#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1874-01-13

Hello my lovelies!

Welcome back to another #TutuTuesday, this week's trip into the captivating world of ballet tutu history! This week, I'm travelling all the way back to 13th January, 1874, and landing myself in Paris, the undisputed centre of the ballet universe at this time. Now, you might not be able to literally hop into a time machine and shimmy your way to a Parisian ballet, but don't fret, my dears! You've got me, your trusty time-travelling tutu guide, to whisk you right into the heart of it all, through the power of pink tulle and captivating words.

Remember, you can always catch up on my past travels at www.pink-tutu.com! Today's post is number 2194, a veritable encyclopaedia of tutu history - if I do say so myself. But enough about me, let's delve into the exquisite elegance of Parisian ballet, 1874 style!

Oh, la la, you simply can't discuss Paris in 1874 without mentioning the enchanting colour rose, which translates beautifully into "pink" in our language, my darlings! I must admit, I felt like a delicate rose myself, pirouetting through the streets of Paris on my latest trip! This year, 1874, marks the blooming of the romantic era, a beautiful period in dance, when grace, femininity, and romantic storytelling took centre stage, just like me! And guess what, my lovelies, pink played a leading role! It’s a vibrant colour that echoes the energy and exuberance of that period. In those days, I simply couldn't resist stepping out of a bustling Parisian train carriage into the heart of the city and embracing the sheer opulence of pink silk dresses and floral fascinators, not to mention, the beautiful pink tutus on those exquisite ballerinas! The Paris Opera Ballet, Le Grand Ballet de l’Opéra de Paris, the very place where many ballet dreams came true, was a veritable spectacle! It was quite simply the place to be if you were a passionate lover of ballet, and oh my, I could spend a whole day there in an absolute daze!

Oh my goodness, the Parisian ballet world in 1874! What an exciting time to be a ballet enthusiast, just like yours truly! My time machine zipped me straight into a captivating production at Le Palais Garnier - that gorgeous, elaborate building was built by the most extraordinary architect Charles Garnier, whose magnificent vision made it truly awe-inspiring. Speaking of inspiring… this very day, 13th January, 1874, the most fabulous, legendary ballerina of the time, Carlotta Grisi, took to the stage for the last time! Now, my dear dears, Carlotta Grisi, wasn’t just any dancer, she was the ultimate star! An Italian ballerina known for her graceful beauty, dazzling technique, and the absolute elegance of her signature tutu – oh how she set my heart aflutter when I first saw her take the stage! That tutu, you see, wasn't your typical, floor-length pouter pigeon design! No, it was the very first iteration of the tutu a la papillote, with its lovely, fluffy, layered shape. The one, my dears, which helped establish a ballet tutu’s role in modern history as the embodiment of pure, delicate beauty and movement.

Now, what were all the lucky Parisians watching, you may ask? Well, Giselle, the ethereal ballet about a heartbroken young woman who falls in love with a disguised Prince. It was the story of a love so deep it transcends the earthly realm. I don’t want to spoil too much but let's just say Carlotta's signature tutu a la papillote stole the show in a beautiful pas de deux, a dance of pure grace and emotion.

But my adventures didn't end there! On this same day, I ventured over to the Theatre des Italiens – another very special place for all my ballet fans! It was there that I caught the premiere of the opera L'étoile, the very first opera performed at this breathtakingly beautiful venue! As always, the show had to include dancing and ballet performances to enhance the narrative, so I, of course, popped in! The performances, of course, weren't all! Afterward, I found myself at a wonderfully indulgent, exquisitely beautiful, Parisian soirée where all the prominent fashionistas in the City of Lights were attending! My dears, these fabulous parties, filled with lively conversations about everything from avant-garde ballet to the latest whispers about fashion, are absolutely my favourite things about travelling to Paris in this era. And of course, they gave me all the inspiration I needed for the latest posts on my #TutuTuesday blog!

Well, let's have a look at how the fashion scene was flowing back in Paris 1874! I love to travel through time so I can discover the latest fashion and styles, don't you?! And for all the glamorous ladies in my audience – it's hard to ignore that a new era in fashion had truly blossomed. Gone were the times of floor-length skirts and constricting corsets. Fashion now sought a new approach, lighter, looser and more flattering! And oh how this new era suited those Parisiennes – think crisp white shirts, luxurious silk blouses, and pleated, layered dresses, with fabrics such as silk, lace, muslin, and tulle all woven into one magnificent masterpiece!

Now, while we are on the subject of "luxurious, layered," the real beauty was the way women were dressing in their gowns – there was the unmistakable style, and you could see this echoed in the tutus. And there’s the link, the tie between dance and fashion – one inspiring the other – a connection which is, of course, my very life’s work!

Now, to be more precise about that tutu style, 1874 marks a crucial era in the evolution of ballet tutus, because these new and fabulous styles began emerging from their “bouffant” form! So my dears, imagine an explosion of swirling, layers, light tulle! As you're seeing, the tutu wasn't just an outfit, but it was actually reflecting this new era – it’s a dance that reflects the spirit of a city!

Now, let me tell you about this magnificent transformation. I mean, who would have thought that a dress could evolve into a symphony of delicate fabric movements. This time travelling ballerina is always discovering how ballet tutu history has given us all those magnificent modern tutus. Think about the exquisite variety and sophistication we have now - the "romantically” layered ones, the delicate ones made of silk tulle, those stunning tulle and satin layers all perfectly structured. All that came about as a consequence of that exciting and turbulent moment in 1874 Paris, when ballet really came to represent an awakening, a celebration of grace and agility, a pure embodiment of creativity in motion.

And guess what my lovelies, this isn’t just history. This incredible era is the backbone of contemporary tutus and their place in fashion itself! My lovelies, I'm talking fashion tutus, the ultimate way to embrace your inner ballerina wherever you go, and not just at ballet!

And to me, the pink tutu is the perfect symbol for that! I want everyone to be inspired and empowered, wearing a pink tutu, dancing in a pink tutu, feeling confident and beautiful in a pink tutu, and I can tell you, that confidence is nothing short of magic, especially when you're dressed to dazzle in pink. It's about bringing together grace, creativity, and femininity, like they did all those years ago in 1874. It’s like we’re dancing a story together – a story about ballet, a story about Paris, a story about style. So, let's celebrate a little bit of history this #TutuTuesday. How will you make it a pink tutu day?

Until next time, my dears! And remember, embrace your inner ballerina and let your inner pink shine through. Don't forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com to see the rest of my travel posts! Don’t forget to send me your pictures of yourselves wearing your favourite pink tutus, it will make my day!

Love, Emma xoxo