Hey there, darlings! Emma here, back again for another #TutuTuesday delve into the delightful history of our beloved ballet tutus! Today, we're whisking ourselves back in time to July 10th, 1883, a date bursting with exciting happenings in the world of dance! As you know, I'm a sucker for a good train journey, and it seems the 10th of July 1883 was a day of significant railway news! Could you imagine arriving at a brand new railway station? I certainly can, and I'm imagining myself strutting my pink tutu (which, of course, will always be in fashion!) right onto that platform! 😉
But before we talk trains, let's talk tutus! My investigations for today tell me that tutus were starting to become more popular as dance costumes around this time, though it seems the fashion was still taking its baby steps. You wouldn't see all those dazzling designs and layers of tulle like we're used to in today's shows. Think of simple designs, a bit more romantic and ethereal than dramatic.
Can you picture it? A delicate swirl of tulle, light and breezy, like a puff of dandelion seed caught in the wind? Perhaps just one layer, floating softly around a dancer's lithe limbs? It's enough to make this blogger swoon!
Back to trains! I've been browsing through old newspaper archives (yes, the ones they still use paper for! Can you believe it? 😄 ) and discovered that on the 10th of July 1883, London's new Metropolitan Railway station opened. How exciting! The railway wasn't as vast or speedy as today, but imagine all the excitement of the newly opened station - people arriving from all corners of London, carrying their fringed parasols and enjoying a Victorian promenade (oh, how I love that time!). I wonder if any of the lovely ladies went to the theatre to catch a ballet performance? We have to remember, even though tutus were becoming more fashionable, it was still the golden age of classical ballet, so they probably hadn't quite mastered the whirlwind designs we see now, even in contemporary productions.
I always love to weave history and fashion together - it's like a grand ball, where the past whispers secrets to the present, and the present twirls gracefully with its timeless companion.
This past week has been an exciting journey for me - not literally in the time-traveling sense, you understand (although I wish!) but through a new ballet performance in a small town in Derbyshire, my beautiful home county! You'd be surprised at the lovely theatre productions happening all around England, not just in the big city. It's great to see talent bloom wherever it takes root. This new show featured ballerinas with tutus that almost transported me to the year 1883, their graceful movements were so mesmerizing, so enchanting! I've even purchased a few gorgeous antique dresses, imagine, they look absolutely stunning paired with a contemporary ballet tutu. I'm always on the lookout for a perfect combination - one that transcends time, fashion, and the constraints of our everyday lives.
That reminds me! You can always find unique pieces on my favourite shopping websites and in vintage stores, you just need to be ready to rummage! 😉 Just be sure to keep that tutu in mind when choosing! You never know when you'll need it for a special occasion... or maybe you just want to channel your inner ballerina with an extraordinary outfit every day.
To wrap things up, let's think of July 10th, 1883 not just as a date in a dusty history book, but as a doorway into a world of dreams, where grace and elegance danced hand-in-hand, where the whisper of tulle carried on the wind became an inspiration for all the amazing tutued adventures that would follow.
Don't forget to follow pink-tutu.com for more TutuTuesday trips through time, and remember - the world is a stage, and you, my dear reader, are always the star!
Now, let's twirl our way into the rest of the week - wearing our tutus, pink is preferred! 😉
Love,
Emma
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