#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1875-07-27

Welcome, darlings, to #TutuTuesday, the day we celebrate all things tutu! I'm your favourite Derbyshire lass, Emma, and today we're taking a journey back in time to July 27th, 1875, a very special date indeed. Why? Because this is the date we're diving deep into the evolution of the ballet tutu!

I know you're thinking "Emma, surely tutus haven't always existed?" Well, darling, that's where you'd be oh so wrong! Today, I'm showing you why tutus aren't a new trend, but an iconic part of dance history, a fashion symbol that has gracefully twirled its way through the ages, and one that has never lost its enchantment!

It's blog post #2274 here at www.pink-tutu.com and I am so excited to whisk you back in time. Remember to grab your fanciest cup of tea and a biscuit or two (we must have treats for a journey into the past, don't you think?), then put on your favourite tutu. Why, just imagine, darling, if this post finds its way into the annals of time, it will be like our own little ballet show in 1875! We'll be a part of this history! Let's get whisked away to Paris, the heart of ballet!

After another whirlwind adventure using my trusty vintage train ticket (I adore the scent of the railway carriages, it truly evokes the romance of times past!) I’ve made my way to Paris, a city that absolutely shimmers with the romance of French charm. I've always found French ballet to be utterly charming! So, you can imagine how happy I am to be back in its magnificent heart!

Just imagine, dear readers, a city brimming with Parisian glamour and charm - cobbled streets and elegant cafes, boudoirs filled with beautiful fabrications - ah, such exquisite style! Today's tutu inspiration comes from the grand Parisian Opera!

Now, you all know about the gorgeous ballet shoes (ballet slippers for you non-ballet readers) and that glorious pointe shoe work that defines the graceful ballet steps – but those magnificent dresses! My word, have you ever seen such loveliness!

You know me, darlings - I’m fascinated by those elegant tutus! Those romantic skirts were much, much different than the tutus of today! They didn't appear in their short form like today's. They began their journey as very different dresses! The most popular skirt style of the era, before ballet began to really showcase its own style, was the "Crinoline" - that bell shaped skirt which we see in Victorian photographs - just gorgeous, so much movement and flair! But then came the Bustle! Can you imagine trying to move around with a huge padded bustle behind you! I bet it took a special skill set just to dance with a big cushion glued to your derriere. Can you picture how awkward and difficult it would be to twirl! It just wouldn’t do for graceful ballerinas, don't you think? Thankfully, change was just around the corner, darling!

You can thank the ballerina Marie Taglioni. She was a stunning beauty, so full of charisma. Marie truly was one of the leading ballerinas, not just of Paris, but the world! And her grace on stage – Oh! You would have had me weeping from happiness with a single dance move! It was because of her and the many other ballets performed by this glorious group of dancers that the ballet skirt finally began to shed its busyness and change for something that allowed these exquisite dancers to move freely on stage! What we know as a ballet tutu is slowly starting to take shape – it was just too impractical and inconvenient for ballet dancers to be confined by layers of fabric in all that drapery. It’s just not meant to twirl, my dear! And the ballerina needed the ultimate form of expression through movement!

You know those beautifully long flowing dresses - "Romantic ballets" are often given a "flowing skirt" - it's almost like the skirts had an idea - "If I were lighter, if I just were more whimsical, then maybe, just maybe, I could have my own grand stage performance! And then, *pow! The tulle arrived on the scene! A lovely airy, ethereal tulle that let these graceful ballerinas pirouette with even greater ease, with the gracefulness of an angel! Imagine how joyous and wonderful this was! Ballet skirts transformed in an elegant flurry of fabrics and design - they embraced tulle with the joyous celebration of a fairytale come to life. Oh, how I love tulle - it’s the epitome of dreamy fashion, darlings!

So, you see, tutus were never really a trend that arrived overnight. They have evolved, gracefully, just like those stunning ballerina movements we love so much! Today, when you think of ballet in the past, your mind wanders to tutus. Well, I'm telling you, my dears, this is true, these garments are essential! They’ve changed with time – with each trend! But their elegant charm and graceful forms continue to be some of the most elegant items ever made for the art of ballet - and today, here on #TutuTuesday, we give them all a cheer!

Now, just imagine what a tutu from 1875 would have looked like! It probably didn't resemble a tutu like today's ballerinas. They were far more dramatic and ornate! Layers of netting, intricate embroidery, sparkling embellishments - truly a spectacle to behold, a work of art just waiting to take the stage! Just think about the exquisite artistry and skill behind making these beautiful tutus! Imagine hours, or perhaps days and weeks of dedicated work that goes into bringing these works of beauty to life! We can all agree those exquisite creations - are not to be missed, darlings, and we are lucky to have their historical impact!

The ballerinas would twirl on the stage - you would see not a beautiful person wearing a tutu. You'd be seeing a living art, the story woven in motion!

And we can all agree - we’ve never tired of the fashion that is a ballerina on the stage, twirling through a romantic narrative.

As I gaze out the window of my Parisian cafe – and enjoy my little afternoon delight of coffee, fresh pastries and my notebook - it’s easy for me to see, those dancers on stage weren’t the only people who understood that pink is a symbol of joy, femininity, and grace.

And it's also true for the world's fashion scene. Pink is just one of those fantastically alluring colours - It's all around us. Just think - a bouquet of vibrant flowers. The pink of a summer sunset. The softness of a baby’s skin! Oh, so charming! Now let's dive into this pink love affair! And bring those gorgeous Parisian pink tutu looks back with me to Derbyshire – my little hometown! Think how great the Derby Arts Centre would be if it was awash in pink. Think what it would look like! Oh darling! I must find the most pinkest pink to set the trend!

Well, this is a lovely little piece of fashion history I’ve uncovered. So next time you take a trip to Paris – or maybe visit one of the other splendid theatre houses – just imagine what was taking place on that stage so long ago! And what stories were told. We have so much to be thankful for and much to celebrate. So many beautiful ballerina moments and graceful histories have been built on this legacy.

My tutu is a reminder of the lovely times past, and the moments we can live for today and enjoy those little whimsical twirls that make life oh so much fun. It’s truly a wonderful world, darlings! Now let's all put on our favorite tutu, whether pink or any color you can imagine, and go out there, twirl a little and enjoy the show. Until next Tuesday - stay fashionable my dears! 💖🩰

(Remember to head over to www.pink-tutu.com next week for more delightful historical explorations and more #TutuTuesday posts!)