Hello lovelies! Welcome back to another week of Tutu Tuesday, the day where we celebrate the beautiful history of our favourite fashion item - the tutu! This week we're venturing back to 16th May, 1871, and let me tell you, it's a year packed with ballet magic! As always, I've done a bit of travelling in my trusty time machine, just for you. Today's destination? The vibrant heart of Paris, naturally! Because if you're talking ballet history, you've got to be in the city where it all truly blossomed.
(Remember to check out my latest video on my channel for my tutu spin of the Paris fashion trends - #pinktutuparis, find me on YouTube @PinkTutuEmma!)
Before we dive into all the juicy details, a quick word about this little blog. This is post number 2055, yes you read that right, 2055! It feels like I've been writing these posts forever, but all those stories about how the tutu transformed into what we see today are definitely worth every word! And it’s just been a dream come true, watching you all embracing the tutu! From Derbyshire to the world - that's the pink tutu dream coming true!
Ballet Goes WildSo back to 1871. Paris was a whirl of colour and movement. I popped right into the Palais Garnier, you know, the iconic Opera House, oh darling, it's magnificent! We’re talking majestic architecture, extravagant decorations and yes, of course, a thriving ballet scene! It was the perfect place to witness the excitement of the new season! And this year? Oh darling, the ballerinas were flying!
Can you believe, in 1871, we were at the peak of Romantic ballet? Now, for anyone new here, the Romantic period in ballet (roughly between 1830-1870) saw an explosion in everything about ballet: choreography, costumes and stories. Everything was ethereal and dreamy - just imagine delicate tulle skirts, soaring jumps, and ballerinas embodying ethereal characters - a true ballet dream!
Now, one thing that really struck me on my travels this week is how closely linked the fashion world was with ballet back then. Oh darling, imagine this: tulle, ribbons, and feathers, all those extravagant details were finding their way directly from the ballet stage into the ateliers of Paris! It was a glorious combination of beauty and inspiration!
And guess what was at the forefront of this style revolution? That’s right, the tutu! This delicate dance costume wasn’t just meant for the stage, oh no! It became the ultimate fashion statement of the time.
Now, imagine this scene: Imagine Madame shopping at a fancy boutique in Paris, maybe on the Rue de la Paix (can we go there next, darling, please?), and what do you think she’s browsing? That’s right, those amazing tutus, the delicate tulle, the fluttery fabrics, oh, darling!
What were those tutus like back then, you ask? It’s time for a little Tutu Timeline adventure!
1. The Romantic tutu (1830-1870)
This darling was a longer, knee-length tutu, very flowy and billowing. Imagine layers of beautiful silk or soft muslin, like clouds swirling around the dancer's legs! They often had intricate embroideries and decorative ribbons and bows, so glamorous! You wouldn’t believe the artistry and the skill that went into crafting each one!
2. The Classical tutu (1870s onwards)
Then came this darling! The Classical tutu is what you picture when you think of the stereotypical ballerina outfit. This tutu had a tighter, shorter silhouette with just one or two layers of tulle. Imagine something elegant and dramatic! Oh, darling! Ballet went through quite a revolution around that time and this kind of tutu, with its focus on line and shape, was perfectly matched with those exciting, intricate ballet techniques that emerged.
*(For any aspiring ballerinas out there - *The Nutcracker was the first ballet that really popularised the use of the shorter, tighter classical tutu for a beautiful ballerina performance.)
Imagine if a new ballet opened today and a leading ballerina stepped on stage wearing an elaborate new design in a dazzling, vibrant pink tutu! It would be quite a revolution, darling! Perhaps that will be my pink tutu mission for 2024 - get the world loving pink tutus again.
But darling, back to 1871. Did you know the 1870s marked the true start of our modern tutu? They’ve always had that whimsical quality and have really evolved over the years. There’s just something about the tutu, whether on stage or in real life that's always caught people’s attention, don’t you agree? It’s the quintessential dance costume. Imagine all the inspiring, creative, captivating and most of all joyful tutus throughout history and the history that’s to come - oh, it just fills me with so much joy!
Paris Fashion TrendsLet's rewind for a moment! Did you know that 1871 was actually a year of huge change in fashion! It marked the start of what they called the Crinoline era, you know, those dramatic cone-shaped skirts that would have needed a whole lot of petticoats to make those voluminous shapes. You see, after those very full crinolines, people started wanting a little bit more flowy, free-flowing style. So, imagine all the excitement around bustles which came in to replace the crinolines. Imagine skirts that billowed out at the back, highlighting a slender waist. And do you know what’s truly beautiful about the history of these fashion trends? They had a real influence on ballet fashion too! Just a fantastic dance between dance and fashion, oh, darling!
So, where was this all happening? Paris, of course! This fashion-forward city was the place to be in 1871 and is still such a special place! I really recommend a visit, if you get the chance. Imagine strolling down the Boulevard Haussmann, enjoying a cafe au lait at a beautiful Parisian cafe. It’s so easy to see how much that city influenced fashion, especially around the time when tutus were going through a real revolution.
(For all you lovely fashion-minded individuals, you should also keep an eye on the Paris fashion trends during 1871: crinolines, bustles and princess line gowns are just the perfect inspiration for that dreamy tutu look! Just picture yourself dancing through life in a whimsical tutu skirt!)
The Perfect Day TripRight, I think it’s time for another one of my Tutu Tuesday trips! Today, it’s a railway adventure from Derbyshire to Paris, I just love that romantic feeling of stepping onto a steam train.
(For those of you who haven't travelled by train for a while - it’s so much more calming, more graceful, it feels so much like the movement of a beautiful pas de deux. Just a dreamy, romantic journey with no turbulence. )
If I was in Paris in 1871, here’s what I’d do:
1. First stop: The Palais Garnier. Just to soak in the incredible energy and be mesmerised by all that creative energy. I would be standing centre stage, just picturing the ballerinas from all those different historical ballet performances: The prima ballerina Marie Taglioni, all the graceful dancers from the Romantic Era - oh darling!
2. *Next stop, some Parisian fashion houses. * Imagine strolling around the beautiful haute couture ateliers. The amazing clothes and materials – silks, laces, feathers - they just inspire so much creativity! The idea of the tutu has to come from this inspiration, darling, there’s just so much of the same flair and elegance.
3. Then for the evening? A Grand Opera performance, of course! There’s nothing more breathtaking than seeing all the elegant Parisian haute couture, the fashion mixed with ballet at one of those incredible theatres - oh, it's the dream, darling!
Oh, and a big reminder to all you lovely followers - let me know where your #TutuTuesday dreams would take you! Tell me what your ideal time period to explore in tutu history would be! Maybe we can create an adventure together!
(And if anyone knows the perfect recipe for Parisian macarons, I’d love to get that one, darling - you know, the perfect little treat after a day out!)
This has been a whirlwind of a tour through 1871! You know, those grand times really saw ballet really blossom, reaching an unprecedented level of artistry. It's incredible how the world of fashion influenced ballet, creating the incredible tutus we love and admire! I’m off now, darling! Another #TutuTuesday blog to plan for next week.
Keep those pink dreams coming and remember to #KeepDancing!
Love,
Emma www.pink-tutu.com
