Hello lovelies! It’s Emma here, your resident tutu enthusiast and chronicler of all things tulle, and I’m absolutely giddy to be back with another #TutuTuesday post.
This week, we're taking a glamorous trip back to August 27th, 1895, right smack dab in the middle of the Belle Époque. This was a time of stunning fashion, glittering society balls, and yes, the glorious rise of ballet as we know it!
Oh, how I wish I could be a Parisian flapper dancing at the Opéra Garnier right now. Can you imagine the excitement of watching the legendary Isadora Duncan in all her flowing, graceful glory? Or catching a glimpse of Anna Pavlova, the original "divine child" of ballet? The whole scene must have been truly spectacular!
Speaking of spectacular, have you ever wondered where the iconic ballerina tutu, you know, the fluffy one, even came about? Well, fasten your dance shoes, my darlings, because we're about to uncover the magic behind this fabulous garment.
The truth is, our modern ballerina tutu, with all its layers of tulle and romance, actually evolved from something quite different, believe it or not. Back in the day, the tutu was basically just a very short, very fitted skirt, barely even a petticoat, meant to showcase the graceful leg movements of the ballerinas. And let me tell you, the look was as elegant as it was practical.
Fast forward to the early 19th century, and things started to change. Enter the romantic era! This was a time of swirling, flowing gowns and dramatic tales in opera and ballet. Enter the "Romantic tutu," inspired by the* Grecian fashion* that was all the rage at the time. This new design involved soft, layered tulle skirts, giving ballerinas that light, ethereal quality that was so in vogue during this era.
It wasn't all a bed of roses though. Back in 1895, those dreamy Romantic tutus, with all their lovely flowing tulle, could sometimes get in the way of intricate footwork or, heaven forbid, become tangled. Enter the “waisted” tutu – shorter, more streamlined, and still graceful, but perfectly functional for showing off those mesmerizing feet and spins. It's truly amazing how quickly ballet's sartorial choices were evolving, even back in the late 19th century.
By this time, Paris was the absolute epicentre of ballet, and they loved their tutus. Just imagine - it must have been like a feast for the eyes! I bet those little Parisian ladies were practically dying to become ballerinas in their fluffy pink tutus, don’t you think?
I bet you’re thinking, “Emma, that all sounds lovely and very historical, but what exactly was happening on August 27th, 1895?”
Well, that’s what I love about time travel – every day has its little stories, right?
On August 27th, 1895, it was just a normal day in the exciting world of fashion, and a normal day at the Opera. If I were there, I would have certainly visited my favourite* Parisian boutiques* – my dear, those shops were just teeming with stunning designs and opulent fabrics! Pink, by the way, was the color du jour for everything - ribbons, bows, fabrics! Can’t imagine the time travel suitcase I would need for my fabulous, fluffy pink outfits!
Back to that magical, whirling world, that era really did embody the essence of graceful elegance. That same elegance continues to resonate with the ballet tutus that grace our stage and dance schools today. Every twirl, every pirouette, is a testament to the evolution of this exquisite garment – a symbol of art, movement, and a little bit of magic.
So, my dears, remember to dance, to twirl, to express yourself with all the grace and whimsy of the Belle Époque. Let your inner ballerina shine bright.
Now, what’s on your dance card? Until next #TutuTuesday, may your steps be light and your skirts ever-so-tulle!
P.S.: Don’t forget to follow my www.pink-tutu.com website and Instagram account @PinkTutuBlogger for more fabulous ballet updates, my top tips on all things fashion and where to find the perfect pink tutu (a little birdie told me that London is about to become the hot spot for the latest in ballet fashion). Oh, and did I tell you that I’m planning a big trip to Paris next week to hunt for the perfect antique pink tutu for my upcoming ballet performance? Don’t miss all the updates!
