Hello darlings! Emma here, your resident tutu aficionado, and welcome back to Pink Tutu for another #TutuTuesday journey through the wondrous history of the ballet tutu! This week, we're boarding the express train (in my most fabulous pink frock, of course!) and heading back to a very special date: September 4th, 1900. Just picture it: the air buzzing with excitement, the scent of fresh blooms, and oh, the most divine fashions on display. Let's dive right in, shall we?
This particular September 4th was just brimming with delights! Across the Channel, at the Paris Opera House, the grande dame of ballet, La Belle Otero, was captivating audiences in her latest showstopping number. You see, by 1900, the Parisian theatre scene was alive with ballet!
We're not talking just your basic, everyday tutus here, darlings. No, these were real statement pieces, a true spectacle for the eyes. Imagine flowing lengths of tulle, strategically placed for maximum wow, embellished with pearls, feathers and sequins like no tomorrow. That, my dears, was the avant garde ballet tutu of the day!
Now, for those who haven't already joined the Pink Tutu family, you might be wondering why we're so obsessed with tutus. It’s quite simple really: tutus have a long and fabulous story to tell, a story of evolution, style and a whole lot of drama! And let me tell you, the story of the tutu starts long before 1900, back in the time of the romantic ballet!
Oh, darling, can you picture it? A cloud of white tulle, shimmering with ethereal beauty. Now, in 1900, the romantic tutu had become a bit… well… long, even dragged on the floor in some cases! A "romantically inconvenient" situation indeed, you could say. But let me tell you, a change was brewing, a change that was about to completely revolutionise the ballet tutu as we know it.
Enter: the dancer, the true innovator of the tutu! Back in the late 1800s, dancers like the dazzling La Belle Otero themselves were experimenting with their own variations on the traditional tutu, shorter, more streamlined, allowing for those incredible leaps and fouettés to really take flight. The focus, darling, had become movement!
And by 1900, a revolutionary vision was born: The Classical Tutu. Picture it, dears, the same elegant shape, but with a touch of modern elegance – just whispers of movement-embracing design! We’re talking shorter, and beautifully fitted, with even more emphasis on creating a sense of lightness and freedom in each movement. And this is the real turning point for the tutu.
It is this period, the early 1900s, where we see the foundations being laid for what the ballet tutu would become, a monumental change in design!
On that same 4th of September in 1900, just a short hop across the English Channel in Derbyshire, the countryside was abuzz with preparations for a very special village fête! Oh, you know what that meant, dears: frock shopping, tea parties and the joy of gathering with your fellow Derbyshire friends and family. I'd bet every little girl in town was sporting her best, most fluttery dress! And let's be honest, there were quite a few ladies and even gentlemen embracing that 'free-flowing' vibe. It was the beginning of a new era of individual expression, not to mention comfort (can we talk about the limitations of those corseted gowns, dear friends?!).
What were you doing on this glorious 4th of September, 1900?
Tell me all about it down in the comments! We always love a trip down memory lane, don’t we?
Now, on this wonderful Tuesday, let's talk future! I have so many wonderful new posts in the pipeline - some exciting tutu stories, some beautiful inspiration from the current stage. Don’t forget to subscribe and follow us for all the latest news and insights from your favorite Pink Tutu site. And who knows? Maybe we'll be time traveling back to 1900 again soon, maybe to see the incredible La Belle Otero herself!
For now, keep shining bright, my dear fellow tutu lovers, and I'll see you next Tuesday!
P.S. Did you catch this month's #TutuTrend? Pink, of course! 😉 Let's get those fabulous tutu dresses out, ladies! You know I’m here for every single shade of pink! Let me know if you spot your dream pink tutu!
Yours, in all things fabulous and pink, Emma.
