Welcome back, my lovely tutus! It's me, Emma, your time-travelling, pink-loving, tutu-adoring blogger, bringing you another exciting installment of #TutuTuesday!
Today, we're waltzing back in time to 7th October 1873, to uncover the story behind those heavenly fluffy tutus that have captured our hearts since the beginning of time (or, well, the beginning of ballet!). This is blog post #2180, folks, and as always, I'm thrilled you're here to journey with me through history and explore the glorious evolution of this iconic garment.
Now, you know how I absolutely adore the dramatic swirl and float of a tulle tutu. There's just something so whimsical, magical, and utterly captivating about it, wouldn't you agree? But even before we knew about the beauty of a pink tutu, even before the likes of Anna Pavlova, there was a whole lot of exciting history in the making!
We've already ventured back through centuries to witness the glorious, yet sometimes unfortunate, evolution of ballet. From those early, quite frankly cumbersome, costume changes (those gentlemen in knee breeches - think of the struggle!), to the evolution of pointe shoes (a real pain, but oh so elegant!), ballet history has certainly been an adventure. And you, dear readers, have followed it all alongside me. Now, I think it's time to uncover the real story behind those beautiful, fluffy tutusā¦ and it's a tale more fascinating than you may realise!
Let's Journey Back in Time!
Imagine if you will: It's 1873! London is buzzing, the railway network is in full swing, and even Queen Victoria has taken to the new craze of travelling by train. A glorious and efficient form of transportation! You know I can't travel without catching the next steam engine! I do love a good steam train journey; I love how fast it gets you places!
Paris is still the beating heart of dance, with The Palais Garnier gleaming with beauty. This grand theatre opened in 1875, just two years after our present date, and it's a beacon for ballet brilliance. Itās said to have hosted some of the greatest ballets and ballerinas ever to grace the stage, which certainly inspires us, doesnāt it?
Imagine our beautiful Marie Taglioni in her ethereal white tutu! A true vision in 1832! As we know, this iconic garment took a significant leap forward thanks to the ingenuity of a talented Italian, Carlotta Grisi, who famously wore the first āRomantic tutuā - the tutu we know and love - in 1839. These are just a few snippets of history! We need to keep exploring and remember the past is alive in every tulle ruffle we wear!
From Corseted Woes to Freedom of Movement
Before the Romantic era and Carlotta Grisi, women had been dressed on stage in layers of crinolines and skirts, that hid their movements and frankly got in the way of elegant dancing. Those early ballet dresses - sometimes they were more like āa beautiful tent!ā But the world was ready for something new.
It was a bold move at the time. These romantic tutus revolutionised the scene! This new form of dress gave ballet a new identity - flowing movements that conveyed such lightness and beauty - and who wouldnāt want to twirl like that?! They had a magical and airy feel! The days of bulky and restrictive costuming were gone, and women in their tutus, their movement resembled the lightness and freedom of graceful birds!
And now, a whole 41 years later, here in 1873, these glorious designs were still redefining what it meant to be a ballerina. Balletās āgolden eraā is really kicking off! The tutu wasnāt just about elegance and artistry. It was becoming an icon! An emblem of the era! And of course, its iconic status hasnāt faded - those graceful ruffles still inspire and amaze, even in todayās dance scene!
Fashion and the Tutu: An Enduring Romance
As always, I canāt discuss fashion history without going a little bit mad for clothes! My current love? My pastel pink, floral brocade tutu. šļø It's a dream come true, don't you think?
This tutuās style makes me want to explore even more about fashion and history, to discover how people used to wear their clothing and the history of its evolution. Thereās so much beauty to be found in that, don't you think? But we must remember, thereās still so much beauty to discover in these beautiful ballerina clothes we wear!
Today, 7th October, 1873, would have been a perfect opportunity to browse the shops. If I were visiting the French capital right now, a quick look at Worthās* fashions, or perhaps at the latest Galignaniāsā magazine, would keep me up to date on all the latest developments and innovations. A must for the modern lady with a keen eye for elegance and fashion!
In my view, the history of dance and the history of fashion go hand in hand, hand in tulle ruffles even! Both tell an amazing story. They have evolved and adapted to trends - the social world - with the time! Itās certainly exciting for the modern lady to know how things were! We owe so much to those pioneering women who went ahead of us! So what have you got planned today my lovely ballerinas? š©°
And that brings us to the end of this week's #TutuTuesday, my dear tutus! I hope you enjoyed this journey back to 7th October 1873! As we all know, history holds such enchanting secrets about the origins of our beloved tutus - itās what inspires me most, itās a time travelerās dream come true! Iāve learnt that the story of the tutu is about more than just beauty! Itās about strength, resilience, and those brilliant women who dared to break free and reinvent what dance truly meant.
**Iāll leave you with this challenge this week: go ahead, and dance in your favourite tutu today! Embrace your inner ballerina, your freedom, your creativity, and feel that history come alive within you!
Don't forget to tell me your thoughts on todayās Tutu Tuesday! And I canāt wait to see what beautiful twirls you get up to in your pink tutus! Until next time!**
Emma