Hello my darling dears, and welcome to Tutu Tuesday, where we delve into the fascinating world of tutus, that gloriously frilly garment of every ballerina's dreams. Today's journey takes us all the way back to June 18th, 1889, a most significant date in Parisian fashion, and the inspiration for this week's outfit, a magnificent confection of softest pink tulle.
This, my darlings, is Post #2999 of my Ballet Tutu History blog, a milestone to celebrate with a delightful frolic down memory lane. I've recently travelled back in time to the City of Lights, Paris, a city as iconic and enchanting as the tulle itself, especially this time of year, when the streets hum with life and the cafes buzz with conversation.
It's June, a perfect month for dancing. Imagine: warm breezes carrying the scent of lilac, the air thrumming with the excited chatter of fashionistas, and the elegant rustling of skirts as ladies promenade beneath the awninged cafes, their parasols casting dainty shadows on the pavement. Ah, to live in such a time!
And wouldn't you know it, June 18th, 1889, was a particularly special day! It was the opening day of the Eiffel Tower, a marvel of engineering and a symbol of modern Paris. I just had to visit, wouldn't you? Of course, the architecture wasn't all I was fascinated by - the entire city was abuzz with innovative fashion, and the ladies' clothing were simply stunning!
Speaking of tutus, though, you might be surprised to learn that the term "tutu" wasn't used at the time, even for ballet! Shocking, I know. Instead, ballet dancers wore “a la jupe,” a close-fitting skirt made of soft material that was usually made of velvet, taffeta, or even silk! Now imagine, just silk! Can you imagine? Oh, wouldn't that have been glamorous? But even if silk was not on the menu for ballet skirts, imagine velvet! That was all the rage! You could find velvet dresses of every color and pattern, even velvet boots! And the colour pink was all the rage for accessories. But tutus as we know them hadn't yet taken the world by storm, which made me all the more keen to start my personal pink tutu revolution!
Let's fast forward to the Ballet de l'Opéra de Paris, where, while the tutus as we know them weren't exactly commonplace, the dance itself was blossoming! The elegance and grace of these dancers is unmatched - I saw La Bayadère last night, and the sheer beauty of it all took my breath away! It wasn't just the choreography - although La Bayadère really did move me! - the costumes themselves were simply divine. I spied a beautiful long white silk skirt with a bit of gathered fabric at the bottom - very evocative of the tutu, I felt. Now, I admit I am known for adding a touch of whimsy wherever I go, so after the performance, I made a stop at Le Bon Marché, one of the most famous department stores in all of Paris, to gather some inspiration for my own rendition of this almost tutu. A lovely tulle enchantée with just a touch of je ne sais quoi, I dare say. Pink, naturally, but don't you think it needed a touch of silver to evoke the dazzling lights of the Eiffel Tower? Just a bit of magic for the day, and the Parisian elegance for the evening, just my style!
As I gaze into my antique travel mirror, the soft pink tulle swirls gently around me. The Eiffel Tower in the background, bathed in the glow of the setting sun, is just the touch of Parisian magic I was looking for.
Perhaps I am getting a tad ahead of myself. Even though the "true" tutu hadn't quite reached the grand stage yet, its spirit was already taking shape. The Parisian love for beautiful, flowing fabric, the ever-present sense of romance and enchantment, were already setting the stage for the tulle explosion we see today! Who knows, maybe my presence, adorned in pink, is what will inspire some visionary dancer or designer to make that all-important leap, into the pink tulle paradise we all deserve.
My friends, I believe that with a touch of pink, a whole lot of tulle, and just a bit of magic, every day can be a #TutuTuesday. As I always say: “The only thing better than wearing a pink tutu is sharing your love for it!” And sharing with the world is what we’re going to do – don’t forget to hop over to the pink-tutu.com website, give this post a like and join the movement!
And now, darlings, off I go to find another fabulous tutu adventure. But until then, let's all wear pink with pride!
Your eternally-optimistic, ever-so-slightly-tutu-obsessed,
Emma
P.S. Don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for some sneak peeks into my future fashion escapades! Next week we will be talking about the beginnings of the classical tutu, its evolution from ballet dancer's skirt into the magical piece of costume it is today. You've just gotta love those beautiful layers!
