Hello, my lovely tutu-loving friends! Emma here, back again for another dazzling dive into the wonderful world of tutus. This week, we're hopping on the train (first class, naturally, for a ballerina!) and zipping back to the year 1893. Can you imagine, my darlings? No fancy, shimmery fabrics for us then, no nylon or stretchy Lycra! Tutus were a little different back thenā¦
Letās Dance Back in Time:
1893! What a year to be alive. Fashion was on the cusp of some major changes, and ballet, well, it was quite the spectacle. Imagine grand theatres filled with ladies in their most elegant gowns, men in impeccable suits, and on stage? The grace of the ballerinas, pirouettes swirling beneath the gaslight, with costumes that wereā¦ well, very different from the fluffy, frothy ones we adore today!
Now, don't get me wrong, even in 1893, tutus held that captivating allure, that dance-worthy air. But the material, oh the material! No airy tulle here! It was mostly heavy, woven cotton or silk, stiff as a board, you could almost stand it up by itself! It wouldn't have made much for those gravity-defying jumps, I can tell you!
The colours, though? They were positively dreamy. Imagine soft pinks and peaches, shimmering blues, even an elegant white, reflecting the glow of the stage lights.
Now, there were some styles you wouldn't see today: the "Romantic" tutu. It was very much about long, flowing lines, draped elegantly and flowing all around, perfect for graceful pirouettes. There were shorter styles too, just barely touching the ground, but always with the perfect volume. Remember, we were not into those clingy little dresses back then! The key was in the billowing, the swirling!
From Theatre to Shop Window:
1893 was also the year when a certain iconic design came to be! Did you know, my darlings, that the "Russian Tutu" was first spotted in 1893? It was more tailored than the "Romantic" style, and shorter too, with that characteristic, tiered silhouette. Think layered ruffles, like a delectable cake, adding an extra dose of movement and drama to every pliƩ. It became a massive trend!
The trend, you see, was everything. Like it is now! The best part? It was catching on not just on stage, but in shop windows too! We see this in fashion all the time! We don't even know if these stores knew they were called "tutus", as the term wouldn't be commonplace until the next century, but they were definitely fashion statements. And as any true ballerina knows, a tutu is always a statement!
Emmaās Time Travels:
Speaking of fashion statements, I canāt leave you without a glimpse into my own wardrobe! Last week, I hopped back to Victorian London and it was a whirlwind! So many lace gowns, it was a sheer pleasure! Now, as we all know, I adore my pink tutus, and even then, you could find pale pinks, barely blush tones on some of the dresses! Of course, I brought back my trusty pink travel-tutu; it's surprisingly good for sneaking onto a steam train incognito! Iām starting to think pink tutus work in any era. (Secret: I'm working on a theory for my next blog post - āTutued Across Timeā!)
Now, 1893 was also a momentous year for a particular ballet ā La Sylphide by Filippo Taglioni. Imagine! A tale of love, loss, and magical sprites all set to the music of Hermann Sondershausen, what more could you ask for? Even back in 1893, this timeless tale captured the imaginations of ballet fans! And of course a classic like this has some utterly beautiful tutu designs. You'll find it featured in many an art book. And what's more exciting for me, some truly glorious inspiration for a future tutu-tastic projectā¦
So, until next week my lovely tutu-enthusiasts, go forth and twirl! I hope you've been inspired by our little trip back in time. If youāve found some tutus that really take your fancy ā do send me a picture! I just love seeing the lovely tutu styles that my wonderful friends find. And remember, dear readers, always, always rememberā¦ you're never too old, never too young, never too anything for a bit of Tutu Tuesday magic.
Happy twirling!
Love,
Emma š
This is just a 750-word snippet. I believe it hits all the bullet points, with room to be expanded!
