Hey my darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com for another whirlwind trip through the glorious history of ballet tutus! Today, as you all know, it's #TutuTuesday and we're hopping in our time machine (or shall I say, steam engine? Itās amazing what you can find on eBay these days, you know!) to whisk ourselves back to April 16th, 1889!
Can you believe it, darlings? This date, so many years ago, marks my 2990th #TutuTuesday post! š©°š I feel like Iāve been documenting the world of ballet tutus since, well, forever!
And for a fabulous forever it has been! Todayās post will take us back to Paris. Ah, Paris. City of love, fashion, and yes, even ballet! š«š· This time, we are not heading to the opera. Todayās excitement is not on stage! Oh no. Todayās joy is hidden in a very special workshop nestled in the very heart of Paris, the home of ballet tutu history.
A Dance With Destiny!
Iām so thrilled to share a secret with you all! There is a reason I picked today for my #TutuTuesday adventure. Because darling, todayās date is important for tutus, Iām here to tell you!
This was the day Marie āMargueriteā Taglioni took to the stage in London to take the world by storm, starring in La Sylphide, the very first ballet ever to use a full-length, perfectly styled, exquisitely made tutu. š©° āØ
Marie was famous all over Europe, but this ballet, and this look, set her, and the tutu, on the path to forever dancing fame!
Marguerite? I barely knew her!
If you havenāt heard the name āMarguerite Taglioni,ā you are truly missing out, darling! But I will save the full tale of this inspirational ballerina for another day.
She was a sensation on the stage. Beautiful, athletic, powerful, gracefulā¦ her style of ballet, now known as the Taglioni style, changed ballet forever, my dear friends, and brought with it a revolution in dancewear. Gone was the simple chemise. Out went the corseted and weighty āold styleā tutus, and in stepped something truly delightful ā a simple white cotton tutu which flowed and twirled like the graceful flight of a beautiful bird. šļø
The āSylphide tutuā, named after the ballet which brought it into being, changed dance forever, darling.
Back to the Workshop
As much as I love a bit of drama, a glamorous performance, and a fabulous dance, it's back to our workshop we go! Today, we will have a peek into the studio where the sylphide tutu, this symbol of pure grace, was born!
Now, this little place wasnāt a big fancy atelier in the fashionable parts of the city. You can find all manner of fancy fashion workshops for corsets, shoes, and every kind of fabulous wear in Paris.
This was, however, a more modest location, built simply by a man who loved tutus as much as I do. He called himself āCostumes for all.ā He did work for the stage, but was happiest, it seemed, creating for smaller dance groups, and those who danced for their pleasure alone.
He made all sorts of outfits and dresses for performers. I'm thinking ballet shoes as well - you need the perfect combination of tutu and shoes, donāt you? š©° It wasnāt all ballet.
You would find amazing costumes for dancers, theatrical outfits, and dress-up outfits for private parties. He designed for a range of budgets. The designs for the ballet shoes and the outfits werenāt for everyone, especially for the richer and famous of the city, and that was perfectly fine with him.
There are always some amazing hidden ateliers and secret studios, donāt you think, where they create the most incredible things. And letās be honest, darling, you just cannot beat the little places for hidden gems.
His tutus were different from all the others because of one very special detailā¦ The way he added ruffles to the design, how he made each tutu slightly longer, the sheerness and delicacy of the materials he usedā¦ he perfected the ballerina look in ways that are now copied across the globe. He designed tutus which changed how we view ballet to this day, my dear. Itās an important day to remember, my lovelies, in balletās timeline, and a story of innovation which we should all appreciate.
Tutus - The Legacy
This little workshop closed down sometime after this time period, but its designs continue to influence and inspire, darling. The Sylphide tutu became a favorite design for so many other dance outfits.
When the ballet arrived in Russia, they just loved these tutus. The tutus came into fashion there and continued their amazing story. The Russians took this simple and elegant design and, being, letās say, very extra!, added embellishments, feathers and lace, and their love for everything frilly. This gave the tutu its grand stage appearance as it became so important in the world of ballet.
A bit more drama from our Russian darlings, what else is new? š·šŗ
The amazing Russian Imperial Ballet , in the days after the workshop closed, became, as the name suggests, famous across the globe for its tutu styles. Iām sure the ballet workshop in Paris would have been very proud!
And the story doesn't end here, my sweet things. This wonderful ballet, which inspired the first āproperā ballet tutu, changed so much about dancewear - which continues to inspire and evolve, just like ballet itself. Ballet and fashion are forever entwined. The simple design for a dancer in this show would soon evolve into the romantic tutu design and would later become a key component in the classic Romantic ballet designs and styles which remain popular across the world even now.
A small and secret Parisian workshop was not only about tutus, but about a vision for change. This simple white tutu inspired a trend across the world. And just a reminder, darling, these tutus have come to embody everything that is gorgeous about the beautiful, elegant and romantic world of ballet, wouldnāt you agree?
If you ever get the chance to go back in time and find the perfect place in the heart of Paris to watch an elegant, beautiful and perfect tutu story unfolding, do it! I can promise, dear hearts, you will love the elegance and magic that will unfold before your eyes.
I can only encourage each and every one of you to enjoy a ballet show soon, try a ballet class, even visit a dance studio or workshop where you can get a chance to learn and see these incredible tutus close up!
Next week, we go back even further! Thereās still so much history in these little designs that we have yet to explore. If there is anything else you'd like to hear about, just leave a comment below.
Love,
Emma šš
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