Oh darling, it's Tuesday! Which means it's time for another exciting #TutuTuesday journey through the fascinating history of ballet tutus! This week, my darling readers, we're waltzing back to September 15th, 1874, a time when romance hung in the air, just like the delicate layers of tulle in a beautifully crafted tutu!
Let's take a journey by train, shall we? We'll leave from my little corner of Derbyshire, and arrive in Paris, where the world of fashion and ballet dances in perfect harmony. It's just a little whizz here and there, courtesy of my very own, super secret (shh!), time travelling pink tutu, you know, just to get us there in the nick of time for today's date, September 15th.
Paris, oh Paris! A city of exquisite style and culture, where fashion flows like a perfectly orchestrated ballet sequence.
On this particular September 15th, let’s imagine we're strolling down the cobbled streets of Paris. We'll stop in at one of those grand couture houses where elegant women in grand dresses rustle through silk fabrics, eyeing up the latest Parisian creations for the new season. Imagine, ladies, our lovely tutus may well be on trend now, but in the late 1800s it's all about full skirts and flowing gowns. Still, let's pop into the Theatre de l'Opéra! Imagine the gorgeousness, all velvet upholstery, glistening chandeliers, and a grand ballet performance, all glittering gowns, and even a bit of pink tulle!
Now, while our lovely pink tutus were still quite a while away, they were actually being invented in this time period, a beautiful, fluttering bloom of fashion! Now, for our story, imagine a ballerina on that Parisian stage, performing a grand pas de deux. What is she wearing? Perhaps, in her grand dance, you might even spot a prototype of the romantic tutu, light and airy, a stark contrast to the earlier, stiff, and cumbersome skirts!
Tutu Time Travel
Time-travelled right back here to the 1870s! In our journey back in time, we'll discover that the ballerinas, graceful as ever, still haven't quite achieved the glorious tutu designs we see today. While still clinging to the traditional long and heavy skirt, there are those new, innovative creations bubbling to the surface! We see whispers of what is to come, a sense of evolution in ballet fashion! Imagine our dainty tutus evolving with each decade - that's a beautiful idea! Now, take a mental stroll around the streets of Paris with me, you will see so much lovely design inspiration for tutudom!
So, where are our darling ballerina's toes dancing on September 15th? A must see was the ballet theatre, Le Theatre de l'Opera. We're in for a real treat tonight, as it's an exclusive evening showcasing the very best of ballet talent. This, of course, meant breathtaking costumes - and likely the beginning of our tutus as we know them, evolving to give more freedom and grace in motion! Imagine the excitement, dear friends, the promise of beautiful, delicate movements just beginning!
I adore the way ballet costumes have developed over time - just as our lovely tutus do too! And what will you see at the show? Oh, lots of the Romantic Ballet, think tutus evolving for swirling waltzes and ethereal steps - the romantic ballet style is all about passion, a little drama, and of course a good dose of fairytale charm, too! We will all need to wear tutus, don't you think? Pink ones! You will need to come with me!
Now, I do love shopping for tutus! It's one of the great pleasures of being a ballerina blogger and I hope my pink tutus are going to make their mark in time as the great ballet tutus evolve! And now, I'm planning to head over to the dressmaker shops on the Rue de la Paix - my lovely time-travel-tutued legs will have to do a bit of extra running around, to see all the latest in elegant fashion, but tutus and clothes shopping are two things I always make time for! We can't stop for the new trends, darling, tutus and fashion go together like ballerina shoes and graceful movement.
Did you know...? Did you know, my sweet, tutu-loving readers, that ballet in this period (about the time our tutus were first born!) was completely changed by the 'Romantic Era?' And this new ballet trend led to a whole new fashion direction in ballet costumes! Imagine our lovely ballerina tutus just starting to take shape! That means tutus - all light and dreamy - and ballet is forever transformed. It's all thanks to the ballerina as a beautiful creature - think fairies, nymphs, and ethereal beings! Oh, how elegant! Think how much beauty! I love how we get inspiration from ballet all around the world!
Well, now, you lovely bunch of pink-tutu wearing friends! I think it’s time to travel home. Next #TutuTuesday we're whisked away on another fabulous time-travel-tutu adventure! Come and dance along with me! I love being on our blog site www.pink-tutu.com spreading the word, and of course, all the excitement of wearing pink tutus!
See you then, lovelies, for another magical journey back in time,
Emma.
