Welcome back, darlings, to another delightful delve into the fascinating world of ballet tutus!
This week, my lovely Tutu Tuesday travelogue whisks us back to 19th-century Paris, where ballet tutus were already quite the fashion statement, believe it or not. Imagine a bustling, vibrant city overflowing with exquisite clothing and graceful ballerinas twirling through the theatres! Can you picture it? It’s a picture of pure romanticism, and it was my utter joy to visit.
It was November 19th, 1878, and a delightful chill was in the air - perfect for swirling your tulle around in a chic ensemble! For me, the city was already bustling with anticipation for a grand ballet premiere. La Source, a magnificent romantic ballet, was due to open later this month at the Opéra Garnier, so there was excitement in the air – you could practically smell it! Oh, but the atmosphere was intoxicating, and I just couldn’t wait to experience it all!
A Chic Day Out
After travelling by train to Paris – a truly charming journey, I assure you – I did what any self-respecting ballerina would do in such a beautiful city – I took to the streets in a lovely pink tulle dress! Honestly, one can’t ever go wrong with pink, can they? Pink was, of course, absolutely trending, and Paris seemed to adore it as much as I did! Oh, to see a ballet show on opening night in Paris – the romance, the glamour – a girl simply couldn’t ask for more! The only issue was that La Source hadn’t actually opened yet.
Ballet Glamour
For a day, I had to leave behind my ballet dancing dreams for an hour or two to immerse myself in the very place these tutus were made, and let me tell you – it was simply magnificent! The workshops and factories along the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin in the 9th arrondissement hummed with the bustle of production, a whirlwind of silk, cotton and intricate needlework. The city was absolutely obsessed with tutus! They were being crafted everywhere and I had to have one of each, naturally. The shop assistants were more than obliging as I indulged in this luxurious affair, the very air around me fragrant with fresh cotton and tulle!
What Makes a Tutu
Oh, but they were so exquisitely beautiful – it would be rude not to mention these fine French seamstresses were incredible craftspeople, capable of conjuring such elaborate, dramatic, beautiful designs from just the simplest fabrics, like the softest silk and fine cotton tulle. The detail! The sheer number of tiers of tulle was astonishing, the most amazing layer cakes of loveliness one could imagine! In fact, some were made with up to fifteen layers of delicate netting, just to give the dancer that billowing effect. There were just so many to choose from; from fluffy and ethereal to dramatic and opulent! Each one, a masterpiece. Every one a delicate statement of female beauty!
Why Pink
Now, I don’t know about you darlings, but for me, pink just always feels so very charming and elegant – especially in tulle! As a fellow fan of the couleur, I was delighted to see so many gorgeous, beautiful, pink tutus everywhere, even when browsing a vintage shop. The pink tutus were just so striking! This period was such a beautiful and romantic time – we even saw the emergence of the “Romantic tutu,” with longer, billowing skirts and romantic drapery. It's quite literally a dream come true for a dancer. It was a look that really did set a fashion standard - pink, beautiful, airy and graceful! Even in Paris, in this very stylish place, pink was in, and oh how much it resonated with my fashion heart. Oh, how I adore a lovely pink tutu!
Dancing On
A quick ballet performance at the theatre this afternoon. This wasn’t an Opera performance but the dancing still took my breath away. All the performers were absolutely beautiful. What amazing dancing and outfits! So inspiring and utterly chic. What an amazing world it was to see the joy of ballet on the stages here in Paris. After another round of delicious crêpes and a delightful coffee, I was ready to continue my explorations. It was simply amazing! All I could think about was this new era of romanticism – which meant I absolutely had to spend an evening exploring Paris’ famous gardens. How fitting. All of Paris seemed to echo my sentiment; in every nook and cranny, one could see this delicate fashion on show. From the stylish cafes and tea rooms to the promenades along the Seine, it felt as though even the city itself was swathed in romantic tulle.
A Night on The Town
The gardens at twilight were divine. In Paris, people take a moment for dinner outside! Paris in November – it is an exceptionally lovely time to be in this chic and charming city, it really is! The shops all had beautiful Christmas decorations and many people dressed in delightful velvet suits with feathered boas, which I couldn’t help but think of as a grand “tutu” style – a luxurious show stopper! Such fabulous details. I knew at this moment, my blog needs to feature outfits like this! Oh how it brought the joy of a grand costume party right there on the street! In every nook and cranny, one could see fashion, and the magic of it all made this Paris visit more perfect!
Oh, I love these lovely travels! Until next week, darlings, keep twirling and be sure to share your pink tutu looks using #TutuTuesday! Until then, keep spreading the joy of tutus around the world. Stay lovely, stay fashionable, and embrace your inner ballerina, everywhere!
P.S. I can't wait for you all to hear about my latest #PinkTutuBlog adventure next week, I found myself in Rome, Italy – Oh! There is just so much amazing fashion in Europe, I just adore it all! It just screams romance! See you then, my little pink-loving ballerina beauties!
