Bonjour mes chéries! Emma here, your resident pink tutu-clad time traveller, back from a grand trip to the most beautiful of all cities: Paris! Oh my word, the style! The atmosphere! And did I tell you about the ballet?!
It’s a brand new Tuesday, so that means it’s #TutuTuesday time! Get your teacups ready, darling, as I whisk you away to 1874, a date brimming with tutu-licious history. Buckle your ballet shoes!
You know, this was a really important year in ballet history. It wasn’t just about beautiful tutus (although, oh honey, the tutus were simply divine!), but about groundbreaking techniques that shook up the ballet world and led to some seriously magnificent dances.
We all know the legendary ballerinas like Marie Taglioni, who were masters of lightness and grace. They revolutionized ballet with their use of "pointe shoes," those amazing works of art that allowed ballerinas to literally dance on air! Well, darling, in 1874, a new, almost unheard of ballet movement called the Russian Ballet started sweeping through Europe like a beautiful ballet waltz. These Russians were the new queens and kings of dance and their dancers were taking the stage by storm!
I tell you, I absolutely loved the feeling of those big, magnificent theatres - all gas-lit and ornate with those plush red velvet seats! There I was, wearing my finest pink tutu (my favourite – with little, little pink flowers), squeezing into that Parisian theatre in my fancy little gloves (they were matching my tutu, naturally!) and waiting with bated breath to see the brilliance unfold on stage.
In Paris, ballet was booming in 1874. The Opéra de Paris, which is still considered the most grandest of grand ballet theatres today, was a hub of creativity. Oh, and there was a show called Coppélia - everyone was talking about it, my dears! And honestly, once I saw it myself… well, I was practically skipping back to my hotel! A real-life love story on stage with a doll, just wonderful! Sigh Sigh. I had the most amazing hot chocolate afterward, with whipped cream – it felt very much like being on top of the world.
I tell you, I was living my best life! So much to see and so many tutus to wear. Oh, and shopping, darling, the shopping was beyond! As you know, it's a truth universally acknowledged that tutus simply adore fabric. Paris, back then, was all about luxurious satins, exquisite silk, and lace! I couldn't resist a new dress with lace edging to wear with my newest tulle pink tutu - very Marie Antoinette, darling! Très Chic.
Now, if you are going to travel back in time like I did (it’s super fun and everyone should try it at least once, if they can), be sure to wear a lovely hat – they are de rigueur! And make sure your boots are laced up and fitted, darling. The railway is quite grand but you need your feet to be prepared for walking across all those beautiful cities. But oh darling, you have to take a ride on the train. Honestly, just picture it! It was all plush velvets and elegant ladies (mostly wearing wonderful tutus!), even if the railway carriages were sometimes filled with smoke.
Speaking of smoke, have you ever seen the smog in London? I found myself wandering around all the antique shops, and let me tell you, I did quite well - a lovely velvet green top hat, darling!
You know, being a time travelling pink-tutu blogger takes a lot of work, especially when I'm flitting around through the ages ( I mean, just imagine doing all this while in a full tutu) but darling, I love sharing this little bit of history with you all. This is how we keep the magic of ballet alive.
Anyway, my darling little ballerinas, it's time for me to prepare my latest time travel – this week I'm off to Italy to catch a glimpse of the fabulous Italian opera of 1874 and hopefully buy a new sparkly top hat with pink velvet ribbons, but first, I am off to find myself the most delicious strawberry macarons (yum, yum, yum!), and you must know, a hot cuppa tea is just perfect for settling into a tutu! I’ll be back next Tuesday with more stories about tutus. Don’t forget to check the blog – I want everyone to wear pink tutus, even the boys !
And now, a little twirl for all of you my lovely friends! See you all next week! Bisous.
Emma, xx.
