#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1895-08-20

Hello my lovely tutu-loving friends!

Welcome back to #TutuTuesday, the blog where we take a peek into the fabulous history of ballet and its oh-so-lovely tutus! This week we're zipping back in time to the year 1895 - oh my! It's a date that’s bursting with excitement and… well, it’s actually a little boring in the world of tutus. But don’t worry, darling, I've still got loads to share about this thrilling period in dance! 😉

So, gather ’round your screens and grab a cuppa - this is blog post number 3321 on www.pink-tutu.com - and let’s go on an incredible fashion adventure! 🚄

I'm Emma, your trusty time-traveling fashionista from the heart of Derbyshire, England. (Yes, you read that right - a ballerina from the countryside! 🌳 ) I adore travelling, shopping, tutus, and, of course, ballet!

My love affair with dance started the minute I could toddle, but I wasn’t quite expecting to be pirouetting in a Paris salon 100 years ago. This is where I'm taking you today, darling - and it’s thanks to those delightful, ever-so-generous patrons of the arts that let me perform a little waltz here and there for my time-travel funds. ✨

This particular day in August 1895 saw Parisian society all aflutter for another glorious night at the Opera. I got to see a truly breath-taking show - “La Gioconda”, a dramatic masterpiece, by the one and only Amilcare Ponchielli. Honestly, darlings, it was as if the music was swirling with life itself! 🎶

So, what about those oh-so-covetable tutus from 1895? Let’s just say this period is very much a far cry from our darling “swan lake” designs of the 1880s (which were my absolute favourite, don't let's mention that infamous story I’ve blogged about... ahem!) The tutus of the day - which you'll be happy to hear are just bursting with creativity - were slightly less elaborate in their construction but they still featured a captivating dance-floor allure.

You’d think 1895’s dancewear would have taken after the romanticism of the earlier century, don't you think? All flowing tulle and soft, fluttery chiffon? Oh, no! The 1890s embraced a whole new kind of theatrical panache. Think stiff, voluminous tulle (so very full! Like the entire dress is a fluffy cloud! ✨☁️). This had to be so demanding to manage for the dancers, don’t you think? Imagine trying to leap and pirouette with a cloud following you! 😹

But hold on to your tiaras because here’s what really caught my eye: bouffant - yes, bouffant - skirts! (The world loves bouffant, you know, so this came as a welcome surprise to me. But imagine how this is going to influence fashion over the coming decades - if we are honest about our fashion future I’m going to need an extra, huge wardrobe!). It was the perfect explosion of 19th-century grandeur and this is how our tutus evolved from mere practical dancing garments to glorious dance floor fashion items that, to be quite frank, deserved an “extra-large applause”!

And how else did they add a little panache? Imagine the ultimate combination: long and elegant, flowing lines for tutus... but all paired with - are you ready? - those glorious “frou-frou” frills - oh how divine! These frilly tutus certainly gave off a very grand theatrical style with lots and lots of volume. Just wait until you hear my next bit on how the colours have changed. (You know me and colour, right? This part of the blog is for you to leave comments about! What colour do you think those tutus were?) 🎨

1895 was an interesting time because ballet itself started to lean more towards a Parisian aesthetic. French influence, with its signature flair for elegant designs, started making its mark - especially at the Paris Opera Ballet! 🩰🗼

Even the name itself began to reflect this change. Now instead of being just called "The Ballet" - we were hearing the glorious name "French Ballet", and for that year it took the dance world by storm! And to say I'm delighted for the French ballets would be an understatement. Why, these delightful ballet shows and elegant tutus became a cornerstone for all of us aspiring dancers and tutu lovers! Imagine what our ballet classes and performances would be like without the influence of Parisian ballets. They set the standard for everything - the movements, the tutus, the costumes - you name it! It’s no surprise they even reigned as the most loved - and sought after - form of dance, globally. It was revolutionary for tutus. It just proves to you, my lovely Tutu-friends, what the Paris Ballet meant to us all - then, and even now. And let's be honest - this trend is still making its impact on ballet. The French style endures.

So, if you’re ever planning a trip to France to see a show or to buy tutus, don't hesitate - make that dream a reality! That, darling, is where you will truly see the impact French Ballet has had - not just on tutus - but on the entire dance scene - past, present, and future. ✨

Speaking of the future... guess what? We're finally at the pink part of this tutu history, darlings! We’re about to discover an extraordinary transformation of our favourite tutu colour... Pink! 💖

Imagine my delight! Tutus now were actually being fashioned in beautiful pink shades. (Pink tutus are still amazing by the way - they always have been. And always will be). In 1895, Pink took its place amongst the popular dance-wear choices of the day, - but still with a touch of that lovely Parisian chic, of course - And it felt as though pink had been waiting to get to ballet's biggest stage all along. What do you think? Could ballet possibly have imagined having a pink tutu on a Paris stage? Oh what a glorious year to be a ballet fanatic! 😹

It was a huge move in the world of tutus, for all of us dancers and tutu lovers to say we're delighted would be a gigantic understatement, darlings! This pink revolution made its way all around Europe and as we head into the 20th century we’ll continue to witness tutus get bigger, bolder, and more captivating as we dance into the new era.

## And a Final Tip...

My darlings, remember as I head back to my own century - when we look at 19th century tutus, it is easy to get caught up in the era's grandeur. You’ll see grand designs and lavish fabrics that oozed Parisian fashion, but these styles were also evolving to make ballet even more dynamic. What do you think about the 1890’s - does anyone else agree that tutu’s were at their most beautiful?

Now go forth into the world of tutus with confidence. Wear your tutu proudly, darling! And don't forget - pink, or any color! Remember, *“A tutu is never too fancy.” * 🌸

See you next #TutuTuesday, darlings! 💖