Hello my dearest Tutu Lovers! Emma here, your resident tutu-obsessed time traveller! I'm just back from a whirl through the enchanting world of 1880s Paris, and oh my, I simply have to share my latest finds with you!
You know how I'm always saying that tutus are the epitome of fashion? Well, prepare yourselves for a delightful journey back in time to when the tutu wasn't a tutu at all, but something even more fabulous!
You might think that tutus were around as long as ballet itself, but that's simply not the case! Back in 1880, ballet dancers were all about the Romantic Tutu, a gloriously billowing, knee-length creation, perfect for soaring across the stage. Imagine a cloud of soft, gossamer tulle – and let's not forget the essential waistband, a true fashion statement in itself!
I'm actually in Paris, the heart of ballet! Paris was the epicentre of ballet in the 1880s, a city that pulsated with creativity. My time travel arrival landed me in front of the Opéra Garnier. Isn't that such a wonderful name! Imagine all those glamorous Parisians, the most stylish people in the world!
Oh, what a thrill to witness a ballet at the Opéra Garnier! These performers were true prima ballerinas - elegant, powerful, and radiating passion. They really brought the story to life! It was a little more complicated back then: ballerinas used their gestures to tell the stories and, you've guessed it - it was all in French. Oh, the stories that they were telling through their art - full of love, hope and, yes, a bit of sadness too.
This brings me to my favourite ballet from the period – *“La Bayadère.” * A story of love, betrayal and sacrifice - set in an opulent Indian setting, and that's where the story really comes into its own. This romantic tutu looked absolutely fabulous against a background of gold, reds, jewels, silks and velvet.
One of the first dancers to make this look really famous was a Russian dancer named Anna Pavlova. My time travel was such a lucky find because I found the newspaper announcements of the ‘“La Bayadère"” premiere here at the Opéra Garnier in Paris in December of 1880. Imagine: the costumes, the sets - so romantic!
And talking of romantic, that's precisely what I found in a vintage dress shop just off the Boulevard de la Madeleine. Oh, those delicate lace frills! It was simply irresistible! I had to try it on – just think of the waltzing! In those days, women really knew how to create the right impression and you know what, it's something we could learn from, you know, like really learning the craft of feminine elegance.
I imagine my Tutu Tuesday audience might love the 1880s! A bit of glamour and grandeur. And then we come to the dress - imagine layers of tulle, cascading in romantic folds around your legs, swirling and swaying as you glide. I mean, who could ask for anything more! There's something truly inspiring about the romanticism of this era.
Now, back to Paris. I also had a look at a book by the costumier who is said to have introduced the tulle to Paris. The ballet mistress, Marie Taglioni's, teacher Carlo Blasis wrote a very influential book back then called "The Code of Terpsichore." Well, the thing is it took me back to all the training I've had. Back then, they focused so much on precision and elegance, a little more like the ballerinas of the 1800s. There were specific ways of lifting the leg, of performing every turn. Back then it was all about perfection. Now I'm sure the dancers back in my own time would have been very good dancers, but I wouldn't want to know! They don't do the training that dancers back in those days went through -
Let me tell you about my #OOTD !
Imagine a dusty pink Romantic Tutu - the ultimate Romantic Tutu, just as you would have seen them in Paris in the 1880s. I've paired it with my new lavender blouse and lace-up ballerina shoes - both hand-picked in a quaint Parisian boutique! And I simply can't resist a feather boa to top it all off, for that extra touch of flair!
This whole trip has inspired me to embrace my inner Romantic ballerina! Let’s embrace elegance, style and femininity! It's amazing to see how far ballet has come since then, yet the foundations are so strong. So this week, my Tutu Tuesdays friends, go on, embrace your inner romanticism, try on your best ballerina attire.
Let’s make a splash with pink tutus everywhere!
Don't forget to check back next week for more time-traveling adventures and Tutu-licious discoveries!
Happy Tutu-ing, Emma
