Hello lovelies, and welcome back to Pink Tutu, where it's always time for twirls! It's another delightful #TutuTuesday and we're taking a trip through time to 25th September 1900!
The air is abuzz with excitement, for today is the day Anna Pavlova first graces the stage of the Maryinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg! She’s making her debut as the "Dying Swan", a role that will forever be etched into ballet history. Oh, how I wish I could have been there! Can you imagine? Imagine the flutter of excitement in the theatre, the hush before the music starts, and the gasp as Anna takes to the stage, a delicate ballerina, her every move as graceful as a bird's wing. Such a dream!
But back to tutus!
Right, let’s talk history, darlings! Today’s #TutuTuesday topic is The evolution of the tutu. Can you believe that, for so long, ballerinas danced without the aid of these delightful and iconic pieces of dancewear? Well, not quite. It started much more practically with layers and layers of fabric to give a 'bell shape'. As the fashion in the late 1800's took on this fuller look the tutu started to appear. We owe our gratitude for the very first “tutu” to Marie Taglioni, the Grande Ballerina who changed the entire world of ballet in 1832. In her famous “La Sylphide”, she ditched the layers of heavy fabric for a wispy and much shorter skirt that reached above her ankles! What a bold move! This shorter style of skirt, made from multiple layers of tulle and called a tutu à la Taglioni, instantly became a fashion sensation! Everyone in Paris went mad for it, and everyone wanted to be a dancer. Oh, how lovely! It gave such a feeling of lightness and freedom!
Now, there’s a whole lot of history to go through and different tutu styles. I can feel my brain whirring with excitement. Let's travel through time, darling, with our tutus on!
Here's what we'll cover:
- 1832 to 1880s: The rise of the romantic tutu and its impact on fashion
- 1880s onwards: The classical tutu comes to the stage
- Early 20th Century: Twirling through various tutu designs
- Fashion inspired tutus: What inspired the classic romantic tutu?
- 2020s: Let's twirl and have a think about the tutus of the present day.
- Our take on it all: This little pink-loving blogger gives you some fab suggestions.
The Romantic Tutu: Light and Graceful (1832-1880s)
The Romantic era of ballet was all about lightness and grace. Ballet itself was changing – it became less about precise movements and more about expressive storytelling through movement, so naturally the tutus evolved with the dance. Marie Taglioni’s innovation was revolutionary, freeing dancers to move freely and expressively, making it seem as if they were dancing on air!
The tutu in these times became much lighter and softer, almost like a beautiful flower in bloom, using multiple layers of gauzy tulle and tulle nets, all gathered and layered at the waist, that allowed the legs to be seen! These tutues emphasized the dancers' ethereal movements. There was still a fair bit of bulk but they made those first steps towards the beautiful modern tutu that we love so much! How glamorous and stylish, darling! Think of the* iconic “La Sylphide” tutu* which was made of soft white tulle, flowing delicately and reflecting the natural beauty of a young, ethereal forest nymph – perfect!
The tutu à la Taglioni set the fashion scene on fire, becoming the defining look for dancers. Oh, my darling, can you imagine being the epitome of beauty and style?
Now, imagine those wonderful colours, ladies! It wasn’t just about the length and the flowing form, you know. The colour was important too. They loved using light, airy pastels and light shades – oh, how heavenly! These were meant to convey an atmosphere of otherworldliness and dreams. Think shades of sky blue, delicate lilac, rose pink, and snowy white, colours that reminded people of clouds and dreams! Those are just some of the magical shades I saw at my last time travel trip – they were stunning! Oh my darling! They just shimmered in the lights, reflecting a divine light from above.
This, I believe, is where we see the origins of the tutu’s love of pink! This era truly is pink-tastic! A colour that captures sweetness and elegance - you simply can’t go wrong! And you know what? It’s not just for ballerinas! There’s something very magical and wondrous about the pink tulle, its elegance and playfulness. It can make anyone feel special!
Fashion and ballet went hand in hand during this time! The romantic era tutus made their way to ball gowns, giving them a graceful flow! I love the way that they influenced everything, from how ladies danced to how they dressed in society, making it so stylish.
A Shift to Classicism: The Tutu Finds its Strength (1880s-present)
Well, all good things come to an end – except our love for tutus, obviously! It's all change in ballet and that's because this romanticism in dance eventually made way for classicism!
By the late 1880s, the romantic tutu was giving way to a new shape: a shorter, more **layered, brighter, and more structured tutu made with multiple layers of tulle.
I am all about romance and that graceful look – so what caused the change?
Classical ballet focused on precision and perfection, meaning more structure and form. To ensure maximum power and expression for all those iconic jumps, ballet shoes were even upgraded, my darling, for better pointework! What wonderful innovations, and it really made the tutus need to be made with more sturdy construction!
