Welcome back to #TutuTuesday, my darling tutu-lovers! 🩰💖
This week, we're taking a trip back in time to December 2nd, 1890, right here in Paris! Oh, the magic! The grandeur! The elegance! This was a time when the tutu truly took centre stage. You wouldn't catch a ballerina without her beautiful tulle, would you?
This is blog post number 3075, and as you all know, every Tuesday we take a peek into the enchanting history of the ballet tutu. As your very own time-traveling tutu ambassador, I simply can't resist a trip down memory lane, especially when it involves this wondrous garment. After all, if you're anything like me, a pink tutu is always the answer, no matter what! 💕
This Tuesday in 1890, the theatre was alive with the most incredible performance I've ever seen, featuring a bevy of exquisite ballerinas, each swishing about in their own beautiful, fluffy tutu. It was the premiere of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker", and oh my, was it a delight! Every step, every pirouette, every arabesque, every grand jeté, they were all punctuated by the twirling delight of the dancers' tutus. Just the sight of them filled the stage with pure joy and ethereal beauty!
For this ballet, Marie Taglioni's iconic 'Romantic Tutu' was in full effect! These tutus, designed to flow and dance with the ballerina, showcased a freedom and grace, a perfect symbol of the romantic ballet style of the era. Think billowing layers of tulle, barely touching the ankle!
Can you even imagine? The tutu as the central star of the show, allowing the dancers to take flight with each graceful move? It’s utterly romantic, and the idea just makes me want to skip and twirl!
You see, dear readers, I truly believe in the power of the tutu. It's a symbol of grace, of art, of liberation. It speaks volumes without needing to say a word. The way it catches the light, the way it swishes as a ballerina spins - it's just magic!
So, in 1890, the ballet tutu was still very much at its zenith! Paris, my darlings, was truly the capital of fashion, with the likes of Charles Worth leading the way. And this style was just the icing on the cake! Even if you couldn't afford to catch a ballet, there were countless variations of these tutus to be found in shops and boutiques. Imagine, ladies! Having the style and beauty of the ballerinas at your fingertips!
Personally, I love to take a journey on the train when traveling to Paris! Its such a fantastic, chic way to see the world. On this particular trip to Paris I visited all the usual stores to try to find a few tutu bargains, however I just couldn't resist popping in the Galeries Lafayette - and as ever, I was delighted! Imagine the most beautiful display of silks, laces, ribbons and every shade of pink you could dream of! It truly felt like a Parisian dream. The Galeries is also just delightful for its architectural brilliance!
There's just something about the power of pink that really speaks to the feminine. My very first tutu was, of course, a bright, cheerful pink. I was eight, twirling around my bedroom pretending to be a ballerina! Pink just adds that touch of magical wonder and fairytale elegance to everything, especially a tutu. It's truly a joy to look at!
You know, sometimes when I travel through time, I wonder what kind of future tutus will have! What innovations will make them even more magical, even more expressive? I hope it'll always be pink, though! After all, nothing says "fairytale" like a ballerina in pink. 💕
Until next week, darlings!
Emma x
P.S. What do you think about the pink tutus that graced the stages in 1890? Have any of you managed to find one hidden away in an attic or tucked away in your grandmother’s jewellery box? Tell me all about it in the comments! 🩰
