Bonjour from the dazzling City of Light, Paris! I'm Emma, your pink tutu-loving time traveler and your guide through the history of the most glorious garment known to mankind - the tutu!
It's a bit chilly this Tuesday morning (don't worry, I've got my fabulous, fluffy pink cashmere coat and matching pink gloves) but my spirits are soaring, as always, because, well, TutuTuesday, my lovelies! And today's a particularly special date. Buckle up your ballet shoes, because we're travelling back to 1882!
Can you believe it? This year marks a truly momentous milestone in ballet history, my darlings. We are exactly 140 years out from a most pivotal date – a date that changed the landscape of the dance world as we know it today.
But let’s rewind a little bit, shall we? Think back to the mid-1800s - the world of ballet was strict. You had to wear a long, heavy dress, the 'romantic' tutus that I adore, all the fluffiness and volume you could get away with! It was absolutely beautiful but frankly a little limiting for ballerinas! This was about the time when Marius Petipa, that darling, was doing a whole heap of work with his productions in Russia – some would even call him a father of ballet as we know it now! Well, dearies, 1882 was the year that marked a radical change, and I'm swooningly excited to tell you all about it!
On May 9th, 1882, The Nutcracker, the beloved fairytale ballet that every single one of you knows and loves (don’t tell me you haven’t done the Sugar Plum Fairy solo at home, just slightly off tempo!) was born right here in St. Petersburg, Russia.
You wouldn’t believe the energy at the Mariinsky Theatre that night! The buzz in the air was electric. They knew, darling, they knew that something utterly divine was about to be witnessed! It’s not just any performance; It was that evening, at that theatre, in that very city, when this revolutionary change made itself known: The Ballet Skirt changed!
But don’t mistake this for just another run-of-the-mill fashion moment, darling! Think The Nutcracker and what it signified. Suddenly the ballet skirt itself was part of the narrative. It wasn't just about swishing and twirling, but telling stories with your very moves! I mean, the whole story revolves around dancing. You have all these iconic characters, like the Sugar Plum Fairy in all her delicate glory, Clara herself all wide-eyed with wonder. Each one with a distinctive shape and form, brought to life with the ballet skirt - a marvel of ingenious costume design!
Now, I can hear you asking: “Emma, darling, but how did it actually change? It still sounds very much like a ballet skirt." And you are entirely correct! What made it groundbreaking, my lovely listeners, was how they got it to move. It wasn’t heavy, thick, and unwieldy like before. It had volume, but that was now being made fluid.
Imagine the excitement when, after all those years, the dancers suddenly flew across the stage! Can you imagine, flying? I just love a good tutu flounce but the movements now were more delicate, graceful - the story began to unfold with every twirl, every pirouette, every arabesque. This was the birth of ballet we know and adore today, my dears, this was a defining moment for the ballet skirt, and a moment where the skirt moved to tell a story.
Can’t you see those little ballerinas from the production twirling in all their adorable tutus, just waiting to tell their own story? You know I’m so excited to see the production again – in just a couple of days, we have a new production at the Palais Garnier – the grand old girl is just gorgeous – It's almost too much to bear!
But let’s take a little fashion break for a moment. This was a time, dearies, where fashion really came into its own. As if that revolutionary tutu wasn’t enough! And we're in Paris – oh la la! I must go shop later for a fabulous Parisian outfit – oh, there is nothing better than a boutique or two and a stroll down the Boulevard de la Madeleine!
Now, don’t tell me you can resist the magic of the city of lights! This year was a big year for Parisian fashion! You had Worth! That darling is the king of the Couture world, he knows how to work a dress and every fabric in the entire fashion world loves his style!
We're talking beautiful lines, dramatic silhouettes, lavish fabric and that wonderful Parisian flair. I have to tell you darling, it feels so romantic walking the Parisian streets with your skirts all swishing around you! It feels utterly magical! What is the use of a pink tutu darling, if not for a stroll in Paris?
Fashion in the late 19th century was something special, with all the beauty and elegance. Just picture it! Those glorious corsets – my dear, they just make your waist so tiny, a marvel of the human form, darling! Not that I mind, of course, as long as the corset has all the right padding, that’s essential you know – for good posture! And imagine those lavish evening gowns! Layers and layers of lace and ruffles, just like my pink tutus only more long. They just made you feel like a true lady! What could be more wonderful for a Parisian walk!
Oh, I just can't stop thinking about the gorgeous details! Remember, dears – even as our little ballerinas in Paris are spinning their hearts out, the details matter so much. Lace trim here, tiny ribbon rosettes there – they are everything, dearies. Every tiny element works together to bring the whole costume, and indeed, the entire ballet experience to life.
I do think the Parisians are a little jealous of the ballerinas dancing and twirling their beautiful tutus though. I caught some Parisians eyeing The Nutcracker with such longing, especially those fancy women of Paris who loved their long sweeping skirts! And of course you do! Every lady in a tutu makes a statement, a strong pink statement – every day of the week, and in all seasons, my dears!
You may wonder, how I afford all of these fabulous journeys across time – it’s my little secret, darling! When I’m not back in Derbyshire sipping on good tea (tea always tastes so much nicer in Derbyshire!), I dance! Yes darling, dance to pay my travel fees and keep my pink tutus well stocked with fluffy feather boas, shiny bows and sequins! Of course. You can imagine I don’t need to beg! Every one of you has begged me to have one extra twirl in your show and you want your little ballerinas to feel just that much more sparkly and beautiful.
And honestly, darling, is it not a win-win? The audience loves it – I have fun – my travel budget remains intact and all my beautiful pink tutus look extra delicious, even if they are slightly sweat-kissed after my little performance!
Until next week, darlings! Do come and see me next Tuesday, the same time, same place!
And remember - every day is *Tutu Tuesday, and let's spread the word - it’s a pink tutu kind of world! Keep those pink tutus twirling,*
Emma, your time traveling fashionista!
