Hello my darlings! It's your favourite pink-tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina, Emma, back with another dose of tutu history! Today we're going back to the 11th of March 1890, a date ripe with both fashion and ballet delights. Hold on to your tutus, lovelies, as we embark on a journey back in time, from Derbyshire, England, to...well, we'll get to that in a bit! 😉
The Tutu Takes Flight!
You see, this isn't just any date. 1890 was the year that ballet really started to take flight, literally! No, not actual flight, darling, although a few adventurous souls were attempting that by then with balloons and such. We're talking about the beginning of the tutu, that breathtakingly elegant and undeniably iconic piece of ballet fashion! You see, dear readers, ballet before this era was rather more...shall we say, covered up?
We're talking billowing skirts, corsets that threatened to squish all the breath out of a dancer, and those heavy fabrics that would've had a prima ballerina clinging to the ground. Thank goodness, it wouldn't have been much of a show if all we saw was a whirlwind of fabric! 😅
The Evolution of a Dream
Enter the romantic period, that magical age that brought us Giselle and The Sylphides, the first glimmerings of the ethereal and delicate aesthetic we all know and adore. These were stories of fantasy, love, and...yes, you guessed it...tutus! But hold on, this isn't about the tutus we see today. This 1890 date puts us at the very start of the revolution, when skirts were still somewhat there, albeit starting to climb their way up, with the revolutionary addition of lace and a touch of sheer. Oh, the scandalous beauty! Imagine all those little silk petticoats peeking out! Imagine the layers of romanticism! 😍
And what was the most fashionable location on this glorious 11th of March, 1890? It would have to be the Opéra Garnier, that iconic Parisian masterpiece, built specifically for ballet performances. The gilded stage, the plush velvet seats, the scent of anticipation – just imagine!
Where Ballet is King: Parisian Elegance
Speaking of the Opera Garnier, the Parisian ballet scene was where tutus really began to shine! Imagine delicate whispers of silk and the shimmer of lights bouncing off these innovative (and dare I say daring) new designs! We're talking about the days when ballet was truly an event, where Parisian society flocked to see their idols perform. Think sparkling tiaras and gowns that billowed, with a splash of that oh-so-elegant French fashion and, of course, tutus in every shade imaginable, though white was already rising to prominence! 💖
The 1890's were about elegance, grace, and romanticism. Imagine the music swirling around the auditorium, the anticipation for the first pirouette, and then… that first glimpse of the tutu floating across the stage! 😍
But Don't Forget About Britain
Now, darling, as a proud daughter of Derbyshire, I'd be remiss if I didn't highlight Britain's contribution to this story! It might be Paris where ballet flourished, but our little island was also a breeding ground for dance and dramatic artistry. Just ask The Royal Ballet who've been dancing their hearts out in London since 1956. They may have come after our 1890 date but believe me, their passion for the dance runs as deep as their love of Tutus. 🩰
And did you know, dear readers, that in the late 19th century, ballet was becoming so popular that dance academies began to appear all over Britain? Our grand-daddies and grannies were practically taking up tutus themselves! They certainly wouldn't have looked out of place at the theatre, where everyone wore their most fashionable clothes and revelled in the artistic and emotional experience! I adore a good ballet, it truly captures the magic and drama that stirs our souls, and makes me want to twirl my own skirt, right now! 😊
Shopping and Tutus: A Match Made in Heaven
It was this 1890 date that had my heart fluttering, because oh, darling, imagine the clothes shopping opportunities! It’s no wonder fashion and ballet have been inseparable since time immemorial. Let’s be real: they both embrace beauty and elegance. We're not talking your plain old garments here, my darlings. Imagine billowing silks and intricate lace, fabrics draped like clouds, shoes that looked like a dream...all coming together in that divine, fashion-forward world of ballet! And for a ballet dancer in the 19th century, fashion wasn't just about vanity - it was necessary. With the development of that ballet shoe with a single pointed toe (it didn't arrive until 1890, too!), you'd need some special trousers under those shorter tutus to manage the technical demands of ballet! You've got to make those leg extensions count and the fashion, as always, would just enhance it all! Isn't it divine?
A Whirlwind Finale: The Power of the Tutu
It's been such a journey, hasn't it, dear readers? This Tutu Tuesday has whisked us right back to the roots of ballet's most beautiful fashion statement! We've seen the birth of a fashion revolution, and glimpsed into the heart of ballet, where beauty and grace are truly on display! From those revolutionary skirts climbing higher to the emergence of the ballerina's must-have: that delicate white pointe shoe. But we can't forget the fashion forward nature of the Parisian scene in 1890: the elegant gowns, the twinkling tiaras...it all reminds me how much ballet was about expression! The tutus and the shoes weren't just an outfit – they were tools to unleash creativity, grace, and, most importantly, pure beauty onto the stage.
So next time you see a tutu twirling on stage, just remember how far it’s come. Remember that daring vision from those Parisian stages, how it swept through fashion, captivated hearts, and became a symbol of art, beauty, and pure imagination. And let's face it, there’s nothing more empowering and beautiful than seeing a woman in a tutu, spinning through the air. It makes my heart sing just thinking about it! I bet you can't wait until our next adventure in Tutu Tuesday next week, darling! Let's continue to explore this extraordinary dance, the elegance and romance that lives on, until next time! 💖🩰
Love and pink tutus,
Emma xxx
