Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com, my lovely ballet-loving readers! It’s #TutuTuesday, and today we’re going on another fabulous trip back in time with me, your dedicated tutu-enthusiast, Emma! It’s Tuesday the 17th of November, and I'm just buzzing to be sharing all about tutus from this wonderful period. Don't forget this is my 2812th post!
This week, my time machine is taking me to 1885 – a date just a little bit before that beautiful romanticism and sumptuous extravagance seeped into ballet fashion, creating a look that still influences costume designers today! Can you imagine all the frills and feathers, the shimmering silk and luxurious layers, and all the exquisite embellishments? It's simply stunning!
But before I start on this historical journey through the enchanting world of ballet, let me give you a peek into my own wardrobe this week. My pick? A glorious, light-as-a-feather pink tulle tutu with a hint of shimmer! Just think of those ethereal ballet dancers leaping through the air – so gracefully, so lightly, almost as if they're flying! That's the feel I wanted to capture with my outfit.
Speaking of leaping, I spent the morning twirling at my favourite dance studio. You wouldn't believe how exhilarating it is! It's just wonderful to feel so carefree, like a tiny fairy in my beautiful tutu! And later today, I'm meeting my friend Emily for a delectable afternoon tea, complete with a scrumptious lemon drizzle cake, right next to the famous Royal Opera House. Can't wait!
But back to 1885 – such an interesting time for ballet! The dancers then, were definitely all about femininity, elegance, and showing off their beautiful curves in all their glory!
Let me transport you back to that period. Imagine Paris, the heart of the ballet world! There's the iconic Paris Opera, and the Ballet de l'Opéra de Paris, where the finest dancers were creating art on stage. Their outfits – oh my goodness, so exquisitely designed! Long, flowing tutus made from layers and layers of shimmering white silk were absolutely the must-have for the ladies of the ballet. It truly was a dazzling display of fashion! The look was so very romantic! They would accessorise it all with delicate silk flowers woven into their hair, or maybe a delicate feathered fan – the very essence of Parisian elegance.
Here’s the thing, this time was full of fashion experimentation! Not just in the grand romantic tutu style, which they adored! We can’t talk about 1885 without acknowledging that some ballerinas had begun to wear what would be called 'pancake' tutus, very fitted and simple designs! But these didn’t last, so thankfully romantic, grand, billowing styles persisted, and I believe those early ‘pancake’ tutus really were a design mistake! They didn’t create the necessary drama that makes tutus so glorious.
Now, let's jump forward a bit in time – we need to talk about the rise of a fabulous tutu trend from the latter part of the 19th century that we are still enjoying today: the tutus made from white or pink tulle! It became a true style classic. And for my beloved pink tutu fans, 1885 saw more and more pink on stage and more importantly – in fashion generally! You see, at this time in history the more pink there was in fashion the more fashionable it was thought to be, and if pink wasn’t enough, they went even more fabulous with rose-pink tutus! These delicate shades created a soft, dreamy, feminine silhouette. I simply adore that vintage pastel vibe! Don't you?
To further illustrate my love of all things tutus and to connect the history we are covering, my next stop will be a trip to London to see a performance at the Sadler's Wells theatre. It’s said to have one of the best ballet schools in the world and they are due to have a full performance later this month of La Sylphide, an iconic Romantic ballet that is guaranteed to showcase those lovely grand white tutus! So look out for the #TutuTuesday post when I get back from my trip to London!
Talking of fashion and elegance – this trip back in time makes me think about the influence of art and style from the 1880s on dancewear and tutus. I mean, think about Pre-Raphaelite art! Those paintings! Full of long, flowing garments! The Pre-Raphaelite style and romanticism definitely had a hand in shaping those flowing tutus and elegant silhouettes we see in many ballets. Even though Pre-Raphaelites were painting women with long, heavy, almost impossible dresses, their beauty did translate perfectly into stage dress, especially those light, billowing tutus. You simply have to check out some of the beautiful images of Pre-Raphaelite art on the web and then look at your favourite ballet dresses. You can totally see the similarities. And this reminds me! A fab dress to go with those grand tutus would have to be one of the beautiful Victorian gowns!
For a ballet fan, what would 1885 have looked like for a day trip around London? I think you’d find lots of fashion, shopping and theatre. I would hop off my Derbyshire to London train at London Kings Cross to head off to Regent’s Street to shop. Just imagine being able to get a beautifully hand-made dress with a fashionable boned bodice and layered tulle, in all shades of pink, for a steal of a price! The possibilities would be endless. This really would have been a dream to get dressed for. So don’t forget, shopping and style can be absolutely crucial when it comes to celebrating fashion in the history of ballet!
I really do love travelling back in time. It helps me to really understand how fashion styles continue to have an impact today and it really does bring all that vintage style to life! It’s great fun to bring this historical insight to Pink-Tutu!
That's all from me today, darling readers! I hope you have had a fab #TutuTuesday. If you have any questions, please do pop them in the comments. Until next week – keep twirling, my loves! And do share your tutu love with all your friends. It’s great to see those tutu photos popping up. So don’t forget to tag us @pinktutu and to follow our social media. Remember – every day can be #TutuTuesday. We want everyone to be able to enjoy the joy and delight of tutus.
See you next week for another #TutuTuesday adventure!
