#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1870-02-22

Hello darlings! Welcome back to Pink Tutu, your weekly dose of tutu history and fashion! It’s a lovely, bright Tuesday morning here in Paris, the air is crisp and the sun is shining - the perfect day for a waltz through the history of dance and fashion, wouldn’t you say?

This week, my travels have brought me to 1870, a most exciting time for ballet and for fashion in general! The city is positively buzzing with activity – it's the era of grand ballrooms, luxurious fabrics, and oh-so-much romanticism! It’s a joy just to step out and admire the architecture and all those stunning hats.

Today is a particularly momentous day! Not just because it’s Tuesday and a great reason to dust off a gorgeous pink tutu, but also because it's the anniversary of the grand opening of the Opéra Garnier. Can you imagine, a brand new home for ballet in Paris! Now that's a reason to twirl! It’s a masterpiece of architecture, you know, so intricate and beautiful – a proper grand setting for the magic of ballet, darling!

I just love being able to time-travel through ballet history. It’s a whole world in itself – an extraordinary kaleidoscope of dancing, beautiful clothing, and excitement! Imagine: you travel from Derbyshire to Paris on the train, settle into a box at the opera, and let the artistry take you away! It's quite extraordinary!

But I’m getting carried away! Today is all about those stunning tutus that would have been taking centre stage at the grand opening of the Opera. Let’s step back into 1870, shall we?

Now, tutus in this period weren’t exactly the full, billowing, knee-length tutus you might imagine today. Back then, ballet dancers weren’t just about floating and leaping, but a bit more, shall we say, earthbound. You see, the tutus in 1870 were often longer, more like full skirts, a bit romantic, yet dramatic. The dance style then didn’t require all that elevation! It's a more, well, "grounded" kind of ballet!

I must say, even though my style leans towards the whimsical, those romantic tutus really are lovely! Picture layers of soft tulle in ethereal colours - pale pink, sky blue, or maybe even a creamy white. Then, they would be paired with delicate, frilly, embroidered blouses and elegant hairstyles that made you gasp. Think a tiny, feminine tiara atop a carefully arranged knot of hair – it was all just utterly charming and ladylike!

What were they made from, you ask? The finest fabrics, of course! I imagine some delicate silken tulle or even lace, flowing with every graceful movement! These tutus had an aura of gentle luxury, if you ask me. Like they were dreamed up for a fairy tale. I know you, dear reader, share my obsession with the magical element of tulle!

You just knew that the ballerinas in their delicate tutus must have made those lucky enough to see them simply breathe in awe! There’s nothing quite like the sight of ballerinas swirling and twirling on the stage. Their steps were refined and the tutus flowed so dramatically - simply glorious!

It’s also fascinating to think of how the women who wore these tutus must have felt. There they were in their ethereal clothing, moving gracefully across the stage! And the audiences… mesmerized! There is something deeply inspiring about watching ballerinas express themselves so completely, even in a long tutu. It’s pure artistic joy!

And now, dear reader, this brings me to the fashion connection, which is naturally my favourite part! I’m a bit of a history buff but it’s really fashion that takes my fancy. Imagine: if we could go back and wear those romantic, slightly longer tutus! Perhaps not exactly for everyday, but, for a stroll around the Palais Royal gardens after the ballet? Heaven forbid that they are for everyday wear! The ballet itself was, quite frankly, considered almost scandalous!

So, my dear tutu-loving friends, how do we, in our modern lives, translate this lovely bit of tutu history? We're naturally drawn to the whimsy and beauty, and who wouldn't want a tiny, elegant, slightly-longer tulle skirt for special occasions? Let's get a little creative, don’t you agree? A dash of that dreamy, ethereal vibe can go a long way!

I'm planning to look for some fabrics today in les Marais, for inspiration for a little “tutu project”! What a great way to bring back a bit of that ballet-infused romance into our own wardrobe. Don’t forget to come back next Tuesday for another exciting edition of Pink Tutu! You know I have some absolutely incredible things planned… until next time, darling!