Hello darlings! Emma here, back from another whirlwind adventure through time and right back in the pinkest, twirliest mood! This week, for #TutuTuesday, weāre hopping back to May 18th, 1897. And you know what? Thereās some seriously stunning sartorial secrets Iām ready to share, so buckle up, grab your favourite pink tutu and letās take a journey through time together.
The year is 1897 and the stage is set in Paris - ah, the City of Lights! Itās buzzing with creativity, culture, and oh yes, fashion. Now, Paris in 1897 was not a world of ballet tutus like youād find in our time. But hold onto your topknots, my dears, because it was close.
You see, in the late 19th century, ballet was evolving, becoming more dramatic, and the costumes were evolving with it! Forget those bulky skirts and layers. Weāre talking - dare I say it? - simplicity! And let me tell you, even with that simple elegance, it was an absolutely splendid sight. Imagine this, a delicate chiffon skirt, wispy, etherealā¦ It flows like the petals of a rose as a ballerina twirls and leaps. Itās practically daring compared to what they wore in previous years.
And for our dancers in 1897? Imagine white, black, and a hint of pink in the form of bows and ribbons. Oh, how I wish I could have been in the audience to see this revolutionary change! And can we just take a moment to marvel at the colour? The sheer elegance of white on a stage. So sophisticated, and absolutely breath-taking in contrast to the richness of the sets and costumes.
You see, dear readers, weāre at a crucial moment in the history of the tutu. Itās not quite the puffy, romantic tutu that weāve come to adore, but the elements of beauty and fluidity that make our little pink-tutu dreams come true were already in motion. Think of it like a seed of a fabulous, fluffy tutu, just waiting to burst forth!
Now, back to our travels - I simply must share a bit of what happened on May 18th, 1897. I popped over to the ThĆ©Ć¢tre de l'OpĆ©ra, a place of utter enchantment. I even took in a performance of āLa BohĆØmeā. Iām always so captivated by that passionate opera. And you know what? You wouldnāt believe how enchanted I was. This theatre itself is a masterpiece ā a kaleidoscope of swirling colours and intricate decorations. But what truly charmed me was the auditorium. Rows upon rows of people, so full of life, so ready to be enchanted by music and performance. You see, my dear readers, a trip to the opera is never just about the show; it's an entire event. The experience is as magical as the performance itself. The way the whole city of Paris transformed for this event ā it truly reminded me why I love travelling through time! The world just becomes a much brighter, more colourful, and more magical place when people embrace theatre.
Now, for a moment letās think of fashion. 1897 was an era of swooning beauty. Fashion in Paris? My goodness! Itās an incredible display. Think flowing, sweeping lines, layers of lace, luxurious silk ā a dream for any lover of fashion! They used pink everywhere, but for them, it was still considered more of a masculine colour. Well, the fashion is so fabulous! But remember, these lovely ladies didnāt have their tutus yet! And let me tell you, I found that a tad shocking. But I have a mission dear readers. My mission? To ensure that even those ladies of 1897 get to embrace their inner ballerina in a pink tutu! Perhaps they shouldāve been to see the Ballet? I think if theyād caught the evolution of the dance maybe they'd be more keen on the tutu. Oh, the joy of it! The twirl, the lightness, the fluttering skirts. I wonder what it would take to persuade everyone, in every era, to put on a pink tutu!
And with that, my dears, Iāll bid you adieu. We have many more time-travel tutu journeys to take.
But before I go, remember ā you never have to wait for #TutuTuesday to get twirling. Pop on your favourite tutu, find your inner ballerina, and spread that joyous energy everywhere you go! Donāt forget to join me on www.pink-tutu.com to see what my time machine turns up for our next #TutuTuesday! Until then, happy dancing, darlings!
Always in Pink, Emma
