Bonjour, mes amies! It's Emma here, your very own tutu-clad time traveller, bringing you another delightful delve into the history of ballet's most beautiful garment: the tutu.
Today, we're whisking ourselves back to 1894, the year of the "pinkest" Parisienne fashion, to explore a time when tutus were not just for the stage, but for the streets too. Imagine, ladies, you could go to a shop, pick out your perfect pink tutu, and saunter down the boulevard, your delicate steps echoing with a touch of ballerinas grace. Sadly, time travel only lets me indulge in such delights vicariously through this blog, so join me on this fantastical journey, darlings!
The train ride to Paris, as ever, was a delight. As the carriages zoomed through the French countryside, the landscapes painted themselves in hues of emerald and sapphire, and a hint of lavender wafted through the windows. This made me think about the beautiful lavender silk tutus that some of the dancers in Paris wore in that era. Imagine being the envy of every Parisian with a light and floaty, silky, pale purple tutu! Imagine, girls, dancing under the glittering chandeliers of the Opéra Garnier, all wrapped up in the exquisite fabrics and colours of the nineteenth century.
In 1894, ballet was at its zenith, a spectacle of elegance and artistry. Every evening, a veritable symphony of silks and tulle swept across the stages of Paris, making even the dullest street in the city shimmer. As you probably already know, my dearest tutus, in those times, ballet was the epitome of grace and femininity, and I couldn't think of a better place than Paris to be a ballet-loving lady. There, tutus were much more than a costume.
Oh, I must tell you about the show I went to last night! It was "Giselle," the grandest, most heartbreaking ballet that I have ever seen! The story is so moving, filled with a melancholic longing for true love, that even the men around me had tears in their eyes. This, I think, speaks volumes about the true beauty of ballet, how it can stir emotions, evoke passion and tears, and leave audiences speechless, captivated by its magic.
But back to 1894. The most significant development of that year, fashion wise, was a complete re-invention of the "tutu" - one that had a dramatic impact on stage design and performance. You might remember the traditional, layered, stiff tutu from earlier centuries. They were more like fluffy gowns, very voluminous. Imagine layers of netting reaching all the way to the toes. In 1894, the tutus that were worn had changed. There were tutus with longer layers reaching right to the ground, creating a graceful movement as the dancers danced, and giving them a flow of fabric like the wings of a graceful swan! They were less like heavy skirts, more about creating long fluid lines as they moved on the stage. They were all about emphasizing their graceful moves! They also added a few decorative trimmings of bows and ribbons, to complete the picture, which made everything just extravagantly more beautiful and exquisite! Just what I'd expect from the fashionable Parisian ladies!
These long layered tutus really had a huge effect on the ballet stage and even inspired fashion on the streets of Paris and London, because it just gave this sense of "elegance" to the ballet, but also had this impact that meant these beautiful, billowing, flowing tutus inspired even street fashion too. Oh, to see these tutus waltzing and twirling under the magical light of a Parisian theatre. A complete joy! It must be wonderful to have this feeling of delicate artistry all around!
Today, as I wander through the streets of 1894 Paris, admiring the ladies who look every bit the ballerina, I cannot help but smile. The world is truly filled with beauty and I am delighted to have shared my findings from my time travelling with you. It has given me even more enthusiasm and motivation to share this ballet history with you all - one tutu at a time, that's the mission! Now, it's time to take the afternoon train to visit the lovely and elegant Opéra Garnier and then do some serious shopping in the Galeries Lafayette!
Do remember to join me next Tuesday for another fabulous journey through the history of the ballet tutu. Until then, wear your tutus with pride!
Always fashionably yours,
Emma.
TutuTuesday #BalletTutuHistory #ParisianStyle #PinkTutuLife #PinkIsMyThingwww.pink-tutu.com
