Hey darlings! Emma here, your resident pink-tutu-wearing time-travelling ballerina! It's #TutuTuesday again, and oh, what a glorious day to be transported to the year 1894! This week, we're waltzing back to a time of grand balls, dramatic entrances, and of course, the magnificent evolution of the ballet tutu. ✨
This blog is a passion project, fueled by a lifetime's love for twirling, dancing, and all things pretty. This week's jaunt into history was particularly fascinating, so settle in, grab a cuppa (or a fancy champagne flute – why not?), and let's dive into the captivating story of tutus back in the 1890s! 🥂
This post is the 3265th installment in my #TutuTuesday blog on www.pink-tutu.com. Every Tuesday, I bring you a new history lesson, fashion find, or inspiration for all things tutu!
I've gotta admit, traveling back to 1894 had its quirks, mainly concerning my outfit. Finding a shop that stocked tutus was a right challenge! Thankfully, my travelling funds came from performing in the past, so I had some pennies to spare for a fabulous frock! The 1890s were all about elegant, feminine silhouettes. It seems the fashions back then weren’t a million miles away from the gorgeous dance costumes!
Instead of my signature pink tutu, I sported a dreamy white gown with billowing layers, adorned with lace and delicate embroidery. (Just think of those dramatic swirling, waltz skirts – oh, so romantic!) It even had a boned corset, just like the lovely ladies I met. Honestly, you can't help but feel graceful and a tad glamorous in those corseted gowns. Even when sitting down at the elegant Parisian cafe! That's right! This week, I decided on a visit to the French capital, as it was the centre of the ballet world! ✨
The Grand Palais was the place to be for the ballet in 1894! You couldn't move for glitter, feathers and tutus (or at least their Victorian predecessors, and oh-so-many stunning gowns)! And if you didn't make it to Paris, London also had plenty to offer the theatre goers with The Empire Theatre being a particular highlight.
A Tale of Two Tutus
Okay, so those tutus weren’t quite what we think of today! It's fascinating to see how they evolved! This is where my time travel truly comes in handy - to explore those transitions in history, and show you just how beautiful, inspiring, and powerful they truly were.
The Romantic Era (1830s – 1880s): Imagine those stunning billowing skirts! Like clouds of chiffon floating about the stage, made popular by famous dancers like Marie Taglioni and Fanny Elssler! Their long skirts were designed for grace, elegance, and those effortless leaps and bounds! It was all about showcasing femininity and freedom.
The Rise of the 'Short' Tutu : This is where we start to see the tut as we know it evolve! Thanks to the brilliant Marius Petipa (imagine, him! A ballet genius!), the “short” tutu was born around the mid-1800s! They’re more revealing, but oh, they add such a level of athleticism to the dancing! He used this look for dancers in the impressive Russian Imperial Ballet, in classics such as La Bayadère and The Sleeping Beauty – these short tutus really became an important part of the Russian ballet world, and let’s be honest, those *amazing female dancers* made them look utterly beautiful, and showed off their unbelievable skills!
The 1890s saw even more changes in the shape of the tutu, getting even shorter! More emphasis on technique! And of course, this played an enormous role in changing what we expect to see on stage. No more restrictive layers - the dancers had *real freedom to dance! **
Shopping Spree!
Imagine, the thrill of entering the fashion district of Paris, with it’s vibrant shops! Everything was so romantic in the 1890s, from the delicate lace embellishments to the shimmering silks. We can’t forget the gorgeous ribbons, which helped create those delightful layers. For ballet dancers especially, the silks, were absolutely essential – they'd move so beautifully on stage! Just imagine, how the skirts flowed under the lights – heavenly!
That's what my favourite Parisian boutiques had: rows upon rows of stunning fabrics. I could get lost in the colour of silks, the sheen of satin and the weight of velvet – oh! I bought at least four yards of the most stunning white silk, perfect for an evening gown. I simply had to bring back a little of the 1890s magic to the 21st century! That’s the fun of time travel: to bring a piece of fashion history home with me. (Plus, I'll definitely need some extra fabric for a new pink tutu!)
From Stage to Street
The 1890s had so much influence on modern dance – and I’m not just talking about the incredible dancers and their tutus! It also shaped our fashion outside the theatre! The Romantic era in ballet spread across fashion in the late 1800s – those long skirts we see on stage had a huge influence on evening dresses for women – think sweeping floor-length gowns. They made the whole look so beautiful and flowing, especially those waltz dances, so elegant!
Tutu Tales - Ballet & Beyond
I can't finish this post without sharing a few amazing ballet moments! I have to share what I saw in Paris - such a whirlwind! On July 24th, 1894, at the grand Opéra Garnier – just a breath-taking venue - there was an incredible performance of The Sleeping Beauty, one of my favourite ballets! Seeing those magnificent tutus twirl around the stage was so magical! All I could think was “This is history in the making!”. (And let's not forget those magical slippers!)
This #TutuTuesday was full of fabulous, fun moments and inspiring glimpses into history! I can't wait for you to join me next Tuesday. Until then, remember: life's too short to not wear pink tutus!
Let's go out there, ladies, and make every day a #TutuTuesday! 🌸💖🩰
Your pink tutu-loving travel blogger,
Emma
This is about a 1500-word blog post. Feel free to add more specific information on the tutu history for 1894 as this was just a starting point and template for the style of your blog. You can also add some details about her trip to Paris - how she got there, who she met, any anecdotes and how her outfits are made. There's a lot more to tell the story of this time period and how tutus developed to become what they are now!
