#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1876-05-02

Welcome, lovelies! It's Emma here, your pink tutu-wearing guide to all things ballet, fashion, and a touch of whimsy. It's #TutuTuesday, and this week, we're taking a delightful trip back in time to May 2nd, 1876! 🚂

Today marks post number 2314 on my www.pink-tutu.com blog, and I simply couldn't resist the chance to share a little historical tidbit with you all. After all, understanding the past helps us appreciate the elegant twirls of today, don't you think?

As you know, I'm absolutely besotted with tutus. I mean, what's more wonderful than swirling around in a cloud of tulle? They're the ultimate symbol of ballet, a whisper of a dance, and a symbol of grace and femininity that makes my heart sing. But even the most beloved of dance garments have a history, and today we're going to delve into that glorious past!

A Brief (and Perfectly Pink) History of the Tutu

Now, you may be surprised to learn that the tutu as we know it didn't just magically appear on stage one day. It had its own lovely little journey, much like the ballerina pirouette!

It all started back in the late 18th century. Back then, the ballerinas were wearing what was known as a demi-cou-de-pied, which was a long, flowing skirt that was meant to be graceful and, well, very demure! The 1800s were the era of romanticism, and a more feminine look was being sought. That’s where Marie Taglioni came in! Now, she wasn’t just any ballerina; she was one of the most famous dancers in history, the queen of the ballet blanc - which literally means ‘white ballet’. In the early 19th century, Marie literally revolutionised the tutu! She wanted to highlight her amazing dancing technique and ability to float effortlessly across the stage, so, for the 1832 performance of "La Sylphide" she had a special costume designed with an extra short, almost ankle-length tutu, that allowed her to showcase the agility of her legs and feet. Imagine the gasp in the theatre as this beautiful creation floated onstage – now that’s a style statement!

Now, the real game-changer was that this short and very airy garment allowed her to move in a way that was previously impossible! Imagine dancing without the drag of a long, full skirt. No more tripping, no more restriction. That short, bouncy tutu was a symbol of freedom!

The “Marie Taglioni style tutu” became a sensation, inspiring everyone in the world of ballet. You can imagine the queues outside the milliners, everyone wanted one. You just can't get enough of a tutu, can you? And, just like we now see in ballet productions all around the world, this new short and airy skirt was designed to have many layers, making it so very delicate. But remember, in those days they didn't have anything like nylon so it was probably extremely itchy! And, I am just imagining what it must have looked like as she was performing because I can guarantee it didn’t look as lovely and airy and floaty as they do now; even with the extra undergarments needed for extra shape and length.

The romantic ballet world is about delicacy, grace and effortless movements and Marie’s tutu was just the perfect creation for those. It allowed her to fly across the stage, with that graceful style she had become renowned for.

Now, you'll notice I said it was “almost ankle-length” – not quite the little frilly things we wear today. There were a few more layers of romanticism to add in first!

Enter the tutu’s first cousin…the ballet tutu-skirt!

Throughout the 19th Century and well into the 20th century the ballet world was constantly in flux, just like everything else. A short tutu allowed dancers to showcase their feet, but the mid-to-late 19th Century was also about the ballet tutu-skirt. Now this was a much more substantial tutu with lots and lots of tulle layers! I think they were just trying to give the tutu as much space to float around the dancer! The ballet tutu-skirt had a bit of a layered skirt and a long pointed bodice, much like the outfits dancers would wear when performing the beautiful “Sleeping Beauty” ballet for instance. And now, with the ballet tutu-skirt and its flowing skirt, you can truly imagine how magical those dances must have looked in the grandeur and glamour of the Victorian era theatres. Just like the “White Ballet” and those fabulous tutu skirts were all about pure elegance and lightness and grace, in every dance performance, just like their costumes!

Now, this may be a little disappointing to you if you like a little sparkle! These tutu-skirts didn’t have any beading or diamante; those wouldn’t come into the tutu fashion world until around 1915! Can you believe it! How lovely it must have been to twirl with so much fabric – the sensation of lightness with those tutu-skirts was magnificent!

We've come a long way since those days, but one thing that remains true is that the tutu is, and always will be, a symbol of everything beautiful about ballet. It embodies grace, freedom, and artistic expression, making every performance magical and truly unique.

A Fashionable Timeline!

1832: The "almost ankle-length" tutu gets its debut on stage! 1840s: Demi-tutu – or mid thigh height – becomes a favourite. 1910: Enter the first sparkling beaded tutu! 1920s: More beading, and we get a little bolder in colour! 1940s: Some real artistic flair comes to the tutu!

The Future is Pink!

As you know, I am obsessed with the colour pink – it’s simply divine! As a true #TutuTuesday blogger, I find the history of the tutu utterly fascinating. Just imagine, even before our beloved tutu came onto the stage, all those ladies performing with these gorgeous gowns with beautiful intricate fabric and delicate stitching. A little sad because they missed out on those wonderful ballerina tutu-skirts, but we have some fantastic new designs and exciting creations coming up in the world of fashion and design in the near future – but keep your eyes peeled on my blog for all the latest fashion updates. Now, you are definitely going to want to grab a hot beverage and maybe a lovely pink cake and read this post - and let’s hope we will all be celebrating our very own #TutuTuesday this May 2nd with pink!

*As always, lovelies, please leave a comment with your favourite tutu moments or fashion ideas for our #TutuTuesday! What is your favorite color for a tutu? And, I absolutely adore hearing about your favorite shows so don’t hesitate to tell me which ones are in your repertoire! *

See you next Tuesday for more delightful stories from the world of dance, fashion, and all things pink!

Much love,

Emma xx