Hello, darling dears! It's your favourite pink-tutu-clad time traveller, Emma, back with another instalment of your favourite history-meets-tutu blog, #TutuTuesday. Today, we're pirouetting back to 27th July 1897 - oh, what a time it was! This was a period where ballet was simply blossoming into its full glorious potential. A whirlwind of grand ballets and shimmering tutus! I almost wished I'd packed a pair of pointe shoes instead of my trusty comfy travel shoes for this journey... almost!
I was lucky enough to catch the first ever performance of Swan Lake in its revised form in St. Petersburg - oh my, a total delight! Imagine, seeing the full splendour of the corps de ballet, all adorned in those stunning, flowing white tutus. The beauty, the grace, the emotion - it truly left me speechless!
As always, let's travel back in time and unpack the fashion scene at this pivotal point in history. Picture a world where, even for the average woman, a full-length dress was the standard, the bustle, a common trend. The Victorian era was in full swing, ladies! But there were glimmers of change. Look at the emergence of what would become known as "the New Woman" – ladies starting to explore trousers, the bloomers, as they were then called, even! Now, don't go thinking that everyone had abandoned those pretty skirts – that wouldn't happen for another few decades!
But what of the tutus? Imagine those early days when, on stage, those beautiful, lightweight garments would make their grand entrances and instantly whisk the audience away to magical lands and heart-wrenching stories. Those airy tutus, swirling and soaring on pointe – absolute enchantment! I even saw a production of Giselle, another classic that would make history and have every girl yearning to twirl like a dancer! It seems that the desire for romanticism and grandeur was the flavour of the day, reflected both on stage and in the fashions of the time.
You might be wondering – where do my tutus fit in, Emma? Don't worry, darling! I just adore how history informs our fashion, especially our ballerina world! And guess what? Just like the grand dames of ballet in 1897, we can also choose our "look" with the kind of tutu we decide to wear! Today's tutus are just as magnificent, don't you agree? From the soft romantic layers of tulle to the shorter and more contemporary silhouettes, the tutus available nowadays offer a breathtaking range of styles, ready to let every girl feel like a ballerina princess!
But let's dive into the history of this magical garment! Because let's face it, every ballerina needs to know how this piece of theatrical costume made its way into our lives. The modern ballet tutu actually owes a lot to Marie Taglioni, a revolutionary ballerina from Italy. Now, Marie is said to be the first to wear a real ballerina tutu! You can imagine the audience, eyes wide, witnessing her lightness on pointe! A real whirlwind of beauty and talent she was! And that simple, iconic garment? A game-changer! She really started the "tutu craze!" This became the ultimate ballet accessory! And the way I see it, we're carrying the torch for that beautiful legacy! The "short-tutu" revolution started back then and continues to this day.
So, imagine yourself back in that world. We're just before the turn of the century, darling! It’s a time when women's rights were still a hot topic of conversation! There’s such a yearning for expression, such a fascination with the future! It’s almost a mirror of what we’re going through now, right? But here's the magic - no matter the social currents, no matter the "look", a beautiful, classic ballerina tutu always brings elegance, charm, and a little sprinkle of fairy dust!
Oh, did I mention I'll be adding some fabulous 1897-style photos in the comments section? This will give you a visual journey of ballet's enchanting past. Do not forget, darling dears, to subscribe to my blog! Let’s continue to explore the history of the tutu, and together, let’s turn this world into a Pink Tutu Wonderland! Remember, you're all wonderful, and I am sending you all a virtual hug from the lovely city of London, my stopover for a few days of show-stopping shopping and dancing before I set off to Paris, another great ballet city with its very own dance scene history! See you all soon! #pinktutu!
