Hello darlings! Welcome back to my #TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History blog! It’s me, Emma, your friendly neighbourhood time-travelling ballerina blogger, back from another exciting journey through the annals of tutu history. 🕰️
This week, I’ve whisked myself back to the 2nd of September 1890 – what a glorious year! 👗💖 The late Victorian era is positively brimming with fascinating fashion, and naturally, I’m here to talk about all things tutu-related, from the boudoirs of Paris to the grand theatres of London. This post is #3062, and just to remind you all, I write these posts for my fabulous blog www.pink-tutu.com. I love to celebrate all things tutu! A new one pops up every Tuesday so you know where to find me!
As you all know, I absolutely adore pink, and let’s face it, there is no other colour quite as suitable for the grace and elegance of a tutu! 💖 So when I popped into a little tearoom near the Grand Opera House in Paris today, it just so happened to be filled with a lovely ladies luncheon. Just as I was admiring a particular fetching blush-pink bonnet with its exquisite feather adornment, someone called out, "But darling, did you see the performance of Giselle at the Opéra last night?!"
I whipped out my travel notepad – yes, this one is covered in delicate pink roses – and hastily jotted down some notes. I do believe there’s no more fitting a start for a ballet history blog post than a ballet performance itself, and this is precisely where my journey began!
Before we get to the nitty-gritty, a little background on my personal funding is always in order. Now, you all know I'm an intrepid traveller and love to explore. For a ballerina, there is no more fantastic way to earn a living than by dancing – that's my secret sauce. When I travel, I make my living performing on stage! Sometimes it’s in a ballroom, and sometimes, it’s in a stately home with the finest actors. You see, all those fancy dresses, costumes, and lavishly decorated halls don’t appear out of thin air. There’s a story to be told about each one, a performance to be given. And with my own dance talent, I'm in my element! 💖💃
I travel between periods and times through an antique grandfather clock inherited from my Derbyshire granny – bless her soul! She had it all – fashion, hats, and exquisite taste! Now I can pop between timelines as I fancy! But I promise to be back soon, with my next #TutuTuesday post next Tuesday! So do check in here and visit my site www.pink-tutu.com for all the latest tutu fashions and updates!
Back to our lovely French luncheon… After our ladies chatted and gossiped about the previous evening's ballet, I was intrigued. Of course, I had to find out all about the Giselle performance – even more importantly – the costumes!
Now, I'm quite partial to tutus. You could even call me an expert, which brings me to why I love writing this blog for all of you.
Did you know that the classic tutu we associate with ballet emerged in the mid-19th century? Well, my darlings, this was just after a performance of La Sylphide in 1832 that caused a scandal! A shocking display for its time, this little dancer twirled away in her “tutu” (an adapted version of what was originally a loose, draped garment.) Now, that is a history of ballet story in itself!
Just imagine, the shocked faces of the audience! Not only was it so short, but the gauze-like material floated and twirled! Now, that’s something I just love to wear, right? 🩰💃
Now back to our 1890 performance. My ladies were talking about how Giselle had no tutu whatsoever! Instead, the main female character wore a simple white muslin dress with a loose, flowing skirt - which just sounded dreamy and quite romantic to me!
So, to see how my favourite French dancers would be wearing their tutu on stage was really something to experience! 🩰🇫🇷 Let’s just say my excitement is just beginning… My notebook overflowed with more details about tutus than ever before – this is the real thing!
Of course, as a fashionista, I had to investigate, and so I ventured forth into the fashionable Paris streets. The ladies here love the look of ballet, from their fashionable skirts to the elaborate, feathered bonnets worn at social gatherings, all just bursting with movement, style and elegant fluidity.
Now, 1890 was a vibrant period, you see. Tutues, or at least ballet wear in general, were undergoing their own kind of fashion revolution! It wasn’t just ballet tutus themselves but the whole style of women's clothes that felt completely new. Take the fashion, and its effect on clothing in the 1890s — ladies are going bonkers for skirts with curves! So elegant. The shape of a bell with soft draping. The new styles of corsets made a figure-hugging hourglass shape so coveted for its elegance. This revolution would completely alter the ballet world, too! In Paris, we saw women flaunting an even bolder, more daring attitude. This influence can also be seen in the theatre!
