Hello darlings! Welcome back to my little corner of the internet where tutus reign supreme and pink is always in fashion! It’s your girl Emma, back for another edition of #TutuTuesday, and this week we’re waltzing our way back to March 12th, 1895! Fancy that, a trip to the Victorian era, where life was all bonnets and bustle – oh and corsets! Thankfully, even in the late 19th century, tutus were beginning to blossom into the fashion-forward dance wear we know and adore today. This is post number 3298 on the ever-growing #TutuTuesday archives, found right here on www.pink-tutu.com - make sure you bookmark it, darlings!
Now, imagine this, you're in a grand, beautifully ornate theatre. Gas lamps illuminate the velvet seats, and a hushed anticipation hangs in the air as the orchestra begins its warming up. The stage curtains part and there you have it - a flurry of beautiful ballerinas, twirling and leaping, wearing those fabulous tulle creations we adore so much! But tutus weren't always a part of the ballerina's uniform, you see. There was a time when dancers simply wore ankle-length dresses, a world without that stunning flurry of tulle and light.
Now, imagine, darling, this magical time warp of mine. Just last week I found myself amidst the bustling Parisian streets - the heart of the world’s ballet, you see - where the very air is filled with the whisper of graceful twirls! In the grand Opera Garnier, which was as impressive as anything you could imagine, I was swept up in the excitement, not just for the dancing but for the glorious fashions, of course!
I, of course, donned my pinkest, most voluminous tutu for the occasion. Nothing could stop me from embracing the sheer wonder of Victorian extravagance, all wrapped up in that beautiful pink fluff. You just can't have too much pink, can you? (Especially when time travel makes finding matching pink hats easier than you'd think!)
As I watched those exquisite ballerinas dance, I had a brilliant thought (they usually come in the most glamorous situations, you know): let's peek into the tutu history books and discover where we find ourselves on this beautiful, pink, time-traveling adventure!
The Tutu Evolution - A Romantic Notion!
Let's rewind to the 1830s and picture romantic, whimsical ballet. Think 'La Sylphide,' the story of a charming fairy creature (a ballet for those times, wasn't it!). This little sprite was clad in a lightweight skirt called the tutu-romantique which traced the body more closely than the long, restrictive skirts of earlier times. It was more form-fitting and showed off the ballerina's lovely figure, paving the way for more freedom and movement! Imagine - graceful swirls and a ballet world without heavy, constricting clothing. Just divine!
This revolution, darlings, came thanks to Marie Taglioni, a ballerina so dazzling, they still speak of her legacy. This pioneering woman had a dream: for her and other dancers to move freely on stage. This 'romantic' look allowed ballerinas to really shine and revolutionised the style of dance! A little bit like that bold Derbyshire girl who dared to wear a pink tutu everywhere - my mission, after all, is to share the power of the perfect pink tulle masterpiece!
Now, back to our timeline, dear friends! While we saw the beginnings of the tutu in the 1830s, it really started to bloom in the mid to late 1800s. The late 1800s saw the emergence of a style called the tutu-payer, where we see a little bit of 'romantic' mixed with more lavish and layered embellishment. There are now three-tiered layers of tulle! It's truly elegant, but still allowing that stunning movement on stage. Imagine - three layers of airy, graceful, perfectly ruffled and frilled layers of fabric - perfect for waltzing!
In the very late 1800s, a new era dawned - the tutu-plat. Now this one’s a little more sophisticated – think shorter and tighter, just what we are starting to see today. With its iconic bell-like shape, it allowed for a freer, more athletic dance style - leaps and turns - perfect for the rapid progress of the time. Remember how fast trains are becoming, it's a a symbol of the exciting times and the even more exciting fashion of the 1890s!
But tutus weren't always pink! The most popular colour for stage tutus in this period, believe it or not, was a crisp and lovely white. Think about the light reflecting off the white tulle - so lovely! It looks so romantic in all the gorgeous vintage theatre photographs! Now, if I was a little bold and fancy myself a rebel - well I might add a dash of pink to my tutu. My aim in life, as I've told you before, is to get everyone to wear pink tutus.
* Ballet and Fashion in 1895 - Oh, la la!*
You can imagine what 12th March 1895 in London might look like - if you can picture the glamour and elegance of that era. Perhaps, a beautiful ballet production called Cinderella. Yes, darling! There are no signs of tutu dancing yet, though they were sure to be starting to creep into the world of theatre, with their delightful movement. There might even be some gentle swaying at London’s theatres with those early romantic styles – tutu-romantiques.
Of course, a visit to a London Theatre for ballet, especially the Covent Garden, is always about the fashion! Fashion, darlings, was in a full-on whirl – lots of long flowing dresses and big wide-brimmed hats with lovely feathers – how dramatic!
It wasn't all big hats and elegant gowns, either. This was also the era of the "Gibson Girl" - a symbol of new era women. She embraced freedom with practical clothing: cycling trousers, shirts and blouses that gave more space for their adventurous spirit - quite rebellious! So in this period we have fashion taking a dramatic change with a focus on both grace and function. Oh, my friends, there was nothing that could keep women down – and that's something I definitely can get behind!
* My 1895 Journey - It’s the Train, Darling! *
You know, just to get a taste of that fashion – and that wonderful 1890s era of change, I, of course, took a trip in a vintage train. It wasn’t nearly as plush as modern travel, you see – lots of smoke and clunking, but so worth it to fully imagine being a girl traveling in those grand old days. What a lovely sight!
The best thing? Trains, even back then, had something magical - always with such delightful sense of discovery and that sense of wonder when the train begins its journey! I couldn’t stop looking out the window. That moment of pulling out of a station - especially when in full pink tutu - so very stylish you just have to love it. I had the best time meeting people - all those elegant men and women. You know, there was a chap with a top hat in his late 30s, such a gentleman. We ended up sharing the best Earl Grey with sweetening sugar (so very fashionable).
*Time to go, darling! *
As I look forward to the next #TutuTuesday, it’s important to know that our love for the tutu goes far beyond the beauty of a dancer's silhouette on a stage. It's an expression of love, freedom, and the sheer joy of moving with the grace of the spirit itself. That’s something I think everyone could do - whether you're waltzing, running a marathon, or just enjoying a lovely day in Derbyshire, England, just add some tulle - pink if possible, darling, but don't forget to let me know - comment below with any of your thoughts about tutus!
See you next week!
Until then, happy dancing!
Yours Truly,
Emma
(Psst! If you want a sneak peak behind the scenes, or find out more about the tutus in this blog post or anything you see on #TutuTuesday - follow my socials! Find me on everything -@PinkTutuQueen)
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