Greetings, fellow tutu enthusiasts!
Emma here, your trusty time-traveling guide to the wonderful world of the ballet tutu. Buckle up, because this week we’re heading back to a fascinating era: 1896, the year of the Olympics, the dawn of the motorcar, and, dare I say, the perfect era for pink tutus.
(And yes, my lovely pink tulle creation is making a special appearance for this post. This shade of blush pink is just divine with my emerald green velvet sash - what do you think? I'm dying to know your thoughts on my new ensemble!)
Today’s journey takes us to Paris, a city already synonymous with style and sophistication. Imagine a symphony of silks and satins, ladies with bewitching hats and gentlemen with handlebar moustaches. This is the very scene we find ourselves in.
In the hallowed halls of the Paris Opera House, a legend is being born. The name? La Belle Epoque, a golden age of artistic creativity and dazzling theatre. But it’s not all frills and flourishes, darling. We find ourselves at the cusp of something revolutionary. This is the time when ballet, long admired for its grace and elegance, is starting to experiment with the revolutionary concept of… wait for it… storytelling. Yes, darling!
The beautiful Marie Taglioni , she of the diaphanous, knee-length tutus, still reigns supreme. Her influence can be felt in the delicate, almost ghostly tulle creations worn by ballerinas. Think layers of airy, ethereal fabric, fluttering in the air as if defying gravity itself. This isn't the tight, fluffy, pouffy, multi-layered "romantic" tutu we know today, although, of course, we still adore them, right?! But a new generation of ballerinas is emerging, eager to add a dash of theatricality to their art. Think the powerful leaps of La Esmeralda or the ethereal movements of Giselle, where each gesture tells a story, every step communicates emotion.
I mean, can you imagine? I’m completely swooning, picturing the Parisian ballet world. I am dying to see the ballerinas on stage at this time. Imagine the breathtaking movement of their pointe work (Yes, pointes! They were around in this era although pointe shoes weren’t quite the elegant design we see today, I know!), each dancer expressing her emotions through a vocabulary of graceful, flowing gestures.
Of course, no journey through time would be complete without a spot of shopping.
1896, it’s like stepping into a Jane Austen novel. Boudoirs brimming with exquisite silks and laces. And the fabrics - the quality! I simply swoon. The exquisite fabrics themselves - I'd spend a week here just browsing, oh yes! They have such beautiful velvet - such colour, such deep shades! The stores on the rue de la Paix, a street fit for a duchess - they’re like candy shops to me, except the confectionery here is velvet and satin and lace and pearls… I swear, you could get lost in those stores forever!
I've been watching the fashions and ballet for a couple of weeks now and my eyes have been opened - my beloved ballet, well it is just SO beautiful and romantic! I just adore these dainty, fluttery skirts worn by these ballerina nymphs and faeries of the stage, my gosh, don’t those tutus just dance on stage? And how about the elegance of the opera house? There is so much glamour, drama and grandeur that simply takes my breath away. I think, to look back at such beauty as this - no wonder these years are called La Belle Epoque, a lovely name don’t you think, perfectly fitting!
Speaking of which, 1896 also brought a wave of stunning new fashions - I do love those exquisite corsages! The fashion-forward women of this era embraced feminine silhouettes. You will always see me in pink! It seems like in this year we find more women sporting pretty pastel pinks with some of the most stunning shades - you'd want to paint your house the shade of some of the outfits I've been seeing this week - the beautiful shades of delicate blush, lavender, the lightest blue - oh and of course coral.
Here’s my top tip for dressing like a Parisian lady: Always opt for luxurious fabrics like silk and satin, pair those with a soft shade of pastel pink. For a touch of Victorian romance, choose a fitted bodice with a delicate frill. And never forget those graceful gloves - a finishing touch that adds an air of elegance and charm to any outfit! And let's be honest, I mean who doesn't love the style of a pretty Victorian corseted waist and a puff sleeved blouse paired with a dainty chain necklace! Just add a charming hat to finish off this lovely ensemble!
Oh! One more thing - don’t forget to accessorize with a gorgeous bouquet of pink roses - there’s nothing quite like the delicate scent of fresh flowers. They do make a woman feel more confident and even the Parisian men adore a good smelling rose or two in a bouquet for their lady friend.
Oh my! This trip was just magical, I’m already daydreaming about my next adventure through time, maybe a quick jump over to New York for the upcoming performance of Swan Lake - I adore the dance of the swans! Ooh la la! You know, my time travelling makes me want to go and buy every single pink tutu I can get my hands on and dress the world up in these pretty tulle skirts! Perhaps that's why they call it 'a passion', hmm?! Well I best be off to prepare myself for another grand week in the ballet world!
Until next week, lovelies, stay fabulous, and always keep those tutus twirling!
Your Emma xoxo
