Hello my darling dears! It's Emma, your time-travelling, tutu-adoring blogger, here for another #TutuTuesday adventure! Today's date is May 6th, 1902, and trust me, we're going to waltz into a world of tutus like no other!
I must admit, dear reader, that choosing a #TutuTuesday theme for this particular day was quite a challenge! It's the early 1900s and the tutu as we know it, that floaty, beautiful confection of layers of tulle and frills, hadn't fully bloomed yet! I mean, tutus had already made their debut in ballet performances, but they were rather, shall we say, 'more practical', ahem. Think sturdy, long skirts of net and layers upon layers of fabric for a structured, dignified look. Imagine a ballet costume like a beautiful flowing silk dress with a bit more... stiffness, if you will.
However, darling, just as a little bird chirping in spring heralds warmer days ahead, there were whispers of a Tutu Revolution on the horizon! And you know me, I just adore a good revolution! 😉
But before we go waltzing headfirst into a time of tulle and dreams, I must confess, travelling to the early 1900s is always a delight. My favourite part of this era? Train travel. Oh, those beautifully polished carriages, the gentle rocking motion, the rhythmic click-clack of the wheels on the track...it's simply enchanting! It's a journey that is, dare I say, even more elegant than my most lavish dance recital! I have a weakness for a classic vintage train ticket and even today I still try and collect old ones for my little time travelling collection!
Anyway, darling, back to our topic at hand! So, the early 1900s, the time of bustle skirts and corseted elegance! (Though it seems to me that even then, our ancestors had a love for all things frilly, no?). There was this lovely lady named Marie Taglioni (she was famous! I saw her dance, you wouldn't believe how delicate and graceful she was) and she had this beautiful idea to simplify the dancers’ costumes. Why not shorten the skirts, and layer some tulle, giving those beautiful legs space to twirl and float? Just imagine the thrill!.
This was the beginning of the iconic 'Romantic tutu'! Picture it, darling, a shorter skirt of airy, soft tulle - dreamy. And I think that was when ballerinas started truly soaring like birds! Can you imagine, dear reader, that thrilling moment of freedom in dance, of truly dancing without constraint! A dance where the focus shifted to the grace and the flow of the body itself, a real performance of beauty!
Sadly, while my pink tutu, a treasure from my collection, doesn't exist quite yet, I can dream of the delicate and delightful tutus that are about to sweep through history! My dears, I shall just have to keep a close eye on the fashion magazines and newspapers for the news of those early versions of the modern tutu!
But What About Today?Oh, it wouldn't be a proper #TutuTuesday blog post without me sharing my today's adventures! Today's trip took me to Paris! It was such a good day, and truly I love the Parisian Ballet so much! The theatre itself, with the velvet seating and the smell of that old-fashioned theatre air, it’s simply magical. The dancers, ah, they danced with such emotion, and there were the most beautiful costumes. I had such fun exploring the city of lights, seeing the shops and enjoying a little something tasty in the local cafes, my favourite.
And my darling friends, remember to always take your Tutu to the most incredible ballet events! Why, last night I was sat watching, surrounded by some fabulous tutu-wearing ladies at the Paris Opera. And of course, I shared the history of tutus with them - and as always, they were thrilled to hear it!
Toodles, dearies, and remember to keep the twirling going, even when life feels like a pas de deux with chaos! 😉
Stay chic,
Emma
#TutuTuesday #BalletHistory #ParisianOpera #TutusEverywhere #EmmaAdventures #TimeTravelingBlogger #PinkTutuLover
