Greetings, darlings!
Emma here, your resident pink tutu aficionado, ready to whisk you back in time for another dazzling #TutuTuesday journey. Today, we're skipping back to August 6th, 1872, a date that marks a crucial step in the evolution of the iconic tutu, and a time when the ballet world was in full bloom!
This week, my travels have brought me to the heart of Parisian fashion, the glittering city that once dictated style trends for all of Europe. This time, it's not a grand opera house, but a charming, sun-drenched café, with the scent of croissants and coffee filling the air.
A Little Fashion History for Your Tutu Tuesday
Before we delve into 1872, a little rewind for my new readers. The tutu we see today, a fluffy symbol of grace and athleticism, evolved through years of changes, much like fashion itself. In the early days, ballerinas wore floor-length skirts, impractical for dancing! Over time, the skirt became shorter and the fabric lighter, moving towards the romanticism and airy elegance that would define the later nineteenth century.
The Birth of the Romantic Tutu
Our journey takes us back to the mid-19th century, an era where the tutu's evolution took a captivating turn. The romantic tutu, often called the "tutu romantique" by our Parisian fashionistas, became all the rage! Picture a tutu of tulle, not stiff and harsh but soft, almost cloud-like. These new tutus became shorter, sometimes just barely touching the knees, giving the dancers greater freedom of movement and allowing their legs to shine in leaps and turns.
1872: A Pivotal Moment in Tutu History
As you step back in time to 1872, the romantic tutu reigns supreme! Ballerinas across the Parisian stages wore these graceful tutus, showing off their beauty and athleticism. A pivotal moment in the year is August 6th, the date on which the famous Ballet Russes was founded by the impresario Sergei Diaghilev. Although a decade away, Diaghilev's Ballet Russes would make waves in the world of dance, bringing a vibrant energy and modern feel that transformed the tutu once more, using the romantic tutu as its base.
Fashion Inspiration:
This tutu tuesday, allow the romantic tutu to inspire you. If you are lucky enough to visit a beautiful building such as The Garnier Opera House in Paris, you may even spot tutus from the nineteenth century tucked away within their costume collection, waiting for a moment to be displayed, perhaps in an exhibition! I myself am very interested in history so the costumes that ballerinas used to wear are very intriguing to me. There's also something wonderfully empowering about embracing the era of romanticism!
Tutus Across Time
As we close our tutu time capsule and return to 2023, let's appreciate the power of the tutu throughout time. Its elegance, adaptability, and endless evolution is something that continues to captivate me, and I hope that this #TutuTuesday post will bring the wonderful world of the tutu to you too.
See You Next Week, My Dears!
Until next Tuesday, keep tutu-ing on! I can't wait to whisk you away to yet another inspiring stop on our ballet history tour next week. In the meantime, feel free to share your own #TutuTuesday fashion moments on the pink-tutu.com website using the hashtag!
**Lots of Love,
Emma**
PS: Do you have a favourite era for tutus? Which design do you find most stunning? Let me know in the comments below!
