Hello darlings! It's Emma, your Tutu Tuesday Time Traveller, and I'm so excited to be back with you again this week. Today, we're taking a trip to the past – specifically, to 14th April 1874! Now, picture this: cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and gas lamps illuminating the bustling streets of Paris. It's a truly magical place, and it's also where we'll be exploring the fascinating history of the tutu!
But first, let's talk fashion! Because a trip to the past simply wouldn't be complete without a little bit of shopping, wouldn't you agree? Oh, my darlings, you simply must visit the Galeries Lafayette. Imagine, my dears, a Parisian department store, sprawling and bursting with gorgeous fabrics, extravagant accessories and – yes! – a section devoted to exquisite ballet attire. It's truly a haven for a tutu-loving Time Traveller!
My oh my, just the scent of fine fabrics fills my nostrils and brings me back to the beautiful, extravagant costumes and, yes, the fabulous tutus!
And speaking of tutus... Well, it was a thrilling moment! I decided to step out of my little time portal, dressed in my most beautiful pink tutu and my pink silk dress. I was like a fairytale creature emerging into this elegant, yet slightly stuffy Victorian era. Oh, the looks on the faces of those bystanders, I could barely keep a straight face, they looked positively gobsmacked!
Anyway, now back to our exciting foray into the history of the tutu. The 1870s were a truly thrilling time for the development of the tutu. Now, we all know how much I love my big, voluminous pink tutus. You can't deny it, those grand tutus are so majestic. You practically need a dancefloor as wide as a ball court to accommodate them! Well, the 1870s were a time of much change in the look and structure of the tutu.
Picture this: the ballerina on stage is wearing something that looks quite a bit different from those enormous tutus we know and adore today! Instead of those enormous poufs, those early ballerinas are performing in much smaller, more fitted designs. Now, if I'm honest, I find those little numbers a bit lacking. It just wouldn't be a ballet without those grand, billowing tutus. No matter how elegantly you twirl, a shorter tutu simply doesn't have the same majesty. It lacks the visual impact, don't you agree?
But wait! There's a reason for those "baby tutus," my dear friends! I mean, no self-respecting fashionista ignores trends, right? Well, these smaller, less bulky designs, called the Romantic tutu were all the rage because they allowed the ballerinas a greater freedom of movement. And, believe me, there are no constraints on these talented performers!
Their intricate choreography is absolutely captivating and their fluidity, just the graceful movements they achieve, is absolutely enchanting!
There was an actual shift away from a rather elaborate design. They went from an impressive but bulky tiered fabric design with numerous layers, a classic look which would have been amazing with one of my pink silk ribbons as a trim. However, these designs were extremely restricting, requiring an incredible amount of strength and energy, a very disciplined performance from those talented artists.
With the Romantic tutu in 1874 and onwards, the style began to emphasize those incredible legs, giving those amazing ballerinas greater mobility to twirl, dance and show off their fabulous movements! With this style of tutu it felt more like the graceful dancer and less like a moving masterpiece, albeit, a fabulous one.
Of course, with the arrival of the Romantic tutu my fellow ballerinas are working on showing off grace, beauty, and agility, but the grand Romantic tutu, with a soft and airy layer of tulle to add that exquisite volume? I'll save that for later... and more detailed research on tutu's as I explore this period a little more.
Well, that's all from your tutu-loving time traveler! Don't forget to visit our website www.pink-tutu.com for more exciting Tutu Tuesday posts every week! And be sure to tag your pink tutu adventures using #TutuTuesday!
See you next week, lovelies!
