Hello my darling dears, and welcome back to my little corner of the internet dedicated to all things tutu! It's Tutu Tuesday, the day we celebrate the magnificent, whimsical world of tutus. And today, we're going on a little journey through time. 🕰️
You know how I adore finding the beginnings of everything, how I love tracking down the stories that make tutus what they are today? Well, darling, today's trip is truly special! We're taking a ride in my time machine (funded, of course, by a lovely performance of Swan Lake last night in Paris!) all the way back to 1893, the year that saw the birth of the tutu as we know it! ✨
I've got my most exquisite pink tutu on (I call this one "Pink Paradise", naturally!), and my heart is pounding with excitement. We're hopping aboard a magnificent train, the scent of coal smoke and adventure swirling around us, and I've got my trusty notebook ready to jot down every fascinating detail.
Now, I know what you're thinking - tutus existed before 1893, right? And you'd be right, darlings. But those early versions, those wispy, fluffy numbers, weren't exactly what we think of when we say 'tutu' today.
In the mid-1800s, ballet dancers wore rather cumbersome and heavy costumes, more like frilly, layered petticoats, to create the illusion of flowing, graceful movement. They were lovely, don't get me wrong, but the vision of a dancer swirling through the stage in something so substantial... well, it just doesn't quite capture the lightness of ballet, does it?
Imagine this, my dear fashionistas, a time before the short, flowing skirt we associate with tutus today. A time when dancers wore more like full-length, romantic skirts, which restricted their movements and made those thrilling leaps and twirls impossible! It simply wasn't as elegant, darling!
Well, thankfully, this changed thanks to the brilliant and visionary Marius Petipa. This darling genius was a choreographer and ballet master extraordinaire. He knew exactly what a ballet dancer needed – to move like a dream, to flit across the stage as if touched by magic. He didn't like the idea of his ballerinas looking like they were wearing bulky sacks!
And so, he sought a new kind of garment for his dancers. Something light and airy, something that wouldn’t restrict their movements but would still be beautiful and create an ethereal effect. The world of ballet was ripe for a change!
That year, 1893, Petipa created the costume for "La Esmeralda," a stunning ballet set in 15th century Paris. The beautiful, tragically-fated Esmeralda was a gypsy girl who could capture hearts just with the twirl of her skirt.
This is where the magic began. The story goes that the lead dancer, a wonderful young lady named Eugénie Fiocre, wasn't comfortable in the original, bulky costume. So, Petipa had the brilliant idea of replacing the heavy, multi-layered skirt with something different – a short, pouffed, lightweight garment that fell just above the knee, leaving her legs completely bare. The dancers in "La Esmeralda" wore an iconic look!
The new garment allowed the dancers to move freely, to twirl with ease, and to showcase their beautiful legs. This little masterpiece is considered to be the very first tutu, darlings. That's why it's so very special for us, the tutu fanatics of the world!
From that moment, the story of tutus blossomed like a flower! The tutu became the defining image of ballet, a symbol of grace, movement, and elegance, representing the art of the ballerina, making her look as graceful and whimsical as a butterfly. It has captured our hearts since the day it arrived, darling. Every time a ballerina glides on stage wearing one, I can't help but let out a tiny "ooh!"
And look, darling, it isn't just on stage where we find tutus taking the spotlight. The tutu has travelled out of the world of ballet and into our hearts. It's now a universal symbol of elegance and freedom, beloved by everyone from children playing dress up to grown-up women like me (okay, and the occasional daring gentleman, too). It has inspired generations of artists and designers to create dazzling tutus from lace to feather boa, with all colours of the rainbow, bringing their vision to life on a magnificent stage or, frankly, anywhere a stylish, fun, woman like me decides it is going to!
We see tutus everywhere, on runways and red carpets, in music videos, and in artwork! And that's why Tutu Tuesday is so important - to celebrate a piece of clothing that has captured our imaginations, become part of fashion history, and continues to enchant us every single day.
Speaking of fashion, darlings! I was so excited to visit one of the largest antique shops in London recently and discovered a vintage collection of 19th-century tutus! They were almost unbelievably gorgeous! So much inspiration for my new designs, especially with pink, I just know I will make a stunning "Pink Paradise" tutu in a Victorian style.
But enough of my daydreaming. Remember, it's all thanks to Marius Petipa, and his creative genius, and those lovely ladies who had the confidence and spirit to wear such revolutionary costumes! Today, we get to celebrate not just the beginning of the tutu but a piece of fashion history that continues to enchant us!
Now, let's give a big, graceful "bravo!" to all the incredible designers and performers who have embraced the tutu and helped it blossom into the beloved symbol it is today. I shall celebrate with a little dance myself in my new pink tutu - it is going to look lovely.
Until next Tutu Tuesday, darlings, stay fabulous and never forget - a tutu can make anything wonderful!
With much love and twirls,
Emma
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