Bonjour mes chères amies! Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, ready to whisk you away on another journey through the wondrous history of our beloved garment - the tutu! It’s Tuesday, which means it’s time for another #TutuTuesday!
This week, we’re travelling back to a rather special date - the 11th of October, 1870. Why so special, you ask? Well, dear readers, it was a pivotal moment in tutu history. Though we might think the tutu always looked like a billowing cloud of tulle, the truth is its evolution was a beautiful, gradual process, much like our favourite arabesques.
The year 1870 was right in the midst of the Romantic era of ballet, a time when dance was becoming less rigid and more emotional, almost poetic. We’re talking dramatic leaps, airy extensions, and expressive gestures… basically the exact recipe for the tutu to blossom.
So, imagine this: The year is 1870, and you’re in the grand Palais Garnier in Paris (yes, that Garnier - the ultimate ballet dream destination!) The air is alive with anticipation. The audience murmurs excitedly as the orchestra begins a lush, soaring melody. And then, onto the stage glides a vision: a ballerina in a flowing, knee-length skirt, her movement unfettered and full of breathtaking grace. She swirls and leaps, the tulle cascading around her like a whimsical cloud, each movement seemingly effortless and breathtaking.
This, my dear readers, is the essence of the Romantic Era tutu. You see, it was around this time that the tutu evolved from its predecessor, the rather severe, shorter, and quite restrictive "skirt-tutu." Remember that bulky thing with a plethora of frills that even the most skilled dancer would find restricting? Well, the Romantic Era said "au revoir" to all that! It embraced lighter, more airy, fabrics like gauze and silk - think billowing clouds! The tutu started to elongate, allowing dancers the freedom to reach for the heavens with those impossibly high extensions.
On this particular day in 1870, the legendary ballerina Marie Taglioni - who was considered a goddess of movement - was performing La Sylphide. This ballet, my dears, is the quintessential Romantic Era masterpiece. In this story, the ethereal, graceful Sylph represents the lightness, fluidity, and ethereal beauty of a dream, of a true Romantic era soul, and what better way to depict her essence than in a cloud of tulle that embodies the essence of pure movement?
Oh, to be transported to this time! Just imagine stepping into the hushed elegance of a Paris opera house. The thrill of anticipation as the curtain rises…and then, to see that perfect blend of artistry, ballet, and beauty...truly enchanting.
I can practically smell the floral scents that were in vogue at the time – delicate jasmine and lavender bouquets – just perfect for creating the air of elegance and romance.
Speaking of elegance and romance… I simply adore shopping for my time-travel wardrobes, you know? This week, I've been whisked away to one of my favourite London emporiums! Think plush carpets, gleaming silks, and a symphony of colours. You can't beat London for shopping – they're leading the fashion world in a truly exciting direction. Of course, as a devoted devotee of pink tutus, I always have my eye out for the most delightful shade of blush! A beautiful shade of pink brings such joy, wouldn't you say? This week's find? A delectable pink-hued, silk ribbon for my hair – perfect for adding that extra touch of je ne sais quoi for my evening performance in 1920s London!
Well, dear readers, that's all from me this week! Remember to embrace the whimsical, the joyful, the expressive essence of a pink tutu - after all, we all have a little Sylph inside of us.
Don't forget to check in next week for more Tutu Tuesday adventures! You never know what sartorial wonders we might discover together on our next historical escapade.
And, as always, I’d love to see your tutu looks! Be sure to tag me in your fabulous twirls using #PinkTutu on social media!
Until next week, twirl beautifully, Emma
