#TutuTuesday Ballet Tutu History on 1896-06-23

Oh my darlings! It’s your favourite Derbyshire lass back with another installment of #TutuTuesday! It's a blustery day in Paris, which can only mean one thing... more reasons to snuggle into my pinkest tutu, naturally. But before we talk about all things frills and flourishes, let’s hop on the time machine and head back to a grand day in history! Today we’re celebrating 23rd June, 1896, and oh darling, what a day it was for fashion, dance, and the world of theatre!

So grab a cuppa (I'm partial to Earl Grey myself), put your feet up, and let Emma take you on a whirlwind tour of a bygone era where ballet was blooming and the tutus were simply divine!

Let's be honest, 1896 was a period where dance and fashion were almost like two peas in a pod! We’re talking the Victorian era, full of elegance and a certain ‘ooh la la’! For those of you not familiar with the era, think billowing sleeves, voluminous skirts, and exquisite detail. Now imagine that kind of flair applied to ballet. Oh, the excitement!

Our ballerinas weren't twirling in these floor-length ball gowns (although, imagine a ballerina en pointe in one of those! A truly glamorous vision!), but their tutus were still masterpieces! Imagine beautiful tulle, crafted with such care and precision that every layer seemed to float on air. You'd find them in a kaleidoscope of colours – white, the ever-classic choice, as well as pinks, blues, and yellows. And then, the embellishments! Think sequins, feathers, and beads! Those ballerinas truly looked like angels who had just descended from a celestial dance hall.

Of course, my lovelies, what is a delightful ballet without a bit of shopping! The boulevards of Paris were simply abuzz with all the latest fashions! I daresay, even I wouldn’t mind a little trip there with my bank card… (I mean, just imagine the tutus you could find there! The colours! The craftsmanship!). Imagine wandering down the avenues and finding those charming boutiques filled with all kinds of treasures. Oh, how I long for that feeling of discovery!

The shops, you see, would be filled with elaborate hats and bonnets. It seems everyone would be donning plumes, feathers, and even tiny jewels in their hats! A beautiful ballet at the Grand Opera House, followed by a spot of shopping… pure bliss, darling!

My lovely readers, have you ever experienced the wonder of seeing a live ballet performance? I can just imagine it… the theatre’s grand staircase, bustling with ladies in elegant gowns and gentlemen in tuxedos, all chatting about the performance and the new additions to their wardrobes. Oh! It's enough to make my little tutu heart flutter with excitement!

The grand opera house of Paris is said to be absolutely spectacular, just the thing to showcase some truly remarkable dance! Can you imagine a stage, grand and ornate, draped in beautiful fabrics, all perfectly lit with spotlights and gaslight lamps? It’s not a sight for the faint-hearted, I assure you, and one of the most wondrous experiences to see if you ever get the chance. The ballet performances are breathtaking!

There’d be waltzes, dances of exquisite grace, with ballerina and danseur swirling like the wind, their leaps seemingly defying gravity! The beauty, the passion, the sheer emotion… a ballet performance at its finest is truly unforgettable. I’m just lucky I can jump into my trusty time machine and revisit all these experiences whenever I need a little ballet fix!

Talking of time travel, I can’t believe it's already time for me to zoom off back to my time! Sadly, 2023 beckons! Remember, my darlings, time travel costs money, and even time travellers need to find creative ways to pay for those fancy jetpack fuels! And that's where ballet comes in...

I, my darlings, I dance! Whenever I need to fuel the time machine and jump across the centuries, I don my pinkest tutu, join the world’s best orchestras, and wow audiences! My ballet shows help me fund these grand journeys, allowing me to indulge in my biggest passions: exploring history, the fabulous history of tutus, and of course, my obsession with pink tutus!

Until next week my lovelies! Make sure to follow www.pink-tutu.com and check back in every Tuesday for my latest installment of #TutuTuesday! Until then, remember to always dance your heart out and be the pink tutu queen of your heart, no matter what. Because honestly, who doesn’t love a good tutu, am I right?

Now, off to Paris to find myself some vintage fabric to update my collection of pink tutus! Ciao, darling!

xx