Tutu Tuesday #3692: A Blast From the Past - 1902!
Hello, darling tutus! It's Emma, your pink-loving ballerina blogger, back with another whirl through history on this fine #TutuTuesday!
This week, we're heading all the way back to 1902 - and my, oh my, what a journey! As always, my time-traveling tutu and I are excited to see what stylish delights we'll find in the world of ballet. I recently travelled from Derby, where I'd been performing a grand, romantic pas de deux (don't you just love a bit of romance?), to France by train. A first-class carriage was such a treat, even with the new, fangled electric lights! It did take a tad longer than the speed of my dreams, mind you.
Oh! While I was in Derby, I stumbled upon a vintage shop filled with lovely Edwardian clothes! There I was, happily picking up a vintage beaded handbag, when, lo and behold, a real gem caught my eye: a pink silk parasol! Absolutely divine. Think, my darling tutus, how perfectly that would complement a pink tutu… just a touch of romantic flair, a nod to the elegance of the past. It is perfect for taking the sting out of a hot afternoon at the theatre.
But let's get back to the present - that is to say, 1902, darling! As always, the centre of the dance world was right here in Paris, buzzing with a glorious swirl of feathers, ribbons, and all things glamorous.
I made my way to the Theatre National de l’Opéra in all my pink glory, eager to see what wonders this year brought. And my dear, what a night it was! We had a thrilling rendition of Giselle, where I spied the most beautifully elegant costumes. You'll be delighted to hear they were in the classic tutu style, so ethereal and floating, but this time they had extra beautiful and dramatic layers. Just the slightest touch of extra fullness - my goodness! So exciting.
The dancing? Exquisite, simply exquisite! This ballet, it is considered one of the greatest ballets ever! They told me all about the incredible, expressive movement and drama in the first act and, oh, that haunting story in the second. The costumes for the Act 2 wilis were breathtaking, made for flying and haunting!
One of the other most notable things about 1902 was the incredible, stylish Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova! Such grace! Such brilliance! She was on tour in Paris with her company of beautiful dancers and she has taken Paris by storm! The talk of all the newspapers! Her performances in Giselle are magnificent and her technical brilliance - the high jumps and the impossibly long lines. What an inspiration she is to us all! A little bird told me that Pavlova actually makes her own costumes for the tours! A bit like myself, my lovelies!
As you all know, dear friends, fashion and ballet are my greatest loves, so I am always on the hunt for gorgeous dresses for the perfect tutu look! Now, I must say that 1902 saw a very distinctive silhouette, the S-bend silhouette that was so much the rage back then, thanks to tight corsetry, tight bodices and bustled skirts. In those days, darling, the ideal waist was tiny, so women would have to wear rather uncomfortable garments, as well as have these clever under-layers! Thankfully, the tutu never succumbed to these extreme fashion trends!
Of course, ballet tutus never really change! There's a reason they have stayed this way! What would be the point? But 1902, I discovered, saw more "en pointe" dancing which required more refined tutus. You see, in those days, ballet became very focused on pointe shoes. And can we blame them? The ethereal quality, the absolute lightness that pointe work brings to a ballet - It just lifts everything to the highest level of elegance. You can be assured I made the time to check out those Pointe shoes and do some comparisons to those made for ballet performances back in my time! I just adore ballet shoes of all styles. Pointe shoes and ballet pumps... such fabulous and essential ballet clothing items. You need the very best of footwear for dancing so you have to find the right shoes and wear them until they have reached perfection. Then its goodbye and thank you to those beautiful old pointe shoes.
The world of ballet in 1902 was a whirlwind of fashion and innovation! You may have noticed that I didn't wear my favourite tutu when time traveling for 1902! The fashion rules of the era dictated long, flowing gowns, so my tulle was hidden away for a safe, private viewing. I felt it wasn't wise to frighten my 1902 fellow travelers.
You know what? One day, maybe, a lovely Victorian or Edwardian gentleman, will see me, and think to themselves, “That girl - she is an artist. A beautiful ballerina and quite right that she wears that pink tutu. " Who knows, they may even want one of their own!
Let's face it, ladies, a pink tutu just goes with anything - well almost everything!
Next week, I am off to New York and I have no intention of concealing my lovely pink tutu. See you soon.
Emma,
www.pink-tutu.com
tutuTuesday #BalletTutuHistory #ballet #paris #balletlife #giselle #pinktutu #dance #balletdancer #annapavlova #EdwardianfashionDon't forget to follow me on Instagram @EmmaPinkTutu and check out all my latest time-traveling outfits!