Bonjour, my lovely tutu-loving darlings! Itâs Emma, your favourite pink-tutu-wearing time traveller, back with another #TutuTuesday blog post from www.pink-tutu.com! Today weâre stepping back in time to the glorious year of 1873 - a time when fashion was reaching new heights of opulence and ballet was truly becoming an art form adored by the masses.
A Breathtaking Glimpse of Parisian Flair
This week I find myself amidst the swirling elegance of the Parisian opera house. Can you imagine? I am in the midst of shimmering silk gowns, plush velvet seats, and the enchanting allure of a live ballet performance! A far cry from my Derbyshire upbringing, isnât it? However, despite all the glitter and glamour, my true fascination lies in how the ballet costumes evolved from then to the tutus we adore today.
Now, back in 1873, ballet tutus werenât quite the airy, whimsical creations we know and love. The âtutuâ hadn't quite taken on its familiar form yet. Imagine layers of frilly skirts, often worn over corsets â not exactly a pirouette-friendly silhouette, but oh, how wonderfully opulent! This was a time of grand ballets, intricate costumes, and a touch of theatrical grandeur. It's a little like a time warp to when I put on a tutu in a dance show, where my stage costume is my modern-day "grand costume" - we all have our roles!
A Fashion Journey Through Time
My personal journey through time is rather intriguing, isnât it? Imagine whizzing through the years in a heartbeat, just to get a glimpse of how our favourite garments have evolved. As I flit between centuries, I have to admit I am a sucker for a grand costume show. A chance to witness history through its fashions. In 1873, you'd find dancers adorned with layers of tulle, silk, and satin. You can truly sense the craftsmanship in those designs. There was a meticulous attention to detail and an elaborate play of textures that adds a certain magic to those early years of ballet fashion.
I often ask myself: where would I have stood on the sartorial timeline if I lived back then? Perhaps amongst the seamstresses creating the elaborate stagewear, crafting the fantastical frills of tulle and satin, all whilst gossiping about the newest ballets and the stars who wear the exquisite garments? Now that would be an interesting time capsule, wouldnât it?
An Elegant Journey into Today's Ballerina Beauty
Now, picture this, stepping out from my Parisian time-warp into todayâs bustling streets â but with my pink tutu, of course! The looks are amusing, to say the least. Imagine seeing me - a modern-day pink tutu aficionado - walking the streets of Paris in all my pink tulle glory! It's the very modern twist on traditional style that makes it so exciting, a tribute to our evolution of fashion! The tutu has become a symbol of feminine power, grace and fluidity, embodying everything a ballerina aspires to achieve - a journey through time, from its roots in the intricate detail of 1873, right through to its modern embodiment in ballet street culture and everything in between!
So, today, on this #TutuTuesday, we celebrate the artistry of ballet costumes - a symbol of evolution, from the elaborate garments of the 1870s, to the elegant tutus of today. My journey continues, seeking out all the colourful stories our tutus have to tell! Until next week, my dear readers, let us dance, spin, and continue to embrace the magic of the tutu in all its forms.
Oh, before I forget, on this particular day in history, a significant event was happening. In a small corner of Paris, Marie-Rose Gastinel, a young ballerina, received a beautifully designed ballet bodice from the renowned costume designer Jean-François Dufort. This particular bodice was adorned with shimmering silver thread and pearls, with exquisite hand embroidery, adding an extra touch of grandeur to her stage performance. Little did they know how it would go on to inspire countless designers and ballets in years to come.
Well, until next Tuesday, keep twirling, keep shopping, keep shining bright - in your very own pink tutus, of course! And donât forget to join me at www.pink-tutu.com, for the latest in all things ballet and tutu-licious.
Until next time,
Love and pirouettes,
Emma x
