Hello my dearest tutu lovers! It's Emma here, and as always, I'm bringing you a fabulous bit of tutu history! Today is Tuesday, the 4th of January, 1881 (don't worry, you can't forget the date with me!), and my trusty time-travelling tutu has landed me right here in… Paris! Oh, Paris! It's simply divine, and I must confess, it feels quite fitting to be here on the topic of tutus, given this city's close association with the art of ballet.
But before we start gossiping about ballerinas and the latest trends, let's rewind the clock a bit.
This is a pivotal time in the world of dance, my lovelies. We are in the era of romanticism and Marie Taglioni, a ballerina known for her ethereal movements and iconic white tutu. The image of that long, flowing white tutu, light as a feather, has become synonymous with ballet ever since! And though those delicate tutus weren't pink, my darlings, well, they're just screaming for a splash of colour, wouldn't you agree?
(Spoiler alert, darling – I'm bringing the pink tutu into fashion eventually. We can all dream big, right?!)
Right now, the focus is on Opera and Ballet houses. They're absolutely thriving, with glittering performances, beautiful costumes and amazing orchestras! (A girl can't resist a little musical theatre, now can she?) It's here where you find the truly dazzling displays of movement and the dramatic costumes, from which my dear tutus eventually sprang forth!
But even in those early days, tutus weren’t all about the dramatic. You wouldn't believe how practical they are for those leaps and twirls! I simply must show you what a real tutu can do. Imagine whirling around a grand Parisian ballroom – pure magic!
What did the tutu-world look like back in 1881?
Well, for the moment, tutus are largely restricted to professional ballerinas, my darlings, but this doesn't mean we can’t admire them from afar. And even more importantly, we can start a movement to wear tutus every day! The time has come, my lovelies, to bring the tutu into everyday life! It's all about embracing the beauty and elegance that a well-made, wonderfully vibrant tutu can offer!
Of course, 1881 might have been too early for me to whip out my pink tutu in full fashion-forward glory, but it was certainly the era when my dream could have been imagined! Imagine all the people walking down the street in Paris, even the ladies in those tight corsets, wearing a fabulous pink tutu! I simply wouldn't feel out of place amongst all that romantic, glamorous, exciting energy, I'm sure of it.
However, even as the days get longer and we journey deeper into the exciting, transformative year of 1881, a small girl from Derbyshire dreaming of a world full of pink tutus is bound to find some inspirational trends that we can use to start our revolution.
For now, dear friends, remember the stories behind these exquisite pieces of dance history, because each fold of fabric, each shimmer of silk, each ruffle and swish holds a story just waiting to be told. I’ll be back next week to tell you all about it!
Now, until then, go forth and dance! Be bold, be brilliant, and wear your Pink Tutu proudly!
Yours truly,
Emma
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