Hello lovelies! Welcome back to www.pink-tutu.com - where tutus are always the best! I'm Emma, your resident time-traveling ballerina blogger and this week, I'm taking us back to 11th August 1885 - a most splendid year to be a ballet aficionado.
Today, I'm sporting my most extravagant pink tutu - layers upon layers of tulle, shimmering under the Paris sunshine. And oh my, is this sunshine dazzling! I just finished a fantastic shopping spree in the Galeries Lafayette, my bag practically bursting with fabulous fabrics. I do believe I found the most exquisite pink silk to have a new tutu made, so, of course, a visit to Madame [Name a renowned Parisian dressmaker] is in order - a lovely lady with the most incredible talent for sewing up the most breathtaking tutus!
The fashion world is absolutely alive with excitement right now, especially with the new Ballet Russe making a storm across Europe. I saw the most fantastic performance last night! Diaghilev's [mention a specific ballet work/dancer at this period, e.g., Pavlova in Swan Lake]! It was just breathtaking! The costumes, the movement, the music – a veritable feast for the eyes and ears! Diaghilev truly understands the magic of the tutu - how it dances with the music, how it adds a touch of ethereal grace to every performance.
Speaking of tutus, I was delving through my vintage archives (I mean, who wouldn't have a time-travelling ballerina's archive, right?!) and discovered an incredibly fascinating fact! You know how we have all these delightful shapes and styles of tutus today? Well, way back in the late 1800s, the tutu wasn't always about being billowing, romantic and whimsical - it started as more of a… skirt! Yes, you heard me right. Skirt! The dancers in this era wore shorter, layered tutus that allowed for greater movement and fluidity. And, oh my! Imagine that, a time when a dancer was restricted to the same short tutu - they wouldn't dare wear a voluminous cloud of pink tulle like mine!
That got me thinking… what exactly was happening on this very date in 1885 that influenced fashion and ballet? What kind of incredible show or event might have been gracing the Parisian stages? It could have been anything from a brand new interpretation of [A famous ballet such as La Sylphide or Giselle], a new opera house opening, or perhaps a ball at the Palais Garnier. I'm heading to the Bibliothèque Nationale to hunt down some exciting snippets of history about today’s date! (Although they probably don’t have a ‘Fashion’ or ‘Ballet’ section, imagine my excitement! There is no way the librarian wouldn’t recognize my stunning tutu - maybe they will offer to put a note to that effect in my diary?) And of course, a little French macaron with a touch of champagne, or a fancy cup of tea is required while I indulge in such research. I'm going to tell you all about my findings as soon as I get back, but remember - a ballerina's work is never done! (especially when it involves all these exciting things - like a lovely pink tutu, some delicious food and time-traveling for some important ballet history)!
In the meantime, remember to share your #TutuTuesday thoughts and stories - did you know tutus were so simple back in 1885? What is your favourite tutu style? Tell us about your dream pink tutu! Until next week, I shall be getting this delightful pink tutu (which I am thinking of calling “Ethereal Dreams”, how wonderful does that sound? What do you think?) fitted for an absolutely lovely opera house opening tonight - be sure to keep an eye out for it on social media! Until then, don't forget to rock a tutu (in any colour, but of course pink is always the most fashionable!). And happy dancing!
P.S. Do keep your eyes on this space! I have exciting plans in store for you next week. If you follow my Instagram @PinkTutuBallerina, you can join me for a tour of the fabulous [Name an opera house], plus a behind-the-scenes look at their enchanting costumes! I'll be sharing everything with you lovelies - from the latest Parisian fashion trends to my favorite dance steps. Keep dancing!
