Hello darlings! Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-clad time-travelling ballerina blogger. This week, we're taking a trip back to the glamorous 1890s and diving into the wonderful world of ballet tutus - just a few decades after they first twirled onto the stage!
As you know, my dearest readers, I simply adore tutus! The way they whirl, the way they float, the way they bring out the absolute diva in every ballerina (even this one, even if she's wearing a bright pink one!) And they were born in a time of serious fashion drama - and that, my darlings, is something I adore.
But let's rewind, shall we? Imagine a world where you were rocking a long, full-length, flowing gown for ballet... Sounds less "elegant swans" and more "fluffy poodles in a ballroom", doesn't it? Well, back in the 1890s, that was the reality for our darling dancers.
Now, remember, ballet wasn't exactly accessible back in those days. The high-brow performances in grand Parisian theaters were the only place to catch it, and even then, you had to be practically royalty to afford a ticket! Ballet, for the most part, was the domain of the rich and the aristocracy, and let's be honest, those gowns definitely looked the part! They were all about grand, extravagant detail – imagine layers of lace and ribbons, extravagant headdresses, and probably the heaviest embroidery ever seen on a single frock. (Now, I love me a good, dramatic fashion statement, but those gowns just sound… heavy. Let's leave the heavy fabrics to the waltzers and enjoy the freedom of a real ballet tutu!).
But a new era was dawning, one that valued more than just extravagant drapery. The 1890s, my darlings, was all about the body. Enter Marie Taglioni! It’s believed that this extraordinary dancer, famed for her graceful lightness and poetic interpretation of movement, is responsible for making those flowing gowns more practical… more comfortable.
Now, nobody could deny the dramatic elegance of the full-length ballet costume, but it just didn’t make sense to perform a graceful pas de bourrée in a full gown. There wasn’t room for the leg extensions and rapid footwork that ballet is famous for – you wouldn't be able to see the beauty of a dancer's line and grace.
Taglioni's genius? Tulle. It allowed the dancers to move freely. This revolutionary new material (and the design that it enabled) freed up the movement, highlighting every beautiful twist and turn. It changed everything - making way for a lighter, more fluid, more elegant kind of performance.
And you know what, my darlings? I think Marie Taglioni understood the same truth as I do – a tutu isn’t just a piece of clothing, it’s a powerful statement. A statement of power, of femininity, of absolute, beautiful freedom.
What was happening in 1890-08-19?
On this day, in Derbyshire, England, life was a-buzzin'! The miners were down in the pits, the market squares were full of vibrant life and chat, and everyone was anticipating a wonderful Sunday roast (and what good Derbyshire Sunday roast would be without perfectly roasted Yorkshire puddings?)
We also might have been graced by some wonderfully warm summer sunshine! The Victorian summers were generally balmy (much like our current, fabulously sunny Tuesday!), so let's imagine enjoying an ice-cream on the market square – perhaps a strawberry ripple or a traditional honeycomb – and soaking up the beautiful scenery.
But you know me, darling – a Sunday with sunshine isn’t quite the same as an afternoon of ballet! Thankfully, my trusty time machine (disguised as a delightfully flamboyant travelling trunk) can take me to some incredible destinations. Let me whisk you away to La Scala in Milan - the beautiful opera house. They were having some pretty phenomenal performances that summer. Maybe they even featured La Gioconda, the most beloved opera of that era, featuring so many fab tutus!
Of course, there was much to see outside of the theaters, too! Shopping for exquisite Parisian silk (for future tutu inspirations, naturally!) was always a good time, and fashioning oneself to be most stylish was the ultimate pursuit, even back then!
Until next week, my lovely readers, let's continue to live for the twirl, let's embrace the feminine freedom, and let's dream in a whirlwind of pink tulle! Remember to rock your own personal style, to embrace the ballet of life, and most importantly – always, always, always have fun!
Yours in the swirl,
Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
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