#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1884-01-15

Hello lovelies! It's Emma here, your trusty Tutu-Travelling Timehopper, back with another #TutuTuesday history fix. Buckle up buttercups, today we're going back in time, right into the very heart of Parisian ballet - and it's a story full of tutus, drama, and... whispers some slight nudity.

Right then, 15th January 1884. Can you even imagine a world without tutus? It seems impossible, doesn't it? But let me tell you, our beloved tutus weren't always a part of the ballet scene! Back in this time, ballet skirts were long and cumbersome, making those grand jetés more a "swoosh and shuffle" than a soaring leap.

This wasn't the most convenient for our ballet dancers, you know. Can you picture trying to perform a pirouette in a full, heavy skirt? Sounds pretty impossible, doesn't it? So, as the story goes, that's when tutus made their graceful entrance onto the world stage.

Think of a skirt with a fitted top, flowing outwards to create a shorter, swirling shape. This shorter design meant ballerinas could actually move, allowing their athleticism and skill to truly shine. They became free, darlings, free to spin, leap, and pirouette like never before.

This new look became all the rage in ballet - so much so that a certain Mademoiselle Carlotta Grisi, an absolute dancing superstar of the era, made headlines with her very own design: a daringly short tutu, practically exposing her knees! The whispers, the scandal, the gossip! Everyone wanted to know - how daring was she? Well, darling, she showed them, paving the way for shorter tutus to take the ballet world by storm.

Oh, the glamour! 1884 Paris is practically bursting with creative energy. Picture cobbled streets, horse-drawn carriages, and stunning women adorned in their latest haute couture. It's a city in a frenzy of fashion!

And where am I going first? The Opera Garnier, of course. It's breathtaking - towering marble statues, gold leaf, velvet seats, a shimmering chandelier that leaves you speechless... it’s truly a sight to behold.

Now, this is a place that makes a girl want to put on her own special tutu. This evening's performance is “La Bayadère”, a magical production with stunning choreography. Just imagine swirling, passionate dances in tutus that whisper of silk and moonlight - you simply must witness this. It's electric!

It's not all ballet though! Shopping is definitely on my itinerary. Charming boutiques lining elegant streets beckoning me to browse for exquisite laces and silks, ribbons and fabrics - the possibilities for a tutu design are simply endless! I can’t leave without picking up some gorgeous Parisian fashion inspiration for my own #PinkTutu creations.

After my Parisian jaunt, I’ll be catching a train across the channel back home. Don't forget, train travel back in 1884 takes a little longer - comfy carriages with plush seating, good books and perhaps some sketching. It’s the perfect time for reflection and dreaming up future tutus designs!

That's it for this #TutuTuesday, darling. But fear not, next Tuesday I’ll be back with even more captivating tutu stories! I've got tales of tulle, historical fashions and a sprinkle of Parisian glitter ready to share with you.

I'll be exploring the evolution of tutus as we dance our way through history. Will they get longer? Shorter? Will there be feathers? sequins? What secrets do these tutus hold?

See you soon, darling, and don't forget - embrace the power of the tutu, be bold, be bright and stay fashionable! And remember: the ultimate fashion statement is wearing your heart on your tutu.

With a swish of my pink tulle and a twirl,

Emma

www.pink-tutu.com