Hello dearies! It's your favourite pink tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, back with another captivating tale from the captivating world of ballet tutus! Today's date, April 25th, 1882, takes us back to a time when the world of ballet was evolving in such a delightful way! Now grab your cuppa and let's take a waltz through time…
I'm currently stationed in glorious Paris, darling, which, as you all know, is the beating heart of ballet fashion! Imagine it - cobblestone streets buzzing with carriages and dapper gentlemen, all while I'm strutting around in my fetching pink tutu, attracting every curious gaze! This era, the late 19th century, was a time of incredible growth and change for the tutu. Think of it as the "renaissance" for this ballet darling, a true explosion of artistry!
Back in my home in Derbyshire, England, ballet might not have had the same cachet as in Paris. Oh, we had our village dances, of course, but it was a different world altogether. So you can imagine how excited I am to be in the epicentre of this exciting dance world, all thanks to my lovely, if somewhat risky, time-travelling ways!
The Parisian ballerinas are just phenomenal! With each pirouette, they're dancing stories with their tulle. Gone are the days of the bulky, almost costume-like tutus from earlier eras! This is the age of the Romantic era, darling, the era where movement is everything! Now we see those flowing, billowing, exquisitely crafted tulle creations which were light enough for dancers to perform amazing feats with. It's a whole new level of beauty and athleticism!
Now, April 25th 1882, isn't marked by any particularly momentous event in the world of ballet, darling. But oh, what a time it is! Think of the dazzling debut of Marie Taglioni in La Sylphide! It's her performance which ushered in the era of the shorter tutus, showing off those long, elegant legs in all their glory. Oh, the artistry!
It's a time when the ballet tutus became a symbol of grace and liberation. They weren't just clothes anymore. They became statements, stories etched in tulle and satin. Can't you imagine, darling, the collective gasp from the audience as these delicate, enchanting tulle masterpieces spun across the stage, catching the stage lights in a glorious display of twirling, jumping, and twirling…pure magic!
One thing you should know is the costuming in this period was so grand. And I do mean GRAND! Can you picture those velvet bodices and ribbons, sparkling with gemstones and pearls? Oh, my dear, even my pink tutu, while it can't compare to these creations, has to work overtime to be noticed. These are some serious clothes, darlings!
Speaking of shopping, I found the most stunning millinery shop while walking around today. Imagine, darling, an entire shop devoted to the headpieces of ballerinas! Feathers, flowers, gemstones…you name it, they have it. You can practically smell the glamour and the exquisite craftsmanship of Parisian artistry. And naturally, I couldn't resist purchasing a hat adorned with a lovely plume of white feathers to match my own fluffy tutu! It goes with everything, darlings, and I've already worn it to the opera. A lovely performance of Bizet's Carmen, followed by an elegant supper at the Ritz, you know!
And then, there's the theater scene. Oh, the joy! These days, Paris teems with world-renowned opera houses, ballet theatres and dramatic performances, a smorgasbord of the arts, my dears. There is so much beauty and vibrancy in these spaces, you feel yourself carried away by the spectacle and talent. Imagine, you're swept into the heart of this extraordinary artistic world. There is nothing quite like being amongst these vibrant, imaginative souls. They see a story in every movement, a feeling in every glance, and beauty in every step!
But let's get back to our glorious tutu. The fashion at this time was really about showing off the dancers’ agility and graceful movement, dear readers, and the tulle tutus definitely enabled this. It was like they were extensions of their limbs, all that graceful movement, those graceful poses, every nuance enhanced. The tutu in the 1880s became this fantastic, fluid, lightweight creation that added so much dynamism to the ballet. Oh darling, those flowing layers of tulle, like little clouds, swirling with the dancer’s every move…simply magical.
This evening I’ll be going to see a performance at the Opera Garnier, a simply stunning building. I’m going to make a bee line to get myself the very best seat possible for the show, as those tutus need a captivated audience! And I'll be on the lookout for some even more amazing fashions. After all, as I always say, every girl deserves to wear a tutu, and perhaps some glamorous hats, too! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter and Instagram for a backstage peek and fashion-related stories. And be sure to visit me next week for another #TutuTuesday instalment, when I will be taking you all the way back to 1872!
Until then, embrace your inner ballerina, darling, and remember: always go for pink, always go for tutus!
Your eternally fashionable,
Emma xx
