Hello, dearies! It's your favourite tutu-loving time traveller, Emma, back with another fabulous #TutuTuesday instalment from the pages of ballet history!
This week, we're travelling back to the oh-so-stylish 2nd of July, 1872! Buckle up your corsets, my darlings, because this journey takes us straight to the heart of Paris, the undisputed capital of fashion and… ballet!
Ah, Paris. It's always a delight to visit this city, so brimming with art, romance, and a penchant for the utterly extravagant! Today, I'm dressed in a glorious bubblegum pink tutu, perfectly embodying the spirit of this era. My fellow time travellers, let me tell you, the fashion is divine! It's a glorious mix of frills, flounces, and a certain "I just stepped out of a Renoir painting" air, and the theatres are overflowing with exciting, breathtaking, ballet!
I've been doing quite a bit of exploring the Paris theatres. Did you know the French, they love their ballet, my darlings. From the prestigious Opéra Garnier to the intimate, slightly less grand theatres scattered around the city, the performances are something to behold! You haven't truly experienced Paris until you've felt the electricity of a well-executed fouetté. I confess I have a slight weakness for anything to do with ballerinas and tutus - just admit it, every woman feels a twirl in their heart, right?
Now, on this day in 1872, I was seated, a wee bit nervously in my front row seat at the Opéra Garnier, preparing for a truly memorable event. It was the debut of the legendary ballerina Marie Taglioni's new choreography, and darling, you wouldn't believe the frenzy surrounding this event! This wasn't your typical ballet; it was a revolutionary show – "La Source" – it mixed graceful balletic movements with a fantastical, imaginative storyline! Imagine the thrill, the exhilaration - truly breathtaking.
This is why I do what I do, you know? The sheer power and impact that dance has. There's an art form to the movement, the passion, the stories conveyed.
My love for the art form doesn't stop at ballet performances, you know. Shopping! Oh my! Let's just say the "bon chic, bon genre" Parisian boutiques were an absolute delight for my inner shopaholic! Every store boasted the latest fashion trends, the latest colours, fabrics, silhouettes, perfectly embodying that French spirit of exquisite elegance and creativity!
Now, since I always like to delve into a little bit of fashion history during my travels (a girl can never get enough inspiration, right?), it was wonderful to find that 1872 Paris was in the middle of a tutu revolution, my darlings! The romantic era had its influence, the tutus had become less stiff, a tad more fluid and even incorporated into daily fashion! The crinolines of the past were softening, and the elegance of a billowing skirt paired with a shorter, flirty skirt - the tutu, of course! Just imagine the lovely light-hearted, whimsical elegance! I must confess, I went a bit bonkers in one boutique, adding a delicate, light as air, cream tutu with rose embroidery, to my travel wardrobe – after all, the tutus, they always serve as a charming reminder of the enchanting ballet world, even if you happen to be traipsing around Paris in search of more ballet shoes and beautiful accessories!
I couldn't have chosen a better time to travel to the City of Lights! The fashion was a delight, the theatre was intoxicating, and Paris - the energy of the place, it's so magnetic.
For this #TutuTuesday, I leave you with this thought: Paris in 1872 was a symphony of colours and grace, just like the magnificent tutus themselves! Remember, my lovelies, a tutu is not just an item of clothing – it's a statement, a declaration of your inner grace, your love of all things beautiful! And as always, let's never forget the power of pink.
Love,
Emma
Follow me on my Instagram @pink_tutu for more #TutuTuesday snippets and for updates on my adventures in time! Visit the rest of my blog, www.pink-tutu.com for more of #TutuTuesday and lots more lovely historical blog posts. Don't forget to take a look at the tutu and other merchandise we have on offer - there's lots of pink to go around and of course, our signature "Emma the pink-tutu" collection! #tutuforlife
