Hello, darlings! Welcome back to Pink-Tutu.com! It's your favourite Tutu Tuesday, and guess what? This week we're taking a journey back in time to the glorious year of 1899! Buckle up, darlings, because this trip is going to be full of twirls, frills, and oh, so much romance!
This is blog post number 3531 - can you believe we've been doing this for so long?! Time sure flies when you're having fun, or, well, when you're dancing.
It's a real treat being back in this era. Think sweeping ball gowns, elegant hats, and delicate lace. But today, my lovely readers, we're talking about tutus. As a Derbyshire girl myself, my heart simply swoons at the thought of ballet! I mean, have you ever been to a performance at The Royal Opera House? Oh, the grandeur, the magic, the sheer elegance!
Now, back to 1899! This year was an absolute gold mine for ballet lovers. We had some truly spectacular productions, and let's face it, what really made those performances shine? You guessed it! Tutus!
Back in this era, we were all about romanticism, with the ballet, The Sleeping Beauty! Picture this, darling: graceful ballerinas twirling in billowing tutus, ethereal fabrics catching the light like a thousand stars. That's what makes ballet so magical! And those tutus are the star of the show. Not only are they absolutely stunning to look at, they truly embody the spirit of this beautiful art form.
The romantic tutu we see on stage during this period is an absolute masterpiece. We're talking flowing lines, soft layers of tulle, and the ethereal beauty that only comes from truly magnificent fashion. It’s like watching a cloud dance in the sky, except it’s on a human! I think that’s what makes ballet so special. You’ve got the human and then the absolute perfection of that romantic tutu design which almost makes the performer divine.
The 1890s was when tutus started to get seriously attention - I mean, it's all about creating a fairytale, and we have these magnificent pieces of fabric doing just that! And honestly, when I saw ballerinas perform in those graceful tutus in The Sleeping Beauty in London - oh my word! There were more tiered layers of tulle than I'd ever seen before - absolute heaven. It was all about celebrating that dreamy and enchanted vibe, and those tutus delivered in a BIG way.
While tutus are obviously fantastic, one can't talk about this era without talking about the lovely ladies in them! Those legendary dancers were, for sure, true goddesses of the dance - think of Carlotta Grisi, Marie Taglioni, or Fanny Cerrito, whose ethereal beauty captivated audiences all across Europe and even further.
In fact, they’re often credited for really driving home that romantic spirit through the way they danced! The way they flowed in those tutus was pure artistry! We owe a lot to the ballerinas of this era! They put tutus on the map in the world of ballet - I'm so happy they had the vision to see the beauty and drama these beautiful skirts could bring.
Now, enough about the ballet, darling. It’s a fashion blog, after all! You know I have to chat about this amazing fashion statement!
And believe me, it's an era I love to draw inspiration from for my own wardrobe. Why wouldn't we wear the trend to look and feel our very best!
Tutus from this time often boasted pleated silk, velvet, and the softest lace. Imagine the sheer glamour! But the highlight of these creations? Well, that's definitely the abundance of tulle. It simply oozed femininity, and it perfectly complemented those graceful, flowing ballet moves. It’s like having a thousand, oh no, ten thousand tiny tiny pink rainbows on your body at once - just pure, fabulous fun!
Speaking of pink, I can’t get enough of this vibrant, joyful hue! And I love how these romantic tutus are reminiscent of all things sweet and lovely. The colour of the dawn and blush roses - how romantic! The 1890s were all about incorporating those elements into fashion, which was, by the way, the complete opposite of the Victorian style. Remember how much everyone loved the corset? Well, the ladies started ditching it and opting for more soft, free-flowing garments. I love the era's influence on how we express ourselves through clothes.
You’ll see a big shift in how women dress because of these dancers. Remember all those poofy skirts with a ton of volume, which kind of hid those beautiful feminine forms underneath? I must admit, poofy has its place and can be beautiful. The women in 1899 were finally breaking away from that. Tutus made it happen. Tutus changed everything!
In the same way, this shift inspired other kinds of attire, you’ll see many dresses becoming more form-fitting and less bulky and much, much more fun! I bet all you fashionistas out there were so excited to show off that beautiful figure in something soft and graceful and flattering.
The romantic tutu of 1899 made ballet even more magical. This particular style went on to shape ballet's history forever. Think La Sylphide, Giselle, Swan Lake, all of these iconic masterpieces rely on this type of design - It made the tutu truly iconic! And, it gave birth to those amazing ballerina fashion staples which are still around today! The romantic tutu’s a real piece of ballet history.
So next time you find yourself in the middle of Swan Lake, think of the 1890s. Imagine these elegant ladies on the stage, in these dreamy, billowing tutus - graceful as they’ve never been. It's pure, romantic bliss, and, of course, the ultimate Tutu Tuesday!
And that brings me to my favourite thing! Of course, it's Tutu Tuesday and the day that makes me want to pack my luggage, travel by train and get myself back in time for a quick look around and perhaps an afternoon at the Royal Opera House - oh how I would have loved to watch these women take the stage. But you know what? You don’t need a time machine to enjoy the beauty and grace of these wonderful tutus! All you need to do is get yourself to a ballet performance, or even a lovely dance class!
Of course, I highly recommend the most beautiful piece of clothing you can possibly own! The Tutu! You've got all your gorgeous layers of tulle, but what’s better than the most comfortable thing ever? I mean it truly does make me feel so joyful and so happy! Let's face it, all my darlings want to dance their hearts out like a fairy princess! And trust me, nothing embodies that fairy princess vibe better than a gorgeous pink tutu! And that, my loves, is how you make every day feel like a Tutu Tuesday!
Right, darling. That's me for today! I'm heading off to hunt down some gorgeous ballet inspired fashion! ( I think I might just wear my favourite pink tutu today! It is Tutu Tuesday, after all!). Remember to check in next Tuesday! I’m thinking a bit of history of the tutu again. Maybe I'll find an amazing tutu design.
See you next time, lovelies!
Love, Emma Pink-Tutu.com
