Hello darlings! It's Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood tutu-enthusiast, and welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! It's Tuesday, which means it's time to dust off our ballet shoes and travel back in time for a little #TutuTuesday history!
Today we're taking the train all the way to… well, almost the fin de siècle, or end of the century, as you stylish folks would say. Let's step back to September 28th, 1880, and delve into the delightful world of ballet history, tutu style!
I'm currently perched at the Palais Garnier in Paris, surrounded by the heady scent of perfume and the murmur of fashionable society. Yes, I managed to squeeze in a marvellous show by the Paris Opera Ballet last night. You see, I don't just love tutus, I love a good ballet performance! This one featured La Source, which I just had to see after reading about the ballet and costumes! It's not quite the full-on romantic ballet era, not yet, but it is getting closer.
Oh my dear readers! Do you know, even back then, the Palais Garnier was already a treasure trove of fabulous outfits, all thanks to our darling Charles Frederick Worth. If the name rings a bell, it's because he was the one who pretty much invented haute couture! Now there's a name to remember! I would just die for a glimpse into his design studio. Can you even imagine the colours, the silks, the laces? It was a magical time, and I can't even tell you how much I covet the exquisite designs of that era! I even caught sight of his favourite muse, la Belle Otero, flitting by with such elan – what a goddess!
But you're here for the tutus, aren't you, my loves? So let's talk about that magical dancewear, the essence of every ballerinas' wardrobe!
Back in the 1880s, ballet tutus were moving away from the dramatic pouter pigeon look, and evolving into something much more elegant. Imagine swirling skirts – they'd sweep and float just above the dancer's knee, giving them room to twirl and pirouette, oh so elegantly. We're still very much in the romantic tutu age here, but the new shapes meant freedom of movement for the dancers. It's what helped to make ballet so visually breathtaking, you know.
As we approach the 20th century, ballet would embrace new shapes, new colours, new ways of movement – it would be all thanks to beautiful, bold, and breathtaking tutus. Now that's some exciting ballet history for you!
You know, dear readers, as I look around Paris, I see echoes of these 1880s designs everywhere! From the floaty skirts and the vibrant hues on the fashionably dressed ladies of the era, it's hard to deny the influence of these tutus.
Remember, there's always something beautiful and inspiring to be found in the history of fashion. And it just shows how much our fashion-forward foremothers inspired the designs we see today! I must pop down to a millinery later. Just to admire their exquisite work and maybe treat myself to a new hat… you know, to complete my Parisienne ensemble!
My #TutuTuesday recommendation? Pop on your most flamboyant, sparkly, Pink Tutu (that's a good excuse to wear your very best one!), put on a lovely Parisian café soundtrack, and dream of grand opera houses and swirling tutus. Until next time, darling!
See you next week!
Lots of love,
Emma
P.S. Don't forget to join the Pink Tutu Revolution and let everyone know that Pink Is Power!
P.P.S. I've just discovered an incredible secret – the best way to see how modern and fabulous the tutus of the 1880s are is to watch footage of La Esmeralda ballet, it has this divine dramatic scene of Esmeralda with a truly spectacular tutu, a scene they're filming in Paris in August of next year. I just had to come here early and grab tickets to that one!
