Hiya lovelies!
Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, dedicated to all things tutu! I'm Emma, your friendly neighbourhood pink tutu aficionado, and I'm thrilled you've joined me on another #TutuTuesday adventure!
Today we're taking a trip back in time, all the way to April 5th, 1887, to see what fashionable frills our ballet belles were twirling in. Now, if you've been following my #TutuTuesday adventures, you know the early days of the tutu weren't exactly what we picture when we hear the word "tutu" nowadays.
Imagine this: the year is 1887, a time of elaborate dresses and corseted waists. The women on stage? Still very much in long skirts! But wait, something's changing.
The year is just one year after Marie Taglioni graced the stage in La Sylphide. In 1887, that new, airy, shorter-than-knee-length, romantic-style tutu was starting to catch on, albeit with a slightly less-than-whimsical flair.
Instead of the floating wisp of a tutu we know and love today, those early romantic tutus were layered - sometimes with up to three layers of tulle! Can you imagine the swish? It must have taken a lot of strength to twirl with that much material around your legs!
But it was a game-changer. Ballet was entering a new era. It was all about grace and ethereal movements - the dancers became like airy fairies. Can you see the trend starting to take hold here?
As I travel through the time-folds, I'm starting to notice a fascinating pattern: new technologies, new artistic movements, new ideas - they always reflect on the world of fashion. A few years after La Sylphide - bam! Shorter skirts! Lighter materials! And with those airy new tutus, the dancers began to move in a whole new way.
Speaking of new ideas... April 5th, 1887 is an extra special day because that's when the world was given a beautiful piece of technology that might just have inspired some future ballet innovations: The Eiffel Tower! I don't know about you, but I always feel an extra spark of excitement in the air around this revolutionary construction, and it just reminds me of how big dreams and creative flourishes, even with the most out-there ideas, can come to fruition. Imagine what a ballet inspired by this would be like, especially those long-legged Parisian dancers - a real tower of elegant style!
I might even venture out to a Parisian spectacle at the Opéra to witness such beauty - after all, everyone deserves to be caught up in a magical moment in the world of fashion and artistry, especially on #TutuTuesday. I know that those daring ladies would not shy away from adding a dash of pink, but let's just say, for those days, even my favourite color had to wait patiently for a future fashion revolution.
Anyway, that’s enough time-traveling for now. We're on to the best part - dressing up! I'm so excited to see how you interpret my pink tutu inspiration. Be bold, be colourful, be daring, and don't forget to use #TutuTuesday to show the world your love for this beautiful dance art!
Until next time, twirl on!
Much love, Emma
P.S. Remember, the time-traveling wardrobe doesn't come cheap. 😉 Don't forget to visit www.pink-tutu.com to discover how to contribute to my Ballet History Ballet performance Fund so I can keep traveling through time. You could even say you're a part of this incredible adventure with me!
P.P.S Fancy something special today? Head down to the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane this afternoon. A new ballet is premiering. If you're really lucky you might see one of these layered-tutu beauties! I love a theatrical experience, especially with a bit of extra sparkle! And you can bet that when I travel through time, the very first thing I'm going to do is check out the shows. What better way to see where ballet is heading?
P.P.P.S Oh, and while you're at it, pop down to Peter Robinson's! The department store opened just this year and it's all the rage. I just know you'll find some sartorial inspiration in those fine ladies' fashion. Perhaps a few layers of pink-hued tulle are in our future? You never know with a little bit of imagination!
See you next Tuesday!
