Bonjour, mes chers tutu-loving friends! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where the world is always in pink and the only rule is to twirl. It's Tuesday, which means it's #TutuTuesday! And today we're taking a magical, pink-hued journey back to November 7th, 1893, to explore a delightful sliver of ballet history.
As a ballerina who loves nothing more than gliding across a stage in my trusty pink tutu, it's always exciting for me to delve into the past and see how tutus evolved. This week, we find ourselves at a crossroads in the history of the tutu - the very same year that the beloved Swan Lake, one of my all-time favourite ballets, had its first performance at the Imperial Theatre in Saint Petersburg! Just imagine, being there that night, the air crackling with anticipation, the orchestra playing those haunting melodies, and seeing Anna Pavlova herself grace the stage in her magnificent, swan-like tutu! My heart simply wouldn't have been able to bear the excitement!
While we often think of the tutu as a fluffy, full-skirted affair (like my trusty pink one, of course!), in 1893 the romantic tutu was the style of choice. This romantic tutu, as you can probably guess, had a bit of a dreamy, flowing quality to it, with layers of tulle falling in graceful waves. It was much softer than the tutus of previous eras and, while not quite as voluminous as the iconic “tutu de paniers” of the early 1800s, it allowed the ballerinas of the day to display their elegant movements to the fullest.
You've probably guessed by now that my time-travelling adventures are funded by performing in shows and classes. It's wonderful being able to share my passion for ballet and, at the same time, make enough to hop between eras, enjoying all the fashion and frills that come along with it! Just last week, I danced in a beautifully dramatic version of Giselle, wearing a simply magnificent tutu with the most gorgeous details and layers, a stark contrast to the simpler romantic tutus of 1893!
Anyway, back to November 7th, 1893! If I had been transported to that day, my afternoon would have been packed with girly delights, starting with a visit to the exquisite "Harrods" department store in London. Now, Harrods wasn't just any shop back then, my dears! Think towering glass ceilings, ornate decorations, and a selection of fashion that would leave you breathless. Can you imagine a time before online shopping? The thought simply doesn't bear thinking about! Imagine a world with only brick and mortar stores - a world without instant reviews! Oh, how those Victorians ever survived. I do hope they had tea to see them through.
Oh, did I mention I'd definitely stop in at a "milliner's shop" to find the most exquisite hat, perfectly adorned with lace and ribbons and...well, more feathers than a peacock. You can never have too many feathers, and hats were essential for fashionable women of that era! They say it was all about the 'hat,' and honestly, if I could hop into my time machine and see what they wore back in the day, I'd go back in a heartbeat!
You see, ladies, one of my life's biggest passions, apart from ballet, is clothing. I dream about being in the centre of London's shopping districts, taking in all the glamorous sights, the smells, the displays! It would simply be heaven on earth, as the saying goes, a shopper's paradise. A Pink-Tutu-Paradise, in fact!
But after a long day of browsing and buying, what's a girl to do? Well, only a true ballerina could answer this question! It's a good thing November 7th fell on a Tuesday, the perfect day to enjoy the wonders of the London Opera House. Now, we wouldn't get a peek at a proper ballet that evening, because 1893, while a great year for the theatre, was a few decades from my beloved ballets like Swan Lake!
That wouldn't stop me, though! The opera house is a must-see on my list of places to visit and experience in any era. Imagine those grand balconies, the gilded decorations, the excitement in the air. And the music! To hear opera, like Carmen, played on the very stage that renowned singers like Lillian Nordica have graced, well, it would make my little ballerina heart burst.
Now, before you say I'm only obsessed with fashion and pretty things, I’m also a true history buff. My favourite way to understand any time period is through the stories of its people, its cultures, and of course, its clothing. We all know fashion is so much more than just clothes. It tells us a story, about people, about society, about ourselves. The fashion of the late Victorian era was full of elegance and sophistication, a world where silk and lace reigned supreme. Just imagine wearing such fabrics on the daily! If I ever time travel back, I will be doing everything in my power to spend my entire time exploring and learning all I can about fashion!
Until next week, my dearest tutu enthusiasts! Remember, the most important thing is to wear your tutu with pride, to embrace the beauty of dance, and to never stop dreaming.
What’s the most magical time period you’d like to visit? Let me know in the comments!
Bisous,
Emma xoxo
www.pink-tutu.com
