Post #2646
Hello, my dearest tutu-loving lovelies! Emma here, back from another fabulous journey through time! Today we're twirling back to September 12th, 1882, and trust me, this trip is a real feather in my tutu!
Itās Tuesday, and as usual, Iām here to share with you my favourite passion: ballet history, and of course, the magnificent tutu. Itās amazing to see how much we love the tutu today! And whatās even more incredible is that the evolution of this incredible dancewear started long before I ever slipped on my first one!
This time, my time machine took me to the heart of Paris, the beating pulse of the ballet world in those days. Picture it: the elegant boulevards, horse-drawn carriages gliding through cobbled streets, and grand theaters humming with anticipation. The air is thick with excitement, you can just sense the artistic buzz, and that sense of elegant history surrounding every corner. This is the heart of the ballet world, where the tutu truly takes centre stage.
Now, 1882 was a year of incredible change for ballet. Just a few decades before, the tutu was a rather bulky affair, like a stiff skirt with a layer of tulle on top. Imagine a costume for dancing - it was stiff! But these stiff tutus would soon be replaced with a revolution of lightweight fabric!
Imagine delicate tulle cascading in a billowing cloud around the ballerina, every movement a masterpiece of fluid grace. Thatās what happened in 1882! We started to see the first appearances of the tutus as we know them now. Think light, airy, and flowing - they helped dancers perform graceful leaps, incredible turns, and elegant pirouettes. They added a certain theatrical je ne sais quoi to each ballet, a feeling of otherworldliness.
My journey led me straight to the OpĆ©ra Garnier. Oh my, it was dazzling! This palace of arts had recently been inaugurated and you could feel the energy of something incredible being born. A performance of āLa Source,ā a ballet featuring a captivating choreography set to stunning music, was the highlight of the night. The ballerinas, encased in delicate tutus, pirouetted and leaped across the stage like beautiful butterflies, their movements an extension of the beautiful tulle surrounding them. They twirled and soared through the air, and they looked utterly sensational, embodying grace, fluidity, and elegance! You could almost feel their love for the tutu!
Of course, I had to do a bit of window shopping at some of the magnificent Parisian couture houses. As the famous saying goes, 'fashion is fleeting but style is eternal.' This truly is what they were striving for back then, and to see such attention to detail and a clear commitment to true elegance... I just want to twirl around a few times and clap my hands in pure joy! Theyāre also all wearing magnificent gowns with lovely bonnets that truly capture a sense of Parisian style. The gowns were truly inspiring with a style of their own. They oozed a real air of sophistication and a Parisian charm. Thereās a special magic in these historic shops, isnāt there? I just know my darling readers can feel it too!
I was especially enamored with the ateliers creating tutus for the Opera. Imagine! A world dedicated to fabric and feathers, to the delicate craft of making these wonders. I could have easily spent the entire afternoon peering over their shoulders. I could hear them gossiping as they cut and sew their little creations! My heart just soared! They would be discussing their favorite ballet routines! You could tell by their love for detail how much they cared.
It was a glorious time to be alive, and these changes weren't just about dance! They represented a new spirit of liberation, a sense of artistry taking flight, an age where creativity wasn't just confined to paintings and sculpture, but was also bursting into the theatre, into ballet, and even onto the streets. The fashion on display felt revolutionary!
Now, itās your turn to feel the magic of 1882! For your #TutuTuesday challenge, wear your prettiest pink tutu and twirl! Embrace the elegance of those long ago times and let the magic of ballet swirl around you. Feel that exquisite flow of tulle as you move! Let's show the world the joy, grace, and spirit of the tutu!
Oh, and donāt forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com! This is my beautiful haven on the internet. There, I can connect with you, my fabulous ballet and fashion-loving friends. I will keep adding my beautiful finds to my online shop! And I always love to hear your stories and feedback too, so donāt be shy - drop me a line!
Remember to stay fabulous, and until next week, may your life be as full of twirls as a ballerina's dream!
Yours in tulle, Emma xx
P.S. If you are ever in Derbyshire, do come and visit me! My beautiful studio is set in a tranquil Victorian village and itās simply magical. My time travel fund comes from the money I make from teaching classes and putting on dance performances for charities and for events at local theatres. The shows really make it possible to travel back in time, so theyāre a must for me. And if you'd love to get a feel of Victorian elegance, it is perfect place to get a feel of it. I have the best collection of beautiful Victorian hats.
P.P.S. Don't forget! Itās always a wonderful occasion for ballet. Donāt just visit me on a #TutuTuesday, but stop by at any time.
