Bonjour mes amies! It's Emma here, your favourite pink-tutu-clad time traveler, and welcome back to my #TutuTuesday blog on www.pink-tutu.com! As you know, I just adore all things tutu, and my biggest passion in life is spreading the joy of these magnificent garments far and wide! And of course, thereās no better way to do that than by travelling through time and sharing the history of these exquisite creations.
This week, my trusty time machine took me all the way back to the 14th February 1871! Imagine, darlings - Valentine's Day over a century ago! Now, while we may associate this day with chocolates and roses, in the Victorian era it was still a relatively new and emerging custom, just starting to gain popularity.
But the real treat, you see, was in Paris, where I found myself at the Palais Garnier Opera House! What a sight! You see, at this time, Paris was absolutely the epicenter of fashion, and the ballet scene was booming! Just picture a sea of elegant ladies adorned in stunning gowns, with a whisper of tulle here and there hinting at the glorious ballet tutus we know and love today! It was a world truly infused with elegance, romance, and a passion for the dance.
On this particular February 14th, I saw a beautiful performance of Giselle by the illustrious Ballet of the Paris Opera. The tutus? Breathtakingly romantic and light! Now, bear with me, darlings, because the tutus back then were a little different from the modern marvels we see on stage today. The Romantic tutu was long and flowing, reaching almost to the ankles, crafted from several layers of lightweight tulle to create a ethereal, diaphanous effect. Just imagine delicate tulle swirling gracefully through the air! Quelle beautƩ!
Think of ballerinas in these long tutus flitting across the stage in effortless grace, like swans gliding over a moonlit lake. They looked so fragile and elegant ā almost celestial, as if they could float right up to the glittering chandelier. This style, oh, it wasn't just about the elegance; it was about the poetry of dance, about embodying the very essence of femininity and grace.
Oh, how I wanted to join those lovely ladies on the stage! Thankfully, a wonderful dancer by the name of Marius Petipa, a legend in his time, just about saved the ballet world in the 1840s, and redefined the tutus. I heard from an old stagehand that Petipa simply felt that the Romantic tutus, though utterly divine, got a bit too cumbersome. He wanted ballerinas to move freely, effortlessly, to capture the lightness of flight itself. And he was right, don't you think?
He pushed for shorter tutus, highlighting the delicate legs and beautiful movements. Imagine, shorter tutus! So, for example, while the "Giselle" ballerinas danced in those magnificent floor-length tutus, by the end of the 1870s and going into the late 1800s, the shorter "Princess" tutu ā think graceful ballet skirt just brushing the knee ā came into being, paving the way for the modern tutus we all know and love today!
Isnāt it fascinating how these little tweaks and adjustments over time, changed the whole look and feel of a ballerinaās performance, highlighting the dancers themselves in all their gorgeous glory. And, I am here to say, these new āPrincessā tutus certainly enhanced the performance - a lot more showing of graceful legs! You could just feel the air hum with energy, the energy of a new era of dancing where ballerinas were no longer merely graceful swans. They were a symphony of beauty, fluidity, and movement.
But hold on, there's more to this enchanting tale! Now, of course, not everyone embraced the new, shorter style, as many argued that it lost some of the delicate, dream-like appeal of the long tutus. It's always hard to change an established beauty standard, darlings. I must admit, I kind of like the longer flowing tutus; a few twirls and flounces in one of those magnificent, Romantic tutus, now that's something worth dancing about.
The long tutu, you see, it symbolized something ā a woman, free in the vast expanse, not bound by constrictive corsets. It symbolized something delicate, fragile yet beautiful. Perhaps that's what Petipa wanted to retain as the essence of a ballerina. This āromantic" image, this free spirited creature of ethereal beauty.
While we saw shorter tutus emerging in the 1870s, in this Parisian ballet world of the late 1800s, it was truly the long tutus that ruled the stage. And when I saw "Giselle," even though Petipa was the toast of Paris, this Romantic, flowing, beautiful tutu still reigned! Perhaps, darlings, both styles had their own charm. And that's what's so wonderful about tutu history - it's constantly evolving, offering different styles for every taste, just like our fabulous fashions!
After the ballet, naturally, it was time for a delightful treat ā a shopping spree! Now, this is my absolute favourite part of any time travel adventure, because you wouldnāt believe the fashion scene back then, especially in Paris. Boutiques filled with elegant gowns, and ladies adorned in elaborate hats with plumes and feathers. I fell in love with the most gorgeous hat! Think layers of feathers with delicate pearls woven into the lace. It was like a cloud resting gracefully on a beautiful head. Alas, my budget just didnāt quite stretch to this feather delight ā but never fear, darlings, itās not so hard to get some inspiration for a little tutu hat with the right trim. Think layers and lots of pretty bows!
So there you have it, my darlings - my journey back to the Paris of 14th February, 1871! Youāll just have to take my word for it ā itās truly a beautiful and inspiring world where ballerinas reigned supreme, tutus took centre stage, and a girl could just get lost in the beauty of a feather-filled hat.
Until next Tuesday, darlings, stay fabulously you! Always remember ā every day is a Tutu Tuesday, just wear one and embrace the beauty within!
Remember, you can always check out www.pink-tutu.com for even more tutu stories, style tips, and travel tales! Until next week ā remember to spread the tutu love!
Yours truly, Emma
This post is for you, darlings, and I really want to know your thoughts about ballet tutus! Leave your comments, questions and ideas on my website, and donāt forget to share this with all your friends ā I want the world to know all about the wonderful story of the tutu!
Have a truly fantastic week, and until next time, remember... itās always tutu time!
