Hello darlings, and welcome back to Pink Tutu! It's another delightful #TutuTuesday, and I'm so excited to share with you a little slice of ballet history from 24th April 1900!
Ooh, how I love time-traveling! It's a privilege to slip back into those elegant bygone days, particularly in Paris. Paris has always held a special place in my heart - the cobblestone streets, the scent of croissants, and oh, the fashion! Imagine my delight, then, when I popped up in the heart of Paris just in time for the Paris Opera Ballet's performance of "La Esmeralda," a production that just premiered this very day!
And you know what I saw, my lovely readers? Tutus! Not those poofy, extravagant ones we have today, no, but a hint of them, all the same! Think a slightly shorter skirt, and more layered - what they called the "Romantic Tutu" at this time. Just think of the dreamy, ethereal tulle you find on the ballerina dolls from when you were little, just shorter and more gathered around the hips.
I mean, isn't that just heavenly? So beautiful, like a soft cloud floating around these divine dancers. They certainly have a different feel to our modern day ones, don't they? Back then, ballet was still developing and finding its own sense of style, much like my darling fashion blogger readers. Every week we evolve, find new trends, try on different outfits...and what better way to experience that than with the fashion of ballet!
Talking of evolving styles, the story of "La Esmeralda" takes place in 15th-century Paris! My goodness, what a story! Imagine, those cobblestone streets I mentioned were still new, a little rough around the edges compared to the graceful beauty they possess now. And they still have that historical grandeur to them, but back then, it must have felt a little wild, just like this ballet, a beautiful tale of forbidden love.
Don't you find that so fascinating, how fashion, history, and our beloved ballet are all interwoven? Each piece of clothing, each movement in a dance, and each story that unfolds on stage reflects a moment in time, and it's all so wonderful to uncover. That's why I love bringing a touch of the past into our world here at Pink Tutu.
Of course, in Paris, I couldn't resist going to one of the fabulous department stores like Printemps or Galeries Lafayette! They were a riot of colours and fabrics - such a delight to just be there! It's all about the feeling, right? It's just divine to walk those luxurious aisles and imagine what these dresses might have been like back then - so intricate!
What I'd really love to have done, darling, is sit front row for this premiere. Imagine, the gasp of the audience, the sheer beauty of "La Esmeralda", the exquisite ballet moves - just breathtaking! I might just have to whisk myself back for a second viewing this week. And I do hope to come back in another week to talk all about what the Parisian ballet scene was like - this week’s post will be on #TutuTuesday #3566. Keep an eye out!
For now, I have some catching up to do!
And remember darlings, it's #TutuTuesday. It’s a great excuse to go and try on a beautiful tutu, be it from your favourite costume shop or from the heart of your wardrobe!
Till next Tuesday, Emma x www.pink-tutu.com
P.S Now, if only I could convince them to go pink, wouldn’t that be amazing? Pink is so wonderfully glamorous! I bet a pink tulle tutu in the late 1890s would be quite the sensation...
