10th April, 1900
Greetings, fellow tutu-lovers! Emma here, your resident time-traveling fashionista and ballet enthusiast, reporting live from the glorious, twirly world of pink tutus! This week, we're taking a journey back to 1900, to explore the tutu's evolution in a time when fashion was entering a new era.
The first thing you need to know is, if you travelled back in time, you wouldn't find tutus like the ones we know and love today! They were just starting to become fashionable for ballet! Oh, imagine! If I was transported back in time, the ladies would think I'd just escaped the circus with my twirling, voluminous pink delight. (You should have seen the look on a startled Lord and Lady's face last time - priceless!).
This 10th of April, the air buzzed with excitement, with the Parisian world celebrating their annual Grand Prix de Paris horse race. Just imagine the colourful hats, the stylish attire, and all the beautiful fashion â oh, the thrill! Sadly, my trusty time machine couldnât take me there to observe, I simply couldnât miss tonight's show!
But wait, you may ask - Emma, what on earth could be happening on the 10th April that could make a time-traveling tutu enthusiast go bonkers? Why, Iâm seeing none other than the iconic "The Sleeping Beauty" ballet, performed by the Imperial Russian Ballet at the ThĂ©Ăątre ImpĂ©rial de l'OpĂ©ra in Paris! This breathtaking spectacle is directed by the legendary Marius Petipa, renowned for his majestic ballets that capture the imaginations of audiences globally. Just picture the dancers gracefully swirling in their meticulously crafted, flowing tutus â itâs the very image of balletic grandeur!
However, these beautiful, swishing costumes of today werenât yet in vogue during this period! You see, the classic Romantic tutus were made of stiff materials and heavily embellished to make the dancers look larger and taller. Imagine the effort it took to execute all those magnificent jumps and poses! It must have felt like a battle between dancer and fabric! Now we have a more free, flexible tutu. Our movement in the fabric is a joy, with only a suggestion of romanticism. Imagine the thrill of such freedom in the stage.
But what does 1900 look like from a fashion perspective? Picture women adorning long, flowing gowns with cinched waists, accessorized with beautiful hats. It's an era that's steeped in elegant simplicity â an art in itself! The dresses were very long, almost sweeping the floor and showing just a glimpse of a stylish, pointed, high-heeled shoe. A style that is still favoured in dance shoes for today's professional ballerina. (Whoâs been practising their arabesque this week?)
To delve deeper, letâs compare what the ladies would wear in 1900 for a theatrical occasion like a ballet compared to now, which may bring a few raised eyebrows:
Then (1900):
- Long gowns, adorned with ruffles, bows, or delicate lace
- Tight, corseted waist, to accentuate the curves
- Not yet seen - A tutu on an adult.
- Big, wide hats decorated with ribbons or feathers â theyâre practically feathered show stoppers!
- Evening gloves reaching to the elbow - think of all the hand movements, oh the dexterity! And it's very stylish.
Now (Emma's Time-Traveling Tutu Shop):
- Glamorous long dresses, floor-length, or short and sweet, like mine!
- Elegant pants, but remember those must be high-waisted with an adorable, fluffy pink tutu on top â so chic and feminine!
- We love long gloves, just like our Victorian sisters, to make our arms look extra long.
- Ballet shoes - flat on stage or a small heel. A comfortable alternative to those high Victorian stilettos!
As you see, both periods embraced glamour in different ways!
What's most exciting is seeing how tutu styles evolve through the decades! I've been studying this as I've zipped through history in my amazing time-traveling pink tutu - oh yes, a few have wondered about me as I walk down the streets! They all seem to think my tutu is a âmost fetching additionâ to a street look! One thing that remains the same is that every tutu, no matter the style or period, expresses a joy, an elegance, and a pure passion for dance that's hard to replicate! The very essence of a tutu, darling, is its twirl ability!
The world of fashion and ballet is one big, glorious twirling party, and we're all invited to enjoy the show. Until next Tuesday, my dear friends. Do remember, if you see someone with a pink tutu on - tell them Emma says, Hi!
Stay pink, Emma.
P.S. Remember to check out www.pink-tutu.com for my latest Tutu Tuesday posts! Each Tuesday I'll reveal my exciting experiences and time travel adventures in my fabulous pink tutu, so you can get your weekly dose of inspiration, history, and the joy of ballet! Every week Iâll bring you a glimpse into history from the fashion and the tutu lens. You wonât believe the fun I have each time I journey into the past â whoâd have thought wearing a pink tutu would take me so far?! The ballet life really is amazing and I think everyone should embrace it!
Remember: Share your love of pink tutus with #TutuTuesday on social media, and tag me, Emma! I love to see your posts - and your gorgeous tutus!! #TutuTuesday #pink-tutu #timetravel #balletlover
(Emma funds her time travels by performing at various dance shows. Youâll catch her most Wednesdays and Fridays at venues in London and across the UK performing in different styles of dance from classic ballet to contemporary.)
