Bonjour, my darlings! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood tutu enthusiast, bringing you another dose of #TutuTuesday history from my travels through time! 🩰
Today, we're swirling back to 28th October, 1873. My trusty time-travelling contraption, fashioned from a particularly flamboyant pair of pointe shoes, took me to a bustling, glamorous city bursting with a spirit that echoed even my own: Paris. The city of love, the city of lights, and of course, the city of ballet!
Now, the year is 1873, and tutus, darling, they haven't quite reached the billowing, frothy perfection they enjoy today! I had to go on a rather grand shopping spree, gathering the finest silk and tulle I could find, to achieve the right effect! Thankfully, the boutiques were positively brimming with the finest materials – the shopkeepers were rather baffled at my flamboyant tastes, but I managed to charm them with a quick pirouette and an even quicker “bonjour!"
This Parisian whirl, however, is about more than the clothes. Today, darling, we are witnessing a very important event – the Paris Opera House, where the dancers grace the stage with elegance and grace, opened its doors to the public 94 years ago! It's an awe-inspiring theatre, dripping with Parisian opulence, its grand façade towering like a majestic ballerina in the Parisian landscape. I tell you, dear readers, there's something truly magical about stepping back in time to the heart of the ballet world!
Tutus: The early days...
While they wouldn't be recognizable to my fellow Tutu enthusiasts of today, tutus in the 1870s were a marvel. They were shorter than what we are used to now – a bit like a petticoat, made from multiple layers of tulle, often in a single color (a shade of white or even pink – wouldn’t that have been glorious!). They did a rather marvellous job at highlighting the dancers’ movements, giving a delicate, airy feeling as they pirouetted and leaped across the stage! I'd be remiss if I didn't say the design gave us a lot of leeway with our embellishment! Think: cascading ruffles of silk, ribbons cascading like a graceful stream of satin and a little lace, just for the "je ne sais quoi".
Let's talk about fashion in the 1870s. Imagine full-skirted gowns with billowing sleeves, intricate corsetry cinching in the waist – oh, and an abundance of flowers adorning hair! It's an elegant, romantic era! However, my mission – my very reason for existing! - is to convince every woman to join me in embracing the Tutu! After all, isn't it far more fun than all those corseted frocks?! Imagine a wave of pink tutus cascading through the Parisian streets, swirling through the markets, and whirling their way to the opera house! I can practically hear the applause and the "oohs" and "ahhs" now!
Ballet in the City of Lights
The French capital was awash with ballerinas! They swirled and pirouetted like enchanted snowflakes in every ballroom, opera house, and salon. Paris in the 1870s, was indeed, the centre of the ballet world! And in a place of such captivating grace and elegance, you just can't have a trip without attending the theatre! So, with my carefully chosen outfit – think fluffy pink tutu, a lace bodice with cascading silk ruffles, a wide, feathered hat, and the most dazzlingly pink shoes one can imagine – I booked my seats for a truly memorable show! I managed to sneak in my vintage lace gloves – and it worked a treat. Even better, dear readers, they were made of silk – oh the joy! And speaking of joy, oh darling, the performance itself was a breath of fresh air!
This journey was such a delightful adventure, my fellow Tutu enthusiasts, and as I pack up my trusty time-travelling shoes, I can’t help but feel that the era of ballet is far from over!
Remember, darlings, keep your tutu spirit alive, and don’t be afraid to make a grand entrance! You can read more about my travel adventures on www.pink-tutu.com and follow my weekly blog #TutuTuesday - where I delve deep into the enchanting history of this wondrous garment and its place in the heart of fashion!
And never forget – life is always better with a tutu. 💖
Until next Tuesday!
