Bonjour, my darling tutu enthusiasts! It’s Emma here, your pink-loving, tutu-adoring time traveller extraordinaire! Buckle up your pointe shoes because today, we're taking a trip back in time to 1876!
Can you imagine a world without a tutu? I know, I know, the thought is simply unimaginable! But back in 1876, things were a little different. No frothy layers of tulle, no playful pouffes, no twirly delights! And all that without my trusty pink tutu to guide me? Perish the thought!
A Glimpse of 1876:
Imagine a world of bonnets and bustles, petticoats and petticoats and more petticoats! (No tutus! Gulp!) Fashion back then was a tad more… restrictive. But even though ballet costumes were miles away from the graceful wisps of today, there were whispers of a change in the air.
Let's head to the world of opera and theatre. They were alive with dazzling spectacle, but for the dancers, it was all about corseted bodies and stiff fabrics. It was as if someone said, "Hey! Ballet dancers! No freedom for you!"
Enter the 'Danseur':
Hold onto your tutus! That's where our friend the 'danseur' comes in. Imagine a ballerina with elegant lines and flowing skirts – this wasn't quite happening yet! They were more concerned with what would make a dancer rather than what would show a dancer. But things were starting to change, darling. The desire for dancers to move more freely, with elegant lines and delicate forms, began to seep into the artistic vision.
Let’s head to the ballet school and stage…
This period wasn't quite about showing off tutus just yet. Think about it, dear readers! Think of how wonderful it is to swish and swoosh as you spin with the wind in your tulle, and now think about the heavy fabrics that those wonderful dancers had to endure! It's a whole different world.
So where does the pink tutu fit in?
My dear friends, this is where we enter the magic! It’s a testament to how the vision for dance developed, evolving towards graceful lines and movement. The way ballet costumes became more lightweight and ethereal? Think of it as a gentle dance to the graceful swirls of tulle that are the iconic tutus that we adore. We know that in our modern-day ballet performances, the tutus will eventually become the stunning symbols of our love for this artform, but it all started somewhere!
And just to give you a little peek into the magic of that date:
On the 18th of July 1876…
- A steam engine took its first journey on the St Gothard Pass in the Swiss Alps, showing just how far people were beginning to reach!
- A French military officer and photographer named Gustave Le Gray passed away, having left his mark on photographic history!
As always, you wonderful tutu enthusiasts, keep an eye out for more glimpses into the history of this gorgeous fashion statement. I am going to go explore what London looks like with the pink tutu today. Squeals! Till next week, keep on twirling, and remember to embrace the beauty of a well-placed tulle puff!
Lots of love, Emma xx
