Hiya lovelies! Welcome back to another fabulous #TutuTuesday. It's your favourite pink-loving, tutu-wearing time traveller, Emma, back to whisk you away on another enchanting journey through the captivating history of our beloved ballet tutus!
Oh, how I love hopping in my time machine and seeing all the wonderful trends and changes in fashion and the ballet world throughout history! Today we're stepping back to the year 1889. Think of it as The Year of The Tutu, darling!
Oh, but first, let me tell you about my latest shopping spree. I found the most glorious pair of pink ballet pumps adorned with tiny silver butterflies at a little vintage boutique in Paris! I'm telling you, you simply can't resist a beautiful, handmade, bespoke piece like that! It will be absolutely perfect for the Royal Ballet performance in Vienna this coming weekend - oh, they're putting on Swan Lake! I can't wait to see it! Imagine - a glittering diamond crown and swirling, breathtaking white tutus on those lovely dancers...it's practically guaranteed to make me cry happy tears.
But back to 1889, lovelies! Just picture the scene...Paris, that beautiful city! There's no place more fashionable! Can you believe that the "Grande" of the Ballet* was none other than *La Belle Otero at the *Folies Bergère in Paris? The sheer size and opulence of that theatre were breath-taking - not to mention, Otero's dancing was simply mesmerising! They called her The Parisian Temptress, darling, and rightly so.
But let's not forget the tutus! This period was the era of romanticsm, think swirling, flowing, tutus with more emphasis on elegance and flow. Gone were the heavy, layered tutus, darling! No more restrictive, uncomfortable fabric, instead - the tutus were crafted from the finest fabrics, silky soft, shimmering satins and delicate chiffons! And all that gorgeous detail! It's enough to make any tutu lover swoon. They even incorporated lace, ribbon, and embroidery. It's all so enchanting, don't you think?
Now, this was also the golden era of ballerinas. Imagine...dancing, traveling the world...so elegant, so poised. Now, this is living the dream, isn't it? These talented ladies not only danced with amazing artistry and grace, they truly inspired an entire generation with their stunning fashion.
I also must tell you about La La* a Parisian ballerina - what a style icon! Just last month I found this gorgeous satin, lavender dress, it was inspired by La La! - oh darling, just a gorgeous colour! She'd wear these wonderful skirts just slightly above the knee, you know and those lovely, lacy, leg-length tights. *Talk about fashion icons!. It makes me so happy that these styles have stayed popular for such a long time - you know you just can't go wrong with the classic French styles, can you?
What's even better is the ballet performances in those beautiful theaters, my darlings. There were these stunning, grand theaters in France, such as the Opera Garnier, just think, chandeliers sparkling and velvet seating! I'm not sure what could be more elegant...unless maybe it's watching the exquisite dance of the prima ballerinas! The whole scene just makes my heart sing, don't you think?
You know, some of my dearest, most talented friends were performing at the Folies Bergère around that time. Such wonderful friends to spend those long train rides with - oh, they’re the best fun, we travel by train, all of us wearing the prettiest pink tutus. You just can't help but sparkle and shimmer in all the pinks, can you? Those lovely Victorian railway journeys, with all that lovely lace...and those delicious Victorian chocolates! Ahh, memories.
Now, speaking of traveling by train, it's been my only means of getting to these lovely, far-off places, especially these days, with my recent performance schedule...I just got back from touring in Vienna! Oh darling, the audiences were incredible - it’s almost worth traveling through the night in my lovely tutu-trimmed compartment...well, the little extra work definitely makes those post-performance meals so much more enjoyable, don't you think? But the good news is, I don't have to do it all alone – it's the joy of ballet, the travel and the camaraderie, you know? I've been sharing so much fun with my beautiful ballet sisters - we all make such a fabulous traveling ballet family! We make sure we are ready to perform anywhere at a moment’s notice!
I absolutely adore going on these incredible journeys with all my darling, tutu-loving sisters! We're going to Copenhagen next - can you believe? You've got to visit the Royal Danish Theatre at least once in your life - it's a total masterpiece, honey! Just the very air you breathe in Copenhagen will make you feel extra twirly, you'll feel ready to dance down the street in your fabulous, shimmering pink tutu! It just brings out that inner dancer, you know?
We must be so thankful, my darlings! The tutus just kept evolving, evolving with the times. But we just keep coming back to those elegant designs - they just seem to be a constant, no matter where you are, what the time period, what the trend!
Remember, loves, it's TutuTuesday! Why not treat yourselves today and join me in the magical world of the tutu.
Until next week, remember to always embrace your inner pink!
Hugs, Emma xo
Don't forget to check out www.pink-tutu.com for all the latest tutu news! And share your own #TutuTuesday with us - we’d love to see your fabulous pink tutus!
And as a special bonus to this #TutuTuesday, today I'm featuring an excerpt from my favourite book, Ballet in the Victorian Era: "A ballet performance in the late Victorian era was a true spectacle of elegance and wonder."
Oh darling, you just must read this wonderful book - it's practically filled with fabulous tutus and incredible ballet history - and a perfect reminder of why we all love our tutus so much.
