Hello, darlings! It's Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast and time-travelling fashionista, ready to take you on a magical journey back to the 19th century for our weekly #TutuTuesday! This week we’re looking back at 1871, just before tutus were ready to take the world by storm…well, the world of ballet at least. And oh, what a whirlwind of an era it was!
You’ll never guess where I found myself today – the bustling heart of Paris! You see, 1871 is right smack-dab in the middle of a pivotal moment in dance history. Think elegant theatres filled with swirling tutus, grand ballerinas gracefully performing their moves, and an air of romanticism so thick you could almost cut it with a satin ribbon. It was the perfect blend of delicate, airy tutus and opulent sets, with the music adding that special "je ne sais quoi."
Now, let’s rewind a little. In the 1870s, tutus were undergoing a delightful evolution. We've all seen the romantic "swans" that started making waves in the 1840s and 50s, with their romantic, flowing lines and ethereal feel. Think dreamy tutus cascading to the ground, flowing freely with every twirl and arabesque. But 1871? That's where we started seeing a change. The “long” Romantic tutus were gradually shortening, and with good reason! It was about to become the ultimate statement piece – an explosion of light, graceful movement, and feminine beauty.
Imagine yourself standing in the middle of this dazzling dance world, surrounded by the intricate beauty of the tutus, all those layers of tulle swirling in the air. Just as captivating were the costumes worn by ballerinas, with their flowing skirts, glittering bodices, and all sorts of lace and frills. In fact, I can still imagine those exquisite, elaborately decorated tutus - I just adore that old-world elegance!
I, for one, am particularly fond of how ballerinas embraced those graceful, lightweight tulle tutus, perfect for showcasing incredible flexibility and intricate footwork. It's as if the dance itself came alive, free and fluid. And for our fashion enthusiasts – picture a symphony of tulle in vibrant shades, everything from delicate ivory to captivating blues, reds, and pinks. Even those delightful "pastel pinks" that you see so much these days started to emerge as ballet dresses made way for the glorious tutus we all adore!
As I continue my whirlwind adventure in 1871 Paris, I'm determined to find out what my own fashionable forbearers were wearing at the theatre! I am a big fan of mixing vintage looks with modern style, which is what I will try to achieve with my "Pink Tutu" website. This, of course, involves an extensive search through historical photographs and some serious ballet browsing. So many iconic looks came from the 1800s that it's almost hard to choose which are the absolute best, but for this blog post, I’ll need to find a suitable 1871 image to show you! It can't be easy to resist this enchanting era of style! Stay tuned, because this journey of elegance, grace, and tulle is far from over!
I’ll leave you with this thought – in a world full of exciting dance movements, tutus have found their place as both a staple garment for ballet dancers and as an amazing expression of feminine grace. And I'm here to tell you that 1871 Paris played a vital role in making that possible! As we’ve seen today, even though it’s far from the most obvious historical timeline you might expect when discussing the history of tutus, 1871 brought us that enchanting shift towards those romantic, shortened tutus we all love. So remember, dear reader, the love for tutus spans through time – like a perfect, elegant, flowing twirl!
Now, who’s ready for their own journey in a pink tutu? Let me know by adding a comment on this blog post! See you next week for more #TutuTuesday, darling!
Until then, don't forget to check out our website – www.pink-tutu.com, follow me on social media @PinkTutuEmma, and share your #TutuTuesday posts!
