, and let the tutu be your guide. I'll be adding more new looks and fashion news next week. Keep an eye out, lovely ladies!
Emma xoxo www.pink-tutu.com
