#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1890-09-30

Hello lovelies!

It’s Emma here, your friendly neighbourhood tutu enthusiast, back with another fabulous edition of #TutuTuesday: a peek into the captivating world of ballet history. Today, we're going all the way back to September 30th, 1890 - the date when something quite remarkable happened... the tutu was born! Well, almost.

This week, my journey took me straight to the heart of Parisian fashion, a land brimming with elegance and style! Think crisp mornings, the smell of freshly baked croissants, and charming little cafes…oh, and let's not forget those beautiful dresses. Paris is truly the perfect city for a time traveller!

My mission: to find out all about the origins of the tutu. And guess what? This was the year, dear readers, when one of the most influential dancers of all time, the legendary Isadora Duncan, made a bold fashion statement, forever altering the trajectory of ballet costumes!

As a woman known for her free-flowing movements and unconventional spirit, Duncan took to the stage wearing something revolutionary: a short skirt! Say whaaaat! Can you believe that a ballerina would choose anything other than a long, swirling gown?

For the uninitiated, traditional ballet costumes at the time were big, elaborate, and somewhat restricting, like a magnificent, cumbersome wedding dress.

And Isadora Duncan, in all her dazzling, daring, creative glory, was simply having none of it.

She had this vision, this beautiful artistic statement to make. You see, Duncan believed in freeing movement, she wanted to dance with the freedom of the wind and the grace of a flowing stream. The traditional costume was a barrier, hindering the fluid elegance she wanted to achieve.

So, she shortened the skirt! It was a radical change, a symbol of revolution and artistic freedom in a world obsessed with structure and convention.

But remember, dear friends, this wasn't the "tutu" as we know it today. There were still no layers of tulle, no delicate frills, no puffy forms just yet. But, oh darling, it was the spark, the start of something undeniably magical.

Now, 1890 was a bustling year in the world of fashion and dance. Other prominent dancers began adopting the shorter skirts too, but it was a gradual process, with little touches of modernity and experimentation. Imagine all the hushed whispers and excited chatter! The dance world was a-flutter!

And guess what else was happening on this glorious 30th of September in 1890? A remarkable fashion show was held by none other than the renowned fashion house of Worth, featuring the latest and greatest in fashion!

Talk about a fashionable fiesta! It was the year when the world was being transformed with fresh ideas, and Worth's designs were making waves! Can you imagine being there, right at the epicentre of it all, feeling the energy? I absolutely love those kinds of days. The atmosphere is electric!

But back to the tutu - as if by magic, just three years later in 1893, we witness a magnificent transition. The year 1893 saw a magnificent revolution! Ballet dancers were now embracing a new silhouette. It was still shorter, but it had become... tullish!

Now, don't get carried away, lovelies! These weren't the grand, voluminous tutus we know and love today. No, it was just a subtle hint of tulle, a glimpse of delicate layering. Think of it like a little bit of sparkle, a sprinkle of fairy dust...

I'd like to say a huge thank you to Isadora Duncan for her ground-breaking work, a big cheer to all the creative minds in Paris, and a massive thank you to those incredible Worth fashion shows, where we can trace the beautiful path leading to our perfectly puffy, princess-worthy, dazzling tutus.

From that small whisper of tulle to the spectacular displays of dance, that’s where it all started.

We can truly see how revolutionary Isadora Duncan was, her daring style paved the way for our cherished tutus today! And believe me, those fashion shows? Those are a definite must-see!

And you know me, always in pursuit of the best in tutu history! I’ll be back next Tuesday with even more thrilling tales, so stay tuned for our next historical tutu adventure! Until then, remember...

A tutu a day keeps the blues away!

XOXO

Emma

www.pink-tutu.com