Hello, my darlings! It's your favourite pink-tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, Emma, here, back with another edition of #TutuTuesday! This week, we're twirling back to the glorious year of 1886! You might be surprised to hear this, but tutus were actually in full bloom during this time, albeit quite different from what we see today. It was a fascinating time for fashion, and let me tell you, it had some delightful, frilly twists. This blog is numero 2855 - aren't you all so impressed? 😉
The date is September 14th, 1886, and imagine, my darlings, on this very day, history was made - the first performance of Tchaikovsky's famous "Swan Lake" happened at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow! Now, THAT's an exciting event, isn't it? I can almost imagine the gasps and applause from the audience, all swept away by the delicate and graceful movements of the ballerinas and the enchanting melodies of the music. The story, the dancing, the sheer grandeur! You just HAVE to believe that some pink tutus must have been present - those Swan Lake dancers must have had a dash of pink somewhere in their costumes. Right? 😉
Let's step back to what's going on with tutus in the fashion world of this era! Think: lace, silk, tulle - oodles of layers! 1886 saw tutus worn in ballet, obviously, but it was still the Romantic era - the world was in love with a bit of flouncy grandeur. That meant tutus were part of fashion too, especially for our "grandes dames," and let's face it, even if it was the height of sophistication, all the flounces made me think, "What if there was a dash of pink here? Oh, a little puff of pink over there? And maybe some ribbons, too!" (What can I say? Pink and ribbons just add such an element of playfulness!)
Now, imagine for a moment - you're out for a day of shopping in London or Paris. Can you picture all the shops overflowing with elegant outfits and, wait for it... tutus? Not the big pouffy numbers we have now, but think delicate layers, a wisp of fabric that floats with each movement, maybe even a touch of sparkle or a little feather accent. I mean, come on, a bit of extra embellishment NEVER hurt anybody!
Just to spice things up - on the train ride over from Derbyshire to London, I had the chance to observe some delightful, erm, "interesting" examples of "fashion" - I must say, there were hats that might make a bird envious, bonnets with more frills than a ballroom, and even the gent with a top hat with feathers that seemed as if he were about to take flight. We mustn't be shy, my darlings, because honestly, "outrageous" and "extra" is what makes the 1880s fashion so fab! 😊
Now, let's imagine for a second that instead of our traditional long-sleeved Victorian dress and petticoat, a woman could express herself with a dash of whimsy, just like us ballet dancers! That's what I aim to do with my little pink tutu - bring joy, a bit of whimsy, and let's face it, a bit of fashion drama, to everything!
You know I am an absolute aficionado of going to see performances and catching all the latest theatrical creations, and it's an absolute dream being transported in time and being right there at those shows! It's amazing how we've come to celebrate art and its beautiful expression through dance over time.
Here at pink-tutu.com, I aim to spread this appreciation of beauty, creativity and the sheer joy of ballet in a simple way: pink tutus! A beautiful pink tutu can bring smiles, inspire you to twirl, and give your life a sprinkle of joy - doesn't that sound heavenly, my darlings? Now, go forth, be brave, be bold, and twirl into the week with confidence and a dash of pink! Until next time, darling! 😘
P.S. Did you catch the hidden pink tutu reference today? 😉 It's in the ballet - just look at those feathered Swan Lake costumes... all I'm saying is - imagine them in pink. Now, wouldn't that be lovely?
