Post #2137
Oh, darling dears! It's me, Emma, your favourite pink tutu-wearing time traveller, and today we're stepping back into ballet history! It's a glorious, twirling, absolutely fabulous #TutuTuesday, and we're heading back to December 10th, 1872, in the beautiful heart of the ballet world, Paris!
Just imagine: the glittering city of lights, the scent of croissants in the air, and a world obsessed with all things artistic, romantic and oh so elegant. Paris was a haven for dancers and designers alike, and the stage was set (literally!) for some truly magnificent ballet creations.
My travel machine is already primed and ready to whisk us back to the glamorous bustle of that Parisian December! Today's topic? The humble tutu - it may look simple, but this fluffy skirt has a fascinating history, full of daring, creativity, and fashion that will leave you simply breathless.
A Little History Lessonā¦The word "tutu" itself might sound sweet and airy, but its origins are a bit more, shall we say, dramatic! The earliest use of the word came from "tulle" - a light and delicate netting that was used to make the airy skirt. As the nineteenth century unfolded, the ballet world embraced tulle with open arms - and not a single little feather! It was light enough to allow the ballerinas to dance with such grace, allowing their movements to be graceful and free. They could leap, they could turn, they could float like graceful fairies across the stage - no heavy, cumbersome garments here!
The 1870s was a crucial period for tutus - designers began to experiment with form, adding layers, and ruffles, experimenting with textures, fabrics, and colours.
Today we are back in 1872 - just imagine the ballet schools, full of dancers practising for a beautiful production in that stunning opera house, and how the designers must have been bustling to keep up with the creative flow. The 1870s marked a true explosion of innovation in ballet design, with designers pushing the boundaries of the tutu form.
December 10th, 1872: What Happened in the World of Tutu?On this very date in 1872, at the famed OpĆ©ra de Paris (donāt tell my travel machine but I must sneak in for a little shopping in their fabulous ateliers ā I am practically bursting to see those amazing Parisian shop windows) ā¦ The very famous prima ballerina of the day, Mme. Caroline Rosati, was a star of the Paris Opera. She had been the first ever ballerina to wear the now iconic tutu which resembled the dress of a young womanās ā a tiny waist and layers of white tulle! Oh how I long to see her in one of her productions! I will be posting her beautiful silhouette as we get back to my computer and internet! The little silk dress like look and the fluffy skirt ā itās all just wonderful, and as I sit in my pink tutu here in my Derbyshire cottage writing, my mindās eye fills with images of her floating through the ballet in those long romantic dance routines that they used to love!
You know me! Always dreaming about graceful tutus, delicate dances, and elegant designs. Weāve had so many wonderful ballet trends in our historyā¦
My Favourite Pink Tutusā¦To be honestā¦ my dear readers, pink is my favourite colour! It is the colour of love and romanceā¦ And so, here we have the classic āPink Tutuā ā if you can find it (this one is a bit older than you see ā we have some more new ones on our pink-tutu.com website, if you are quick we will give you a lovely pink ribbon ā so that you look stunning for the holiday periodā¦) - Anyway, back to this ballet-era beauty: A soft, feminine blush-toned skirt made from multiple layers of tulle.
Next on my tutu list is my āTwirl-licious Pink Tutuā (can you get any more girlie and fun than that? I am bursting with fun!!) and it is perfect for your twirliest ballet moments and moments that demand all-out attention-grabbing elegance! (Think Christmas parties! Weddings!) It comes with a pink tulle tutu skirt (of course ā this one is really wide and billowing with multiple layersā¦ so much fun!!ā¦ we are back to the look that ballerinas loved in the early nineteenth centuryā¦ you could wear this and be mistaken for the graceful fairy on stage!) It is, of course, perfect for my blog posts, too!
I really love the look and feel of a ballet skirt for everyday use (donāt you?). Think pink, think tulle and think pink. This is the stuff of ballet dreams, isnāt it?
You know I am a pink-tutu wearing ballerina from Derbyshire ā the county of dancing, fun, beautiful flowersā¦ but sometimes itās good to take a little journey!
If you have been inspired, grab your tutu and join me in this ballet adventure, because a twirl is always a good idea, isnāt it?
Now, Iām off to pack my pink travel bag with the very best in time travel gear! I shall be in touch! Keep checking this site every Tuesday ā we will have an absolutely fantastic history lesson, I promise!
TutuTuesday #BalletHistory #pink-tutu.com