#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1879-07-15

Hello darling tutu lovers! Emma here, back with you on #TutuTuesday! Can you believe it's already blog post number 2481? Where does the time go?! This week I'm absolutely thrilled to whisk us back to 1879 - the year the world was captivated by the most incredible ballet in Paris, darling! Now, I'm not just saying this because it's the year my absolute favourite colour – pink – was chosen by everyone as the most popular colour in fashion, which made tutus even more gorgeous! But because this year saw the premiere of Coppélia by Léo Delibes!

As you can imagine, darling, this fashion-obsessed ballerina had to travel right back in time, to the glittering heart of Parisian ballet. Oh, I have a real soft spot for trains, the perfect way to watch the world drift past, especially when you’re wrapped up in the finest silk and adorned with feathers, because let’s be honest, a girl’s gotta travel in style, don’t you think? And Paris... sigh, it’s just dreamy with its cobbled streets, cafes, and oh the clothes! The boudoirs overflowing with swirling silk dresses just begging to be danced in, the enchanting hats adorned with delicate plumes! Oh, what a dream!

Once I arrived in Paris, darling, the first thing I did, of course, was check out the latest designs and swoon over the bouquets of blooms* peeking out of every *boudoir - pink roses, fragrant lilacs, delicate peonies… so very *delectable! The beauty of fashion back then, it really embraced the natural, and I adore how our tutus mirrored the elegance of a natural bloom – so graceful, oh, so pretty!

But on to the ballet! Coppélia, as it premiered in 1879, was truly a triumph. This ballet's beauty, darling, lies in the delightful tale of innocent love, a mistaken identity, and of course, captivating dancing!

Imagine a world where the prettiest porcelain dolls, as lifelike as they can be, were the objects of our admiration! This is the magic of Coppélia, a delightful tale of Franz, a young man who is madly in love with Coppélia, this beautiful and enigmatic doll. Now, she's no ordinary doll, she is the work of Doctor Coppelius, a wise old scientist, who creates her with an amazing mechanism, making her as lifelike as can be. The trickery! The love! * This is where the plot *thickens! Our darling Swanilda, Franz’s true love, believes him to be smitten with this inanimate porcelain doll! To prove her point, Swanilda steals the key from the Doctor, and uses the mechanism, bringing the beautiful porcelain doll to life! The music, the dance, the emotion, oh darling, it's like stepping into a whirlwind of fairytale, a captivating ballet for the ages!

This story simply had to have gorgeous tutus, darling! Now, here’s a fun fact about the ballet: Coppélia is a bit different, and has something for everyone. Not only do we have the beautifully elaborate tutus in the grand pas de deux that exquisitely blend silk, lace and intricate embroideries (that was pure heaven to watch!), but we also have the traditional layered tutu worn by our darling Swanilda, that gives it a sense of light, whimsical innocence!

For a young, independent woman like Swanilda, this ballet makes such a statement. It was all about her bravery in the face of danger, the delights of discovery, and the power of friendship - a beautiful, feminine message to be sure! I can definitely relate!

The beautiful layered tutus Swanilda wears? Now, that’s where the magic begins to unfold. These tutus are whimsical, full of layers, the fabric cascading like fairy dust, with just the right amount of fluffy tulle to make you look and feel completely beautiful! Just picture it, darling, imagine these beautiful dancers, gliding around in these exquisite costumes, every step telling a story, oh it’s simply breathtaking!

These tutus, darling, are such an enchanting statement about the era - a celebration of innocence and creativity. But darling, there’s more! There’s a fascinating *evolution happening here, too, in the world of ballet and tutus. These tutus were often created by dancers themselves! They were a way for ballerinas to showcase their creativity, to tell their own stories. I always love seeing this *artistic touch come through. It adds a very special touch, darling, doesn’t it?

And don’t forget the color palette, it was pink, darling! From soft rose to deeper hues, it totally mirrored the beauty and feminine power of ballet and tutus at the time. These were not just any ordinary costumes, darling. These were powerful symbols of feminine grace, and I truly adore the story each tutu tells - like secrets whispering on the wind.

And then there’s fashion, darling, always so captivating! Just like the ballerinas themselves, the audiences in the theatres wore the most exquisite fashion. Oh, what elegance they wore. And can we talk about the hats, darling? Imagine veiled hats, bedecked with ribbons, silk flowers, feathers and gorgeous gems, all complimenting these beautiful gowns that cascaded around the stage. Oh, darling, every woman back then, was truly a vision. They *adored silk, velvet, tulle and lace. Oh darling, they knew how to make an entrance, they certainly did. And let’s not forget the boots – ankle boots with gorgeous sparkling jewels, darling, it was a fashion fever dream. It’s almost like these ladies, like the tutus, were on stage themselves. And of course, I was right there with them, in my dainty pink tutu, embracing every moment.

This era of tutus is incredibly special to me, and so I absolutely had to take a trip back to see it for myself! As you know, darling, my travels are fueled by the energy of the stage, by my love for the beautiful ballet! It was truly a treat to watch these stories unfold on the stage. Coppélia has stayed with me since that day!

Now, my darling tutu lovers, I am excited for you to embrace your own inner Swanilda this week. Let's twirl, let’s create our own fairytale, and of course, darling, let's *wear pink! Yes! This week's tutu mission: embrace your own creativity and wear something that sparkles like the lights on a stage! You never know, you just might create your own beautiful ballet story.

Stay lovely, and remember to twirl into the week! Don’t forget to check back next week for a new blog post on our website at www.pink-tutu.com!

Lots of Love, Emma xoxo