Hello darlings! Emma here, your time-traveling ballerina blogger, ready to take you on a trip through the glorious history of the tutu! This week, we're heading back to 1879, the year the real fairytale began, and a year when fashion in general was undergoing quite a dramatic shift. Now, darling, grab a cuppa, settle down and let's get all sparkly!
It's 20th May, 1879 and oh, what a day it is! London is positively abuzz with news and excitement. Not only is the weather absolutely divine (finally some sunshine after that interminable spring rain!), but there's something extra special going on today at the Royal Opera House.
Just imagine - imagine being in that beautiful theatre. Can you picture those red velvet seats? And those glittering chandeliers, casting their light onto a stage alive with colour and passion! But the most captivating spectacle on that stage today? A magnificent ballerina by the name of Carlotta Grisi, absolutely dazzling in a tutu that will quite literally make your jaw drop.
You see, dears, the tutu, as we know it today, with its graceful layers of tulle that float and twirl as effortlessly as a ballerina herself, didn't just appear overnight. It was the product of years of fashion and ballet evolution. And Carlotta? She's a real queen of the dance world, darling. She practically invented the tutu!
We must travel back a few years, darling, back to 1841 to understand how all of this came to be. That year, a dancer named Marie Taglioni became a veritable sensation, a darling of the dance world, with her groundbreaking performance in La Sylphide. In this beautiful ballet, Marie's graceful, effortless movements were accented by a very specific costume: the tutu. This, of course, was not a full, sweeping tulle tutu that we would know today, but rather a shorter version that clung closer to the body, known as the "romantique tutu."
This, dears, was a revolution! This light, airy, almost weightless fabric offered the ballerina such freedom of movement. No more stiff, bulky corsets and long skirts! The stage became the ultimate playground, and the romantic tutu was the key to unlocking a dancer's true artistry and freedom.
Now, fast forward to 1879 and Carlotta Grisi, that absolute dancing queen. She takes the romance to another level with the creation of what we know today as the tutu. She experimented, pushing those boundaries further, and with each twirl, she brought new elegance and sophistication to the stage. This new version? Well, let's just say it had more tulle. Imagine the flutter, the delicate ripples of fabric catching the light, dancing around a ballerina's form, just so beautiful!
And speaking of beautiful, how are we dressing our best selves to mark this very important moment in tutu history, darlings? Well, today, we're taking inspiration from the most romantic tutu of all. Think pale pink, baby blue, whispery layers of delicate chiffon and tulle. Accessorise with beautiful pearls and ribbons - you simply can't go wrong with some statement bows! A delicate, yet timeless headband with just a hint of sparkle will elevate our look and give us just a touch of that glamorous Parisian feel. And oh, don't forget those little delicate dancing shoes.
And now, we'll end with my #TutuTip of the day: Embrace your femininity! Don't be afraid to express yourself through fashion and colour. Whether you’re taking a ballet class or just enjoying a picnic in the park, let your inner ballerina shine through!
And on that note, dears, I'm off to my ballet class! It's going to be such a wonderful day for dancing and spinning. Do come and visit my lovely site - www.pink-tutu.com - where you'll find even more #TutuTuesday fun, inspiring fashion and stories to bring the history of the tutu to life! And don't forget to follow me on all of my social channels, as we take you on another beautiful journey to meet more inspirational dancers and learn all about their stories!
See you next Tuesday for more tutu talk! Love and twirls, Emma xxx