As I meandered past the most exquisite shops with shimmering silks and fabrics in vibrant pink, turquoise, and lavender colours (what a treat!), I overheard some gentlemen arguing on a street corner about a particular ballerina! Turns out, our Miss Isadora Duncan was shaking up the world of ballet with her daringly different moves. This modern approach – not a fan of those stiff and strict traditions! She preferred to perform in bare feet and very little fabric (much like La Sylphide), embracing flowing gowns that were practically a continuation of her natural body movements. You could say she’s practically defying those old-fashioned notions, and I like it!
That afternoon, I felt compelled to take a journey on the luxurious Orient Express to visit the Opéra in Vienna. After all, we're just around the corner, aren’t we? My darling! My note-pad was quickly filled with the latest on ballet in Austria. It seemed our local Austrian dancers embraced a classic tutu, albeit in new ways. They, too, felt influenced by the new silhouette of fashion – long and lean and feminine. This change gave dancers a freedom they had never experienced before! The elegant curve of the dress or tunic would follow a dancer’s own silhouette, creating a delightful swoosh effect as the ladies spun. The effect – like an ever-so-graceful ballet in itself! What's better is the addition of the ‘polka dot’ which brings a joyful vibrancy!
Oh, I loved my visit to Austria! A trip by train never fails to inspire a love for life’s luxuries – so much better than a crowded and dusty bus! You see, when I time travel, you know I take my fashionable inspiration everywhere! Who doesn't adore that chic yet elegant vintage style? It really takes me back to an era when women embraced elegance in a much more deliberate fashion – every move, every style, an expression of one's individuality and confidence!
I couldn’t go anywhere, however, without visiting a theatre. So of course, the first thing I had to do was to head to a performance! My journey through the Victorian world wouldn’t be complete without it, right?
And that brings us back to London! Oh, the charm of it all! I stepped right into a private theatre with rows of opulent red plush seats! It felt just as magical as it ever did, even more so, actually! The music, the ambiance, the exquisite atmosphere... all absolutely heavenly! There were rows upon rows of sparkling chandeliers lighting up a crowd in a symphony of gasps, murmurs, and soft giggles. And then the performance started… 🩰💫
The London Opéra put on a spectacular dance show - this is where I saw some of the most beautiful costumes - I swear, it was the highlight of my trip! The female dancers appeared on stage with light, wispy layers. This brought me to my next point about my ballet tutu blog: This wasn't a simple tutu we know of today, oh no. These women danced in an entire array of tutu styles! Some were knee-length with more flowing fabric. Others were very short and layered with frills. Some tutus featured tiny shimmering stones like stars. And it was so fun to watch their dresses fly around, dancing with such fluidity and beauty! It's an enchanting art!
The best thing about it? This new style in ballet has brought an elegant form, a feminine flair, and an incredible stage presence, a delight to watch. So graceful! This gentle approach to ballet was revolutionary in 1890 and paved the way for all the incredible variations and evolutions of tutus we see today! A legacy! A legacy of ballerina love! 🩰💖
It’s been another wonderful journey! I absolutely adore travelling and sharing my love of fashion and history with all of you, especially through the lens of ballet history. I simply adore tutus – such an iconic garment! What's your favourite tutu style, darlings? I want to hear all about it! Comment below, or tweet about it with #pinktutu! And don’t forget to visit my fabulous site at www.pink-tutu.com
This trip really gave me so much to ponder and write about! You just know I have more history and tutu-related information for next week's #TutuTuesday. Make sure you don’t miss out, because there is always more to learn and to see when it comes to the world of dance, fashion and history.
Love,
Emma
And please let me know if you have any specific requests. What tutus are you dreaming of? What eras in ballet history would you like to explore together?
See you next Tuesday!
