Hello lovelies! It's Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast, back with another thrilling jaunt into the fascinating history of ballet fashion! Today, we're stepping back to the 24th of December, 1872 – a Christmas Eve long ago, when ballet was already blossoming into a breathtaking art form!
Just picture it, darling: The glittering gaslights of London, the plush red velvet seats of the Royal Opera House, and the enchanting music of a Tchaikovsky ballet filling the air. Ah, pure magic! And at the heart of this enchanting spectacle? You guessed it, the tutu!
This week, we're taking a little detour away from the full-on, knee-length romantic tutus that became all the rage later in the century and focusing on the early, more restrained styles. Back in the 1870s, a graceful simplicity reigned.
Imagine a shorter tutu, darling, not as lavishly tiered or frilled as the tutus you see in modern ballet. Think layers of delicate tulle, held together by a corseted bodice – yes, even back then, a little bit of shaping was all the rage!
Now, the colours – this is where it gets truly captivating! While today we adore the dazzling spectacle of a colourful, multi-hued tutu, back in the 1870s, ballerinas kept it refined. Think subtle pastel hues: a delicate lilac here, a blush pink there. Or a classic, elegant white that lets the graceful movements of the dancer take center stage.
Now, let's rewind back to that Christmas Eve, 1872, shall we? On this day, the world was eagerly awaiting the grand opening of a truly iconic ballet - "La Esmeralda" by the talented French choreographer, Jules Perrot. This story of a beautiful Romani girl with a mischievous spirit had London absolutely enthralled. The beautiful and talented ballet dancer, Marie Taglioni, starred as La Esmeralda herself.
You can almost feel the electric energy of that evening, don't you, lovelies? As Marie, dressed in her elegant, pale pink tutu, pirouetted across the stage, I just know that the whole audience must have gasped! Just the thought of it has me reaching for my pink feather boa, I can tell you!
Now, speaking of tutus, how are you embracing your inner ballerina this week? A splash of pink lipstick? A tulle-inspired hairband? Let's keep that ballet-chic spirit going, no matter what day it is, shall we? Don't forget to share your style inspirations on my Instagram and TikTok! I love seeing how you're rocking your own personal ballerina magic.
Until next Tutu Tuesday, darlings, stay sparkly and keep twirling!
P.S. This week, I'm taking a little train journey up to Edinburgh. If any of you beautiful ladies happen to be around, do give me a shout. It's all about spreading the love of ballet, the beauty of tutus and the joyous magic of pink!
See you all next week for another tutu adventure!
Emma, your Tutu-loving Time Traveller www.pink-tutu.com
P.P.S Extra special note: Just because we're delving into history doesn't mean we have to abandon our modern, tutu-loving spirit! Let's get a whole bunch of you lovelies to wear pink tutus together. Just imagine it: a flash mob of giggling ballerinas! Just let me know when you're up for it and we'll organize the biggest, most fabulous, most pink tutu party this side of London! 💕