Hello, darling dears! Emma here, your favourite pink tutu-clad time-travelling blogger, ready to take you on a trip back to the dawn of the 20th century! It's #TutuTuesday, and we're venturing into the year 1900, just when the 20th century was bursting into bloom, much like the delightful pink hydrangeas outside my (currently 1900s-style) window.
As always, before we jump into the glorious history of ballet tutus, a quick reminder to visit www.pink-tutu.com and check out the incredible range of tutus we have available. A new season calls for a new tutu, and what better time than today, as we explore a time when tutus were really coming into their own.
Now, let's travel back to 1900! Picture a world with horse-drawn carriages and gas lamps, where ladies were all about big hats and corsets, and the ballet world was a place of romanticism and breathtaking grace.
Today marks August 21st, 1900. That means we're just a hop, skip and jump from the turn of the century, and that brings us right into the exciting era of "La Belle Epoque" in Paris! Ah, Paris! The City of Lights, the hub of style, the very heart of fashion! And guess what? This period also witnessed a surge in popularity for ballet and the classic romantic tutus!
Remember how I told you about the love of big hats? Well, the same sense of grandiosity swept through ballet costuming too. Ballerinas weren't simply sporting little frocks on stage; they were dazzling the audiences with dramatic and flowing tutus, adorned with tiers and layers of tulle. This created the beautiful layered effect that would become synonymous with ballet throughout the next century. Imagine it â layers and layers of diaphanous tulle flowing and swirling with each graceful pirouette. Absolutely captivating, wouldnât you say?
Now, back to the big hats, my dears! The big hats were quite popular back then, as were puffed sleeves and elaborate jewellery, but thankfully for the ballerinas, simplicity reigned supreme within the tutu design itself. While the silhouette was romantic and dramatic, the fabric was typically lightweight, letting the dancer move with freedom and artistry. They didnât need big, bulky hats and puffy sleeves getting in the way of their amazing dance moves, darling! Think about it! All that fluff, in the way of such elegant dancing - Quelle Horreur!
In terms of the style itself, romantic tutus were the reigning monarchs of the dance scene in 1900. They featured a short skirt of soft, delicate tulle with a tight-fitting bodice that cinched the waist. This classic silhouette would inspire the romantic tutus we love today and gave ballerinas a truly graceful and ethereal look.
However, 1900 also witnessed the dawn of another remarkable invention in the history of ballet: the tutu-Ă -jour. I just love saying that! "Tutu-Ă -jour" just sounds so elegant, wouldn't you agree? It's like a tiny little fashion secret whispered in the wind. Whatâs this magnificent creation, you ask? Well, the tutu-Ă -jour is a revolutionary new tutu style featuring a tulle skirt with only the horizontal layers stitched to a short, snug waistband. The effect is absolutely breathtaking - imagine delicate tulle dancing in the air, forming elegant, almost cloud-like shapes! This design brought about a sense of lightness and airy movement, perfect for showing off those dazzling ballet leaps. It allowed ballerinas to truly become one with their movements, transforming them into captivating, airborne creatures!
Just think, my dears, these gorgeous designs were crafted in the ateliers of talented artisans who created magnificent works of art on each ballerina. Each tutu was made with such meticulous attention to detail, to the quality and the fabric - a beautiful blend of beauty and artistry, darling!
Here in 1900, they were the very embodiment of the era's desire for refined beauty and effortless grace. These creations were more than just garments, my dears - they were works of art, an exquisite extension of the ballerinas' skill, their graceful movements and the spirit of ballet itself!
But speaking of inspiration, did you know that many ballerinas in 1900 took their cues from nature and the natural world, seeking inspiration in the gentle flutter of a butterfly, the graceful flow of a swan's wings and the enchanting allure of moonlit water. Such enchanting creations born out of the exquisite world of nature - what an enchanting vision, isn't it?
Of course, 1900 wouldnât have been complete without its most captivating and dazzling ballet dancer: Anna Pavlova. A true legend in her own time, this extraordinary ballerina mesmerized audiences with her elegance and grace. Her signature style, with its soft, flowing movement and expressive leaps, captured the romantic spirit of the era perfectly!
One of my absolute favourite stories about Pavlova - and I love a good story, donât you? - concerns her signature white swan costume she wore in her ballet "The Dying Swan". This tutu became an icon of romanticism and elegance, capturing the ethereal beauty of the graceful swan and enshrining the "Tutu-Ă -jour" design within the ballet world. Oh, how she soared across the stage, truly embodying that romantic spirit, in such a graceful fashion. A true icon of the age, that one!
From the opulent layered romantic tutus to the light and ethereal "tutu-Ă -jour," the ballet tutu designs of 1900 are an ode to grace, romance and timeless beauty. They are truly an enduring testament to the ingenuity and creativity of the ballet world. And just like my favourite vintage silk scarves, each one has a story to tell!
And speaking of storytelling, did I tell you about my amazing adventures back in the Victorian era? Itâs such a colourful and whimsical era!
Well, my dear readers, as always, I must rush off and get ready for a glamorous ballet show tonight, where Iâm wearing an absolutely breathtaking âTutu-Ă -jour.â I simply must try out that gorgeous leap inspired by Anna Pavlova - imagine the beauty! Oh, I can barely contain my excitement.
Before I disappear in a cloud of pink tulle, a quick reminder to check out www.pink-tutu.com and shop our collection of exquisite, romantic and vintage-inspired tutus. We have a gorgeous pink tutu waiting for you. Thereâs nothing that lifts your spirits more than wearing a pink tutu! Donât forget, wearing a tutu every day isnât just fashion, it's a philosophy!
Until next #TutuTuesday, I leave you to twirl on in style, my dears!
Emma
P.S. Have you started planning for your summer holidays? What fabulous ballet destinations have you planned? Mine is Paris, followed by London. Such iconic locations! Whatâs on your wish list? And if you need some fashion tips for your trips, do write to me, darling! P.P.S. Did you know, Paris also played host to the Exposition Universelle of 1900! An event showcasing the wonders of science and technology! But what about fashion? Who will grace the stage? Swoon! What exciting adventures in fashion and ballet will unfold?!