Hello, darlings! Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, back with another trip down memory lane – or, rather, another jaunt through the magical world of tutu history. It's #TutuTuesday, and today, we're hopping on a train (I do adore train travel) to the heart of the ballet world, where tutus were blossoming in the most glorious ways. Let’s see what wonderful tutus we can find on the 2nd August 1870...
This week's adventure has transported us all the way back to Paris! Imagine it: bustling streets, the air abuzz with the sound of elegant carriages and excited chatter. You just know that a little boutique down some Parisian cobblestone street is full of beautiful, frilly tulle just begging to be crafted into a perfect tutu. I have to say, a Paris fashion spree would be my dream. Can't you imagine the elegant shops with velvet curtains and displays of fabulous silk, sequins, and satin!
But on 2nd August 1870, the buzz wasn’t just about fashion. A momentous occasion was taking place – The French Ballet was giving a special performance! Ooo la la! You bet your tutu that Emma is first in line for tickets, wearing, naturally, my prettiest pink tutu, complete with delicate bows and a sprinkle of shimmer. Can't just stand there in the theatre in anything less than fabulous, can we?
It wouldn't be a ballet show without some fantastic dancing and the quintessential fluffy tutu. And here’s a little titbit I've uncovered: the designs of these tutus were changing! Gone are the days of the weighty, floor-length designs. You see, dancers were moving and twirling in increasingly more elaborate and athletic ways! This required something much lighter and more flexible – enter the shorter, layered, tulle wonder that became the beloved symbol of a ballerina. Quelle joie!
However, in Paris on the 2nd August 1870, something more profound than the tutus and ballet were afoot. It was on this date that Prussia declared war on France! Sadly, this period marked the beginning of a time of great turmoil for our lovely city of fashion and ballet. It did, however, influence the ballet world in some intriguing ways. We will have to travel to 1871 to learn more about how this influenced the designs of tutus.
But don't worry, lovelies, we're going to be alright. Let's take a deep breath and focus on the fun, fashionable aspects of the 1870s ballet world. They were using a lighter tulle in their tutu designs that were more practical for their new leaps and spins. Imagine dancing with a giant fluffy thing dragging along the floor! It sounds awfully dangerous and impractical to me. You know I’m a big believer in "dancing to the beat of your own drum" (which of course includes your own, perfect tutu rhythm).
Don’t worry, I won’t leave you on that slightly gloomy note, lovelies!
So, this is your Tuesday reminder – never lose your joy in the face of life’s little hiccups. A smile and a twirl in your most fabulous pink tutu is the perfect antidote to a challenging day, I assure you! After all, a bit of whimsy is always the best medicine, especially when paired with a delightful ballet performance. I must dash! It's time for me to slip on my ballet shoes and prepare to leap onto the stage for another wonderful ballet show. Until next Tuesday, my fellow tutu enthusiasts, I leave you with this: wear your tutu with pride and let your inner ballerina shine through.
Remember, the world is a beautiful, magical place – just like a perfect, frilly tutu.
Stay fabulous,
Emma xo
