Hello darlings! Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com! This is Emma, your resident pink-loving, tutu-adoring, ballerina-at-heart, time-traveling, fashion-forward blogger, here to share a little piece of ballet history with you all! Today, it's #TutuTuesday, and that means, of course, a journey back in time! But before we start our grand tour, can you guess where I've ended up this time?
Give you a hint - think swirling skirts, elegant jumps, graceful movements... And let's be honest, it has to have gorgeous Parisian charm, because frankly darling, where else would I find myself, am I right?
Right, I can't keep you waiting. It's 1881 - that's over 140 years ago, oh my! We're right here in the City of Lights - Paris, France - which means... cue the dramatic reveal … We're about to uncover a real tutu gem - one of the most captivating, beautiful performances to ever grace a Parisian stage, darling!
This special Tuesday falls smack-dab on the 5th of July! Imagine if I could snap a picture with my fancy new Victorian camera – a real must-have item this season, by the way – to capture the energy and excitement surrounding this date. The most glorious performance – a show stopping, revolutionary, even - one that would forever alter the very way people thought about the dance, even I wouldn't be able to resist an appearance in my fanciest pink tulle… It wouldn’t have to be exactly the same style, but I can assure you the silhouette would have been ahem pretty similar (the best things about fashions – they always come back round).
Oh! You don't know why today's performance was such a big deal, you ask? My goodness me – how to even start to describe this truly memorable and revolutionary piece, oh my goodness! This was the first performance of La Boutique Fantastique, created by Léon Bakst, which brought a brand-new, revolutionary tutu to the stage, you see? It's the very first tutu that I could wear – a long and flowing garment with a fitted bodice, and oh my darling! such flowing movement - you really get to see it billow in all its glory as the dancers whirl and twirl with grace. I told you we’re right here in the City of Lights – *I might have to pop along to a shop tomorrow to find myself a little pink replica. I simply must, *it's going to perfectly compliment my latest outfit - the one with the puff sleeves...
Speaking of my outfits darling! Remember to look out for a post next week with an exclusive guide to your new Parisian ballet inspired look – get the look for less and more! – for this post is only meant to touch on tutu history for this extra special date – we are here for ballet history! This special performance at the Palais Garnier in Paris brought a new vision, an utterly unique style to the ballet stage. But let's dive in deeper and get to know the beautiful ballerina, the dancer in her stunning, revolutionary, Parisian Tutu, before we go shopping... I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that it takes a very strong dancer indeed to be able to bring these moves – a whirlwind of delicate dance and breathtaking technique!
Oh, by the way – did I mention I got to travel on the train to get here? Oh, It is an utter delight – this week’s travel journey. Such comfort – the scenery passing by on the tracks; even more elegant carriages with luxurious upholstery; not to mention that you always find a charming gentleman to share delicious snacks with at the very nicest little cafes – truly my perfect day out – just lovely!
It is a true triumph for the ladies in their tutus! Oh, darling, I am quite beside myself – this particular ballet dancer - our leading lady today! - had no time for boring costumes, my dearest reader – and she’s certainly inspired more than just me! To think – even I feel the need to embrace bold colors (especially a deep pink) – after this post. Such incredible grace - it’s a true wonder of dancing history and it's all in a Tutu… I think I know what to wear to the show tomorrow... ( I am very keen to try my hand at the spinning arabesque.) It's always been the way of ballerinas and their gorgeous tutus - to dare and to *delight in fashion, beauty, and daring artistic expression – this is ballet's magic! *
So now, if you'll indulge me darling, let's journey through this ballet history! Oh, my goodness – don't worry my lovelies, you do not have to do a single 'penche' (Oh darling you do remember my love for French!) to discover all the secrets of the first Tutu's evolution.
