Hello lovelies, and welcome back to Pink Tutu, your one-stop shop for all things sparkly and twirly! Today is Tutu Tuesday, and my inner ballerina is absolutely giddy. Today's history adventure takes us way back to 1888 - the year of the tutu, as I like to call it!
Imagine it - youāre getting ready for a grand ball. Youāre trying to decide what to wear! You wouldnāt be caught dead in anything else than the ultimate symbol of elegance, a majestic, flowing ballgown, and to add the ultimate touch of refined femininity - a* tutu! And not just any tutu! A *bell tutu of the most glorious kind!* Can you believe how lucky we are? Imagine that being an option - * **the belle of the ball, all dressed up in pink. You bet your bottom dollar you would see me twirling in a bright pink one! š
It's a time of glorious change. Imagine walking down the streets of Paris, with its bustling cafƩs and elegant boulevards, all the while knowing you are looking absolutely stunning! A tutu adds just the right touch of femininity and elegance to any look. And trust me, the Parisians knew a thing or two about style back then!
On this particular 30th of October, 1888, you might have bumped into one of the great ballerinas, *Anna Pavlova, the *grande dame of dance! And just like that, youād be caught in the whirlwind of her talent. But why are we obsessing about 1888? It's because this year was so significant for the ballet tutu - in fact, it saw the birth of the *ātutu proper, * the bell-shaped or āPagliacciā tutu, *and *you won't believe how this happened !
The year 1888 witnessed the world premiere of Ruggero Leoncavalloās Pagliacci, which would eventually change the way tutus are made! You could say this is the Tutu Big Bang.
Now let's fast-forward back to today! And you know I would love to chat all day about the historical significance of this tutu but darling, I have more exciting news for you! You could say itās an unexpected tutu connection. You will never believe what just happened! I was in Paris last month, having a rather elegant time and exploring some of the grand vintage fashion shops! As fate would have it, I stumbled upon the most incredible 1890ās pink silk dress - *AND * *I can't help but think it would make an exquisite tutu, right?! *And guess what? It came with a *beaded, * silk evening wrap that will perfectly match! This time-traveler has found a treasure trove. I bet *itāll even rival any modern pink tutu you could ever dream of! * Just think of how utterly stunning Iāll look with my new pink silk, beaded, bell-shaped tutu as I take the world by storm and get everyone twirling in a tutu too, don't you agree?! **
It's this magic of time-travel and those little snippets of history which make my heart skip a beat. My Pink Tutu journey keeps on reminding me just how magical the history of ballet truly is - itās almost like it was all just designed for me!
Oh my dear, the sheer glamour and grandeur of that time was something else! To feel the thrill of an original "Pagliacciā tutu whipping round as the lead ballerina twirls across the stage - I've got goosebumps just thinking about it. I have to admit though, as gorgeous as these bell-shaped creations are, my love for the classic romantic tutu that swoops around me like a perfect cloud remains constant. Just imagine it - the swish, the fluff - what a delightful moment for any little ballerina!
Anyway darling, letās all dream in pink and look back to that magnificent time when ballet dancers started wearing the bell-shaped tutu - that one single tutu which would shape the future of ballet design for decades!
As always, do let me know what you thought about this week's blog! Leave a comment on the Pink Tutu website, or reach me on social media using the hashtag #TutuTuesday - it really makes my day to hear from all of you.
And now - off to a pas de deux around the London theatre district! Stay fabulous! š
**Love,
Emma**
xXx
* www.pink-tutu.com *