A new type of tutu – the tutu pancake *or classic tutu – arrived. It had more shape. It was short and flared,* creating that beautiful, symmetrical, wide cone shape and using more stiff material. The classic tutu came about thanks to Marius Petipa – a choreographer of genius who believed that these tutus were absolutely necessary! It added strength and it added power! These new tutus added the visual impact of classical ballet by showing the perfect line of a ballerina and the beautifully muscular legs *which needed more structure to be seen! Now this new look meant they were stronger, smoother, more* sculptural, and, most importantly, made those fabulous turns so much more spectacular!
Think of that perfect tutu that every dancer dreams of having: light, flowy, *with a soft *delicate* look. It’s *effortlessly gorgeous, making every twirl magical, and every movement mesmerizing! The shape just *sings with beauty!
The 20th Century and Beyond: Tutu Twirls and Tutus for All!
Of course, as we entered the 20th Century, it's not like everyone wore the exact same tutu. The designers got into their creative groove, experimenting with different styles, shapes and details. And guess what, darlings? We are lucky! This gives us such a variety!
There are two basic categories: the tutu pancake and the tutu romantische. It's a little bit complicated, I know, but don't fret.
Let’s break it down:
* The Classic Romantic Tutu (Romantic Tutu): Remember what we said about those graceful tutus? Well, it wasn’t completely gone! We had those delicate, elegant *tutus romantische, also known as *floating tutus, made with many layers of lightweight fabric and with those dreamy pastels! The romantische tutus make for amazing leaps and airy turns, looking utterly *enchanting on stage. Imagine swirling gracefully through a magical garden with these pretty* and *dainty tutus.
The Classical Tutu (Pancake Tutu): Then we have the more formal and structured tutus pancakes, or classic tutus, made with tighter, flatter, more structured and rigid* * layers of fabric.* They were meant to make those twirls even more impactful and dramatic, a ballet dancer’s* dream! These can also come in lots of colours, which I love. The sparkle in a red pancake tutu, darling, is simply magnificent!
Then came fashion, you know, and the tutu started becoming more creative! For example, some designers introduced layered, fluffy skirts, for extra wow factor – dramatic, yet utterly beautiful!
Think Moulin Rouge – now that's fun, sexy, and just what the fashion scene needed in that sparkling, can-can era! It was definitely time to get that little bit bold! And there's always room for that little bit of fun and sparkle!
Oh, and the tutus are not always frilly and flowery. There are some more minimalist styles,* those tutus made with a single layer of tulle or with soft net fabric. Those *still make a statement, *looking wonderfully stylish.
Don't forget those fab details, darling! We’re talking embellishments, layers of sequins, and crystals, *even *feather trimmings - Oh my! It’s the ultimate fashion show when you think about all the options. There’s always room for that extra flair, for those dramatic embellishments, to make the tutus *extra special. *Oh, the tutu has been transformed, darling, into so many things!
It is hard not to look at those stunning and iconic* ballerina tutus on the stage and fall in love! But the great thing is,* the tutu is no longer exclusive to the ballet stage, and that’s exactly how it should be.
I want everyone to have the confidence to wear a pink tutu! I truly do, you see! They can bring joy to everyday wear.
There are tutus for every occasion! They're an amazing addition to outfits. Go boho with a soft floral tutu, or wear a sparkly, glitzy tutu for an exciting evening! The choice is yours, darling. The tutus can take on so many different personas, adding sparkle and glamour to anything and everything!
Don’t just wear them on stage – Wear them with confidence, my darling. Take a walk down the street! Wear them to your next garden party. Or to a cocktail evening. The options are endless. You want to wear a *tutu? Then WEAR it!! You will make people laugh, smile, and be *utterly glamorous!
A few tips for Tutu Fun:
Embrace the color pink: Like I've said before: it's the colour of magic! You cannot go wrong! It's not just for ballet. Go bold, my darling! Be bold. It is your signature look!
Embrace the movement: Tutús are meant to flow! Be yourself and express it with your movements. You will never be stiff wearing a tutu! Let the movement of the fabric take you away!
Have fun: We are in for some fantastic tutu-wearing times! It's about a little magic, whimsy, and joy!
So there you have it, darling – a little ballet tutu history from a pink-loving time travelling ballerina. If you want more tips, ideas and inspiration on how to make tutu your look, check in next *TutuTuesday!! * Until then, let your inner ballerina shine and keep your tutus pink!! * * **
Don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what your favourite type of tutu is. And tell me what fashion tip you will use next time you twirl in a tutu! Stay pink!
*Until Next Time!! *[link to next post]
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Emma xx