Here are some historical facts for a #TutuTuesday:
La Boutique Fantastique – you know darling – The Fabulous Shop! – is a ballet based on the traditional poupée (Oh dear such adorable little dolls, my lovely readers. I do adore the very best ones – especially if they are hand made!) - but these dolls – are nothing short of a dancing treat – imagine a dance with your favorite doll, my dear readers! This particular ballet, created by the visionary Russian artist Léon Bakst for the Ballet Russes in Paris is all about the fun of dancing dolls. Now, it is considered a delightful little show with beautiful costuming! The entire dance is a lovely little visual feast. Just think – how exciting that a story with this level of detail and design has inspired people for such a long time, darling! I dare you not to imagine your dolls performing *your own boutique fantasque, darling! Oh, such lovely stories... *We could make one up ourselves if you fancy, you lovely reader... I just know that our tutu stories would make a fantastic children's ballet - or maybe it’s a play…
Léon Bakst is truly the ‘star’ in this amazing story – ( oh did I mention he was the visionary behind the iconic Ballet Russes in Paris?! *It's all very *grand and very Parisian, I assure you). *It is he who designed the fabulous La Boutique Fantastique tutu in 1881! And guess what darling – the style is what makes *the real magic. This is the special ballet dress - the tutu! - *that would change fashion history. Remember, the style of this *magnificent dress would revolutionise fashion - with its loose and flowy appearance (such graceful dancing!), creating a real dreamy effortless elegance and inspiring the more romantic styles of dress later in the 1880s and 90s. Can you imagine the dresses my dearest in this time period? Think lace, think layers and lots and lots of flouncy detailing – very charming! This beautiful and flowing La Boutique Fantastique* tutu was really the starting point for the long *romantic tutu – the one you know so well – a style that you often see me in. Isn't it magical! It is, I assure you – the inspiration *does have an undeniable magic all its own. Oh dear! Let’s not forget our little shop – where did Léon Bakst find the inspiration to make the first romantic tutu! You guessed it darling - from dolls’ clothes - but who would have guessed it? They truly do say fashion repeats itself, my dears – that inspiration for fashion is ever - present – and how utterly charming too.
Léon Bakst's tutu is, in fact, so incredibly special, darling, that its popularity continued through to the 1930s and 40s! Yes, my lovelies – it really was that inspirational, darling! – the very inspiration for the beautiful and delicate tutus we know and love in the classic *"The Nutcracker" and "Swan Lake", and *every single ballerina in between! * So next time you’re looking at those flowing, ethereal lines, remember, you have *Léon Bakst to thank for them! * Now, doesn't that feel nice? *The lovely history, that beautiful *romantic tutu – such an important legacy in fashion – how lovely!
Oh, darling! But that's not all! If that doesn't make you adore your own tutu collection! - how about a dash of intrigue? Well, in fact darling - this beautiful style of tutu - the style of dress that revolutionised dance - was so special it inspired, and, it became a part of *ballet and *life as well. There were those in the world of ballet and fashion who despised it! I know darling – it is truly hard to believe. Such a daring design – but, oh well… There was a great deal of controversy over it -* they did not like the new, the ‘modern’ – the ballet dress they called *The Romanticism. That, however, didn't stop the *wonderful ballerinas of the era – not at all – oh dear, my dear readers… How dainty the dance looks to our eyes today when you think of these, perhaps, rather strong-willed and courageous ballerinas of 1881 (such brave and graceful ladies)! - dancing with an air of ‘new’ elegance and revolutionary movement! I can’t imagine the dance floor!
– What happened, my lovelies?! I think you can see, however - the beautiful flow – the light movement in all it’s elegant beauty – It was really the style of this special long and flowing Romanticism ballet skirt - how lovely to be named for a period of creative, historical flourishing and change - it revolutionised* ballet fashion as well! Oh my goodness darling! - *it *had to! This is how *ballet and fashion went hand in hand in such a magnificent and artistic era – Oh, it was a really fabulous and influential time in fashion and in dance – truly a magnificent period, you see… – so that means the magic had to continue through to the end of this revolutionary time and to every era after that too – even for a fashion blogger such as myself! Such influence!
And so here we are, darling – a full circle – a ‘boutique fantastique’ moment with La Boutique Fantastique's first tutu, and our tutu story for #TutuTuesday today - an unforgettable Parisian #TutuTuesday.
This is it darling - just the right place to be to celebrate the day - but you know my lovely readers… this beautiful tutu was really only the start, and, darling, this special tutu, this ‘revolutionary’ new design, will be remembered forever!
Oh darling – there you go - your must read historical treat for your #TutuTuesday - Now, I must be off - I can't miss the ballet tonight - and I might just treat myself to some new dance shoes and a very pretty little pink replica of *La Boutique Fantastique tutu… ( It will *go so perfectly with the most deliciously soft pink silk, dress, and, of course – that amazing lace …I really need to have a pink outfit to make a splash… I mean to have to dress appropriately for the occasion!
Until next week!
Your loving blogger Emma.
