Bonjour, mes chères! Itâs Emma here, back again from another thrilling time-travel adventure! It's Tuesday, which means it's #TutuTuesday, and today we're diving into the swirling, ethereal world of tutus. Grab a cuppa and a sprinkle of fairy dust because this week, weâre whizzing back to 23rd May, 1882!
As always, my latest adventure is sponsored by the sheer joy of a good ballet show - itâs the secret to funding my travels. And let me tell you, I just saw the most stunning performance at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. It was breathtaking! The dancers glided across the stage, their tutus like clouds of silk, their every move a delicate dance between grace and strength.
But back to our trip to 1882! Letâs get to the heart of our topic - the history of the ballet tutu. Back then, weâre still talking about the âromanticâ tutu - imagine layers upon layers of tulle, flowing down in a gentle bell-shape, right to the ankles. Itâs incredibly beautiful, creating the illusion of lightness and flight when the ballerinas twirled.
In this era, think Marie Taglioni - a ballet icon whose style made a huge impact on the romantic tutu! Her movement was pure grace and she popularised this style, helping it spread through the world of ballet. And oh, the romance of the period! The airy tutus of this time embodied the romantic era in ballet, making them feel otherworldly and dreamy, like something out of a fairytale!
Speaking of fairytales, letâs head back to the streets of London on 23rd May 1882, because there was a whole lot happening there. On that date, the "Illustrated London News" published an article titled âNew Parisian Dressesâ. It discussed the latest fashion trends, and you know, it really wouldnât be an 1882 issue without a whole page dedicated to discussing ball gowns and the most exquisite Parisian dresses of the time. So letâs think about how much that resonates with our love for all things tutus! It just shows you how much these tutus were already a central part of fashion at this time. They weren't just for the stage â even society ladies loved to channel the fairytale, and a tutu was the ultimate symbol of feminine beauty.
Now, in this era, tutus were considered to be an artform! You see, tutus aren't just some random fluffy garment that magically appears! They were handcrafted! Each one was like a mini masterpiece, delicately assembled by a team of expert dressmakers, meticulously creating layers and layers of tulle to give that fluffy cloud of a tutu, its exquisite look. And this took some serious skills, especially with the lengths of fabric used in this style! Can you imagine the time that it would have taken to produce a romantic tutu, complete with that magical bell shape? It would have been quite an undertaking, I imagine! A tutu was truly an object of artistry!
Now, in terms of fabric, 1882 wasnât yet the age of stretch fabrics! Back then, tulle was woven on a very particular type of loom, with that particular kind of texture. And just to keep things extra special, each tutu was lovingly trimmed with exquisite laces and embellishments, like tiny beads, pearls and shimmering sequins.
But of course, this whole elaborate outfit was a world away from what a dancer wears today, which brings us nicely to a point that really matters to me. It's amazing how much the tutu has evolved over time! Now, tutus come in different shapes and sizes - a vast spectrum of creative design ideas, and let me tell you, I absolutely love the creativity of those modern variations. There are classic designs like the pancake tutu, the romantic tutu, and even contemporary creations, which can incorporate daring lines and surprising shapes! And I absolutely love seeing the variations of colour and pattern. We've come a long way from the simple ivory tones of 1882!
To illustrate the incredible journey that this beloved ballet piece of fashion has been on, I'll make this confession... even though it's #TutuTuesday today, my current outfit features not the traditional romantic tutu. Iâm channeling the look of the early 1900s in a classic âpancakeâ style - a style much closer to the tutus we see today!
This shorter version of the tutu (it stopped just above the knee) brought a lot of new freedom to dancers, and completely transformed their movements. Can you imagine twirling in a full length tutu - it would be pretty tricky, let me tell you! Iâm thrilled we moved on! I mean, can you even imagine how impractical that would be for a grand jetĂŠ, or even a simple pirouette?! It wouldnât allow for the incredible agility that we love to see in a ballerinaâs performance today.
Now let me remind you again of why I love this history - it's more than just pretty fabrics. The evolution of the tutu has reflected every era and the changing styles of ballet itself. Itâs been such a pleasure to witness how the tutu continues to develop with each new generation, blending both tradition and innovative design.
The best thing about tutus is their adaptability. They can be bold and sassy, they can be elegant and whimsical, and yes, you can even get them in hot pink! Because let's face it, the only tutu I truly support is pink! It's vibrant, energetic and just the right touch of whimsical for those big, beautiful tutu-dances. But really, thatâs a different kind of story! I mean, think of all the beautiful colours and patterns you could have - the possibilities are limitless!
This is why I go on these time-travel trips, so that I can bring you this kind of history and share it with you! The #TutuTuesday posts help to show how much history has affected the way tutus have evolved, and theyâre definitely here to stay!
Until next Tuesday, keep on twirling! Don't forget to subscribe to our website www.pink-tutu.com to get a new #TutuTuesday blog every single Tuesday! I will be exploring other fascinating periods in tutu history for the time traveling fun, and I cannot wait to share them all with you. In the meantime, let's all live like we're wearing a pink tutu every day, because itâs a surefire recipe for a life filled with whimsy, magic, and most importantly - dancing.
Emma out!
