Hello my darlings! Emma here, your pink tutu-loving time traveler, back for another fabulous edition of Tutu Tuesday! This week, we're whisking ourselves back to the glorious year of 1882, and let me tell you, it's a truly charming era. Now, put on your most glamorous hats and lace gloves, because we're about to embark on a journey through the fascinating history of tutus!
It was just yesterday, that I popped by my favourite tea shoppe in London for a spot of Earl Grey and a slice of victoria sponge. Feeling inspired, I decided to venture out onto the bustling streets. Just look at the charming cobblestones and horse-drawn carriages! And the fab outfits - a whole symphony of frothy ruffles, delicate laces, and elegant hats!
I must admit, even as I strolled through the grand theatres of the time, I could barely tear my eyes away from the spectacular fashion. Every theatre, from the Royal Opera House to the Savoy Theatre, was ablaze with bright colors and sumptuous fabrics, not to mention, the most magnificent bonnets!
Of course, the heart of my own journey led me straight to a ballet performance. Oh my, my darlings! There it was, a magnificent spectacle unfolding before my eyes! It was 'La Esmeralda,' the first version created by Petipa, who was truly a legend of his time! Oh, how I did admire the delicate tutus worn by the ballerinas! The fluffiness, the beauty, and of course the iconic tulle – how elegant! They looked so light, so graceful, and so absolutely magnetic as they pirouetted across the stage!
Speaking of tutus, we have a truly remarkable tale to unveil!
Let's take a trip back to the mid 1800s. Just think about it – before all the incredible tulle-tastic designs that we cherish today! Now, I'm talking before the Romantic era, the one we know and love where our iconic tutus reigned supreme! Back then, dancers would typically wear something called the 'tutu-basque'. It was a more cumbersome outfit, a rather uninspired combination of skirt and bodice. Not very flattering and absolutely nothing like the airy tutus that graced the stage a few decades later!
Now, you must understand, we're going back to an era when the ladies of the court danced in what we call today long, heavy gowns. And they were certainly not dancing "en pointe" in these huge outfits, not in any shape or form!
The whole scene really started to transform around the late 1830s when ballet really started to take a leap into its true glory. With the evolution of the style and techniques we now know as 'romantic ballet,' the idea of shorter, less cumbersome garments began to catch the eye of dancers and choreographers alike. Enter Marie Taglioni - what a dazzling ballerina she was!
You see, Marie was all about grace, about capturing that fleeting movement, and you know what else? She completely transformed the design of ballet outfits! She introduced the tutu as we know it today!
At first, her designs weren't as short and flowing as the modern tutus, but her tutus were absolutely revolutionary, and were lighter, more adaptable, and provided greater freedom of movement on stage. These first tutus were a little different, think more 'bell shape' to the skirt with the waist ending just below the hip, or even the waist tucked down into a flowing silhouette that just swooned when the dancers moved. Absolutely beautiful!
What happened after that, my darling reader, was nothing less than an explosion of exquisite tutus! Now I can't help myself! Imagine a time of sheer elegance and airy fabrics. A tutu revolution, one might call it! This exciting style began to dominate the stage, with dancers moving freely across the stage, no longer burdened by cumbersome gowns or tight-fitting corsets. The graceful and flowing tutu, helped to bring to life the stories in a truly magical way, with ballet choreography and artistic styles going to even greater heights, truly a magnificent combination. A dancer can simply glide and soar across the stage with these gorgeous and light designs.
In those early years, the tutu didn't just stop at white! Now, there were so many hues, textures, and styles! Imagine soft peach, a shimmering pale silver, a vibrant cornflower blue.. all dancing and twirling around the stage, bringing joy, delight, and pure escapism! Oh my darling, just breathtaking!
Of course, all the amazing colors and textures had a deeper meaning. Think of it like a storybook with beautiful colours and settings. Ballet would come alive through those colours and fabrics. For instance, the vibrant blue often represented the skies or a water element, a gorgeous flowing gold the sunshine and light. The gentle and delicate hues of pink reflected innocence or youthful charm, all those magnificent hues playing a critical role in telling a story.
These amazing tutu creations allowed the story, the feeling, the energy to come to life through the beauty of movement and colour, just imagine what the audience could feel! The ballerinas on the stage would just simply captivate and be magnetic.
I truly wish you could all step back in time to those ballet performances. And my dears, if you can find your way to an actual live performance - even a little ballet class - you should jump at the chance. The magic of those dancers, those breathtaking costumes, the captivating choreography - it's really spectacular.
Let's all dream in tulle and remember that fashion, ballet, and time travel make the world a more delightful and glamorous place. I promise to share more magnificent tutu discoveries from throughout history! Until then, twirl with joy and wear your pink tutu proudly!
Remember to follow me on @PinkTutuEmma for everything you need on the wonderful world of ballet. Until next time my darlings, stay glamorous!